Vitello Named Best Recruiter In SEC
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Considered as one of the top recruiters in the nation each year, assistant baseball coach Tony Vitello continues to bring in some of the top high school and junior college talent to don the Razorback red each season. Now entering his fourth year on head coach Dave Van Horn’s staff, Vitello received some much deserved recognition for his hard work shortly after signing 19 players during the early signing period.
D1Baseball.com, a nationally recognized college baseball publication, released its survey asking college coaches who they thought were the best recruiters in the country. Vitello ranked as the best in the SEC and second overall among all recruiting coordinators.
Proof that @VanHornHogs has the best staff in the nation.
Tony Vitello named best recruiter in the SEC.
->>https://t.co/VnVPka2vLy pic.twitter.com/JEEyUEisXA
— Razorback Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) November 21, 2016
It’s no secret that Vitello is one of the best recruiters in college baseball, just look at his resume. With 14 years of coaching now under his belt, Vitello has mentored a National Hitter of the Year in Arkansas’ Andrew Benintendi and a National Pitcher of the Year in Missouri’s Aaron Crow.
Throughout his career, Vitello has signed eight top 15 recruiting classes, developed six first round draft picks and 12 MLB players, including standouts like Benintendi, Max Scherzer, Ian Kinsler, Kyle Gibson, Crow and Brandon Finnegan.
Just recently, Vitello signed a new crop of 19 players to become Razorbacks for the 2018 season, four are considered the best in the state of Arkansas and eight are coming from nearby Texas.
Complementing the 18 players from the high school ranks, Vitello helped bring in one of the top arms in the junior college ranks in left-hander Dan Tillo.
Tillo, a 39th-round selection in 2015 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, spent his freshman season at Kentucky last year before transferring to Iowa Western Community College for the 2017 season.
“Dan Tillo is as strong as a for-sure immediate impact player that the Razorbacks can sign,” Vitello said. “His stuff alone could be competitive in the SEC right now, but he has a bevy of positives that complement his big-time arm.”
Tillo was 11-1 over his final two years of high school with a combined 2.03 ERA and was also named Iowa’s Mr. Basketball in 2015. He also pitched 7.1 innings as a freshman at Kentucky.
“He is an athletic kid that achieved great things on the basketball court,” Vitello said. “He’s also extremely physical and durable for his age. By the time he arrives in Fayetteville, he will a special combination of a year learning what our league is all about and playing at one of the best two-year schools in the country in Iowa Western.”
The 2017 Razorback baseball team will begin its season against Miami (Ohio) with a three-game series on Feb. 17. Friday and Saturday SEC Partial plan deposits, season tickets, and group experience deposits are also currently available. To renew or order tickets, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151.
For more information on Razorback Baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.
FINAL RAZORBACK BASEBALL SIGNEES FROM EARLY PERIOD (6)
| Name | Position | B/T | Height | Weight | Hometown | Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Bennett | LHP | R/L | 6-3 | 170 | Eva, Ala. | Albert Brewer HS |
| Benjamin McClain | OF | L/L | 5-11 | 185 | Lee's Summit, Mo. | West HS |
| Casey Opitz | C | S/R | 5-11 | 170 | Centennial, Co. | Heritage HS |
| Jackson Rutledge | RHP | R/R | 6-8 | 240 | St. Louis, Mo. | Rockwood Summit HS |
| Daniel Tillo | LHP | L/L | 6-4 | 215 | Sioux City, Iowa | Iowa Western CC |
| Zebulon Vermillion | RHP | L/R | 6-5 | 175 | Prairie Village, Kan. | Shawnee Mission East HS |
Dakota Bennett | LHP | 6-3 | 170 | R/L | Eva, Ala. (Albert Brewer HS)
Ranked No. 35 overall in the state of Alabama by Perfect Game … Combined for a 1.44 ERA over his sophomore and junior seasons for Albert Brewer … Went 6-1 with 101 strikeouts over 56 innings in 2016 … Named Second Team 6A All-State and First Team All-Huntsville Region as a junior … Named First Team All-Area as a sophomore after posting a 0.99 ERA and 65 strikeouts … Also plays basketball … Plays for Kenneth Golden at Albert Brewer HS.
Benjamin McClain | OF | 5-11 | 185 | L/L | Lee’s Summit, Mo. (West HS)
Ranked No. 18 in the state of Missouri by Perfect Game … Attended the 2016 Perfect Game South Top Prospect Showcase … Part of Lee’s Summit West team that reached the Missouri Class 5 State Tournament semifinals in 2016 … Plays travel ball with KC Expos … Plays for Jay Meyer at West High School.
Casey Opitz | C | 5-11 | 170 | S/R | Centennial, Co. (Heritage HS)
Ranked the No. 3 player in the state of Colorado and the top catcher overall by Perfect Game … Combined to hit .313 in his first two years of high school with 27 runs scored, 10 extra-base hits and 32 RBIs … Upped all of those totals as a junior in 2016, hitting .424 with 23 runs, seven extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in 21 games … Threw out eight base runners in 11 stolen base attempts … Named First Team All-Continental League as a sophomore and junior … Attended the 2016 Perfect Game Rocky Mountain Showcase … Plays summer ball with the Midland Redskins, which made the AABC Connie Mack World Series … Plays for head coach Scott Hormann for Heritage High School.
Jackson Rutledge | RHP | 6-8 | 240 | R/R | St. Louis, Mo. (Rockwood Summit HS)
Ranked No. 176 nationally by Perfect Game … Went 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA while allowing 36 hits, 14 walks and 30 strikeouts in 32.1 innings as a junior … Attended the 2015 Perfect Game Jr. National Showcase … As a senior, went 7-1 with a 2.73 ERA while allowing 37 hits, 28 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 41.0 innings … Pitched one complete game as a senior … First Team Suburban XII South All-Conference … Second Team 5A All-State as a senior … Attended both the 2016 Perfect Game National Indoor Showcase and the 2016 Perfect Game National Showcase… Selected to play for the White Sox in the 2016 Area Code Games.
Daniel Tillo | LHP | 6-4 | 215 | L/L | Sioux City, Iowa (Iowa Western CC)
Ranked the No. 254 player in the nation in 2015 … Was 6-0 with a 0.98 ERA, giving up just 18 hits in 43 innings, while batting .495 with two home runs and 36 RBI at the plate as a junior … Named Third Team All-State baseball as a junior … Went 5-1 with 68 strikeouts while having a 3.08 ERA in 50 innings, while batting .373 as a senior … Named Second Team All-State as a senior … Sioux City Journal 2015 Male Athlete of the Year … Iowa’s 2015 Mr. Basketball … Attended the 2015 Perfect Game National Pre-Draft Showcase … Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 39th round of the 2015 MLB Draft … Went 0-0 with a 7.36 ERA and 7 Strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work as a freshman at the University of Kentucky … Transferred to Iowa Western for the 2017 season and plays under Marc Rardin.
Zebulon Vermillion | RHP | 6-5 | 175 | L/R | Prairie Village, Kan. (Shawnee Mission East HS)
Ranked the No. 375 player in the nation by Perfect Game … Played for the White Sox in the 2015 and 2016 Area Code Games … Honorable mention for All-Sunflower League in 2015 … 2016 Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention … Currently plays for Shawnee Mission East Lancer for Jerrod Ryherd.
