Latest SF Giants call-up was standout player on legendary college baseball squad

The SF Giants just called up the recently acquired Drew Gilbert from Triple-A. Earlier in Gilbert's career, he was part of one of the best college baseball teams in recent memory in the 2022 University of Tennessee squad.

Recent SF Giants call-up was part of great college baseball squad

Although they didn't end up going on to win the College World Series, the University of Tennessee's baseball program had a special team in 2022. The team was stacked at every position, with no real holes. From the lineup, to the rotation, and even in the bullpen, it was hard to find a weak point on this roster.

This team played like it too, even though they eventually got knocked out by Notre Dame in the postseason. Across the entire season, they lost less than 10 games, going a dazzling 57-9. The team also won the SEC title in both facets, going 25-5 during conference play and raising the trophy at the end of the SEC tournament.

Despite not winning it all, the players got their flowers, boasting a total of 10 guys drafted in the 2022 draft. It was the most of any program in that draft and broke Tennessee's record for total players drafted in any draft in the school's history.

The highest picked player from this team? None other than San Francisco's newest right fielder, Drew Gilbert.

Arguably the Vols' best hitter, Gilbert was taken 28th overall by the Houston Astros, and for good reason. He posted an absurd 1.128 OPS with a .362/455/.673 slash line. He was second on the team in RBIs (70), and led the team in doubles (21) to go along with the .362 AVG, which was also the team's best.

He didn't slow down once making his way through professional baseball. He posted a 164 wRC+ in his first taste of pro ball in 2022 and kept it up with a 133 wRC+ in 2023. This play was good enough to land him on the Top 100 Prospects list for several outlets, and make him one of the better outfield prospects in baseball, at the time.

Fast-forward to now, and Gilbert was the headlining prospect in the deal that sent longtime Giant Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets. After just 5 games in Triple-A Sacramento, Gilbert got the call to make his major League debut with the team in San Francisco.

While it's too early to tell what type of career Gilbert is going to have, there's no question about him being ready. He's performed in the brightest of lights while playing on one of the best college baseball teams we have seen in recent memory.

With him hopefully getting an extended look with the San Francisco Giants, it should only be a matter of time before he has his first big moment as a big league ballplayer.

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