With an orange Tennessee wristband hanging around his wrist, former Tennessee outfielder Drew Gilbert officially put ink to paper with the Houston Astros this week.
After a three-year career in Knoxville, Gilbert was selected by the Houston Astros with the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Less than 10 days after his name was called on-stage, Gilbert has now signed his deal and is posing for pictures in the Houston Astros’ threads.
Official. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/6HVpoRG6f3
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 26, 2022
According to MLB.com reporter Jim Callis, Gilbert signed a 2.5-million-dollar deal with the Astros.
After Gilbert signed his rookie Major League Baseball contract, the former Volunteer took a quick trip over to the University of Houston to see his old friend Ross Kivet. The former Tennessee assistant coach under Tony Vitello left the program prior to the 2022 season to become the hitting coach at Houston. Kivet began his Tennessee career in 2018.
First-round pick Drew Gilbert (right), who signed with the @astros today, stopped by @UHCougarBB to see his friend UH ass’t coach Ross Kivett (hitting coach), and they are with UH Coach @toddwhitting son, Tallon. pic.twitter.com/g5ip8PLc0x
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 26, 2022
Drew Gilbert provided Tennessee fans with countless unforgettable memories during his time in Knoxville. Gilbert was a dynamic, honest, emotional player that showed toughness and aggression at every turn.
No memory is perhaps as unforgettable as Gilbert’s walk-off grand slam during the 2021 Knoxville Regionals. The Astros used that moment to introduce Gilbert to their fans on social media when he was drafted.
Drew Gilbert, y’all.
(🎥: @Vol_Baseball) pic.twitter.com/DsiMVLi6oI
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 18, 2022
On the night of MLB’s draft, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello was part of MLB’s broadcast team. After Gilbert was drafted by Houston, Vitello delivered a powerful story to the audience.
“I can’t describe to people how he changed my life when he got to our program,” Vitello said on the July 17 broadcast. “He does things in the locker room and in the dugout that’s very tough to describe, especially in a short amount of time, but literally changed the way the program operates, thinks, competes, and works. He went to the place that he thought he could turn into one of the best baseball programs in the country – and he did it. He got our guys thinking about being on the attack, believing in themselves, and he set a very very high bar for work ethic.”
With the 28th pick in the #MLBDraft, we have selected OF Drew Gilbert from the University of Tennessee. #LevelUp pic.twitter.com/HxszAkGiEU
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 18, 2022
