{"id":657557,"date":"2026-04-01T22:39:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T22:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/657557\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T22:39:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T22:39:20","slug":"landen-roupp-knows-why-giants-boss-tony-vitello-missed-recruiting-him-in-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/657557\/","title":{"rendered":"Landen Roupp Knows Why Giants Boss Tony Vitello Missed Recruiting Him in College"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Francisco Giants<\/a> manager Tony Vitello<\/a> may not have Major League experience, but he does have experience coaching some members of his 40-man roster.<\/p>\n

As the head coach at Tennessee<\/a> for eight seasons, he and his coaching staff cranked out plenty of Major League talent. That includes current Giants Drew Gilbert and Blake Tidwell, both of whom are at Triple-A Sacramento but could be called up when needed.<\/p>\n

It also means that Vitello<\/a> has experience with other players on the roster that may have played at other colleges when he was in the coaching ranks, such as pitcher Landen Roupp. But it turns out they didn\u2019t cross paths until Vitello took over the Giants. Roupp thinks he knows why.<\/p>\n

Landen Roupp\u2019s Recruiting \u201cMiss\u201d<\/p>\n

Landen Roupp did NOT get recruited by Tony Vitello in 2017… The two can laugh about it now\ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n

“He always says he doesn’t know how he missed me, but I was also a 165-pound righty who threw 86-88, so that’s probly why he missed me.” <\/p>\n

(via Dirty Work w\/ @Adamcopes<\/a> & @dpapapops<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/LSzpmd5IHU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KNBR (@KNBR) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Roupp was born in Rocky Mount, N.C. and played his college baseball at UNC Wilmington. It isn\u2019t the SEC, but the Seahawks have played in the NCAA Tournament 12 times since 2003, including a couple of turns with Roupp on the roster. When Roupp was being recruited, Vitello was an assistant coach at Arkansas, and he wasn\u2019t beating down Roupp\u2019s door to recruit him. <\/p>\n

As he told KNBR\u2019s \u201cDirty Work\u201d show on Tuesday, he\u2019s pretty sure he knows why.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was also a 165-pound soaking wet right-handed pitcher who threw 86-88 [mph] so that\u2019s probably why he missed me,\u201d Roupp said. <\/p>\n

He grew into his frame and in his last collegiate season he was named the Colonial Athletic Association pitcher of the year. That led him to be selected by the Giants in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB draft.<\/p>\n

Roupp\u2019s first start under Vitello was terrific. He pitched six innings of two-hit baseball. He struck out seven and walked two. He left Monday\u2019s game with a 3-0 lead and claimed his first win of the season. He snapped the Giants\u2019 three-game losing streak to start the season.<\/p>\n

He seems to be getting along well with his new manager, so much so that he’s willing to give Vitello just a little bit of grief for not recruiting him in college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI joke with him and say, \u2018I would have gone to Arkansas,\u2019 and he’ll say, \u2018Don’t rub it in man,\u2019 Roupp said. \u201cHe always tells me he doesn\u2019t know how he missed me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roupp made his Major League debut with the Giants in 2024 as a reliever, making 23 appearances, finishing with a 1-2 record and a 3.58 ERA. Last season San Francisco stretched him out into a starter, as he made 22 starts, going 7-7 with a 3.80 ERA. Right elbow inflammation and left knee inflammation limited him the final two months of the season. \u00a0<\/p>\n