Landen Roupp Knows Why Giants Boss Tony Vitello Missed Recruiting Him in College

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello may not have Major League experience, but he does have experience coaching some members of his 40-man roster.

As the head coach at Tennessee 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.

It also means that Vitello 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’t cross paths until Vitello took over the Giants. Roupp thinks he knows why.

Landen Roupp’s Recruiting “Miss”

Landen Roupp did NOT get recruited by Tony Vitello in 2017... The two can laugh about it now😅

"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."

(via Dirty Work w/ @Adamcopes & @dpapapops) pic.twitter.com/LSzpmd5IHU
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 31, 2026

Roupp was born in Rocky Mount, N.C. and played his college baseball at UNC Wilmington. It isn’t 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’t beating down Roupp’s door to recruit him.

As he told KNBR’s “Dirty Work” show on Tuesday, he’s pretty sure he knows why.

“I was also a 165-pound soaking wet right-handed pitcher who threw 86-88 [mph] so that’s probably why he missed me,” Roupp said.

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.

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

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.

“I joke with him and say, ‘I would have gone to Arkansas,’ and he'll say, ‘Don't rub it in man,’ Roupp said. “He always tells me he doesn’t know how he missed me.”

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.