After spending the last three years at the University of Tennessee, former Vol baseball outfielder Jordan Beck became a fan favorite among the Tennessee faithful. Beck’s big bat, motor in the outfield, and rambunctious personality were almost always on display as the Hazel Green, Alabama native gave his all for the Vols.
Now, Beck is heading to Colorado after being selected with the No. 38 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. The Rockies were linked to Beck for weeks heading into the draft, and on Sunday night, Colorado was able to submit their pick and lock up the dangerous hitter.
With the Rockies seemingly having their eye on Beck for some time now, it makes sense why the social media team was so fired up about the selection. The Rockies got their guy and they were excited about it.
Around 11:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Tennessee Baseball posted the video of Beck’s official selection on Twitter. The Rockies’ social media account fired back a response, referencing one of the fan-favorite stories from the Vols’ season.
“Mike Honcho!?” the Rockies posted to Twitter with a smirking and laughing emoji. “Welcome to CO, Jordan!”
Mike Honcho!? 😏😂 Welcome to CO, Jordan!
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 18, 2022
MLB Draft x Tennessee Baseball: Colorado Rockies Select Jordan Beck With 38th Pick In MLB Draft
Right after the Rockies selected Beck at No. 38, Colorado’s social media team posted the official image showing off their pick. One Twitter user, @ClasslessVol, replied to the Rockies’ post saying, “I hope y’all enjoy watching baseballs being hit very far because that’s exactly what you’re going to get from Mike Honcho. Great pick.”
It seems as though that is exactly what the Rockies are looking for.
“We love that here actually,” the Rockies responded to the fan on Twitter.
We love that here actually.
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 18, 2022
The Ballad of Mike Honcho
Back in April, during Tennessee’s away series against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Jordan Beck had a first-inning home run overturned due to an illegal bat. Later in the game, while being interviewed by the television broadcasters from the dugout, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello dropped the reference that is still being used today. Vitello went back in his memory bank and found a reference to the 2006 classic Talledega Nights starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.
“I guess the sticker came off during [batting practice],” Vitello said during the interview. “There was no sticker on the bat, you’ve gotta have a sticker. We’ve actually, since I learned that, we’ve got a few bats that somehow, conveniently, the stickers have come off. So I don’t know. I don’t even know that Jordan Beck should be at the University of Tennessee. He forged his transcript. He’s actually a 35-year-old man named Mike Honcho.”
Within a few days, fans were wearing official Mike Honcho jersey t-shirts to the Vols’ baseball games and all around town.
Tony Vitello with an all-timer explanation on why Jordan Beck's homer didn't count. The end is hilarious. #MikeHoncho pic.twitter.com/J4xIKfIq69
— Karthik Venkataraman (@KarthikV_) April 2, 2022
