Who was Morgan Wallen the Gibbs baseball star? How he is an example of perseverance

The sound of a pop changed the course of Morgan Wallen's life.

Geff Davis, baseball coach at Gibbs High School, hoped the sound was merely the ball hitting a leather glove following Wallen's pitch. But after the young, soon-to-be country music star tossed another ball, he gave his coach a look that said it all.

Wallen tore his UCL, a ligament in his elbow. He had Tommy John surgery and was unable to play defense his senior year. His days as an infielder were over, meaning his college baseball dreams were, too.

“It was tough. It was sad,” said Davis, who is entering his 27th season coaching his alma mater. “I know that had to be aggravating for him.”

While it was the most devastating moment in Wallen’s life to that point, it led him to follow his musical passions.

“I do think that was a point where he started focusing on his musical talents,” Davis said. “Who knows? If he don't have the Tommy John surgery, we may not know Morgan Wallen now."

Wallen is scheduled to perform Sept. 20 and 22 at Neyland Stadium, home of Tennessee Volunteers football. The homecoming shows are among a small handful of concerts the Knoxville venue has hosted over the years and fall amid Wallen's world tour and at the peak of his career so far.

Who was Morgan Wallen, the Gibbs baseball player?

Davis and his coaching staff knew Wallen had talent as a sophomore. He was an impressive hitter and an even better shortstop. His athletic gifts at the position made him a defensive “anchor,” Davis said.

Wallen also was a useful arm in the bullpen. Those traits were amplified with another attribute: intense competitiveness.

“He was always one of those guys that you wanted to go into combat with,” Davis said.

In Wallen’s junior season in 2010, Gibbs finished 31-11 and won a Class AA state championship. In the 8-7 championship win over Spring Hill, Wallen had two RBIs.

Davis respected his star shortstop’s talent as much as his dedication to making it as a collegiate baseball player.

“He was one of these kids that you see that has drive and determination,” Davis said.

In his senior season after his UCL injury, Wallen was a designated hitter with a .347 batting average, 30 RBIs, six doubles and five home runs.

The team knew about his love for music, often opting for hip-hop instead of the usual Pearl Jam during warmups, and everyone at school knew about his singing ability. He lent his voice to the chorus at Gibbs High School, the same school country superstar Kenny Chesney attended.

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How Morgan Wallen continues to inspire Gibbs High School

The last time Davis saw his former shortstop was in March 2023 when Wallen performed at Gibbs. Wallen attended the Eagles’ 2021 Class 2A state baseball tournament first-round game in Murfreesboro and gave a quick but effective pep talk. Gibbs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Watertown 4-3 before eventually capturing the state title with a 14-8 win over Pigeon Forge.

“Morgan said, ‘Get off your you-know-what and start hitting the ball,’” Davis recalled. Davis would gift Wallen a 2021 Gibbs state championship ring.

Davis is proud but not surprised by the man Wallen has become: a superstar who still performs back home. He sees his former player as an example of perseverance.

“So even though life will present roadblocks like UCL and Tommy John surgeries, you know, life will have its roadblocks, but you learn how to take an alternate course, maybe to make yourself successful,” Davis said.

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email [email protected]. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Morgan Wallen was Gibbs baseball star in Knoxville before music career