Raleigh making his pitch to keep draftees

BY MIKE STRANGE strangem@knoxnews.com
Updated Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Todd Raleigh visited Cape Cod over the weekend, but it wasn't for a clambake or sailing lessons.

It's re-recruitment time for college baseball coaches.

Tennessee's coach checked in with two pitchers who have decisions to make on whether to sign pro contracts or play for the Vols in 2010.

Chad Bell, a transfer from Walters State, and Bryan Morgado, who will be a junior if he returns to UT, are having nice summers in the Cape Cod League.

Bell, a South-Doyle alum, is 3-1 with a 1.34 ERA. He was a 14th-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in June.

Morgado is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA. He was a third-round pick of the Chicago White Sox.

"I saw Morgado pitch Saturday night and he was as good as I've ever seen him,'' Raleigh said.

"Chad and I had a great visit. (Sunday) night he pitched six-and-two-thirds (innings) and struck out 10. He's continued to be brilliant.''

The Vols are also anxious to see what happens with Kentrail Davis and Milwaukee. The outfielder was the 39th player taken, a supplemental first-round pick.

The suspense is over, however, for the four incoming freshmen who were drafted: They're all in summer school at UT.

Thus, pitchers Jon Reed (21st round, Cincinnati), Alan Walden (43rd round, Atlanta), Andy Hillis (49th round, St. Louis) and first-baseman Cody Stubbs (29th round, Boston) will play for UT.

Raleigh said he approached men's athletic director Mike Hamilton about the advantages of enrolling signees in summer school and Hamilton was receptive.

"I told Mike I knew it was going to be an (added) expense but look how much time and money we've put into these kids already in recruiting,'' Raleigh said. "I think it's a great investment.''

Freshman signees Michael Theodore and Chris Fritts are also in summer school.

"Baseball is unique,'' Raleigh said. "No other sport has to deal with the draft.

"We're not football or basketball so we're not giving a full ride. After we sign them, we've got to recruit them all over again and try to keep 'em out of the draft (or at least from signing after they are drafted).

"We decided we should get these guys attached to the University of Tennessee and get 'em on campus where they're not being hounded by scouts.

"Plus, we get 'em in the weight room and get 'em acclimated academically.''

Raleigh is cautiously optimistic about Bell and Morgado. They have until school starts on Aug. 17 to negotiate.

"Chad is extremely mature and he's been as honest and up front as any kid I've ever recruited,'' Raleigh said.

"He has a number in mind and if they don't meet his number, he'll come to Tennessee. I don't think he'll panic and take less than what he's asked for.''

In Morgado's case, a strong junior season at UT could boost him to first-round money in the 2010 draft.

Raleigh is less optimistic about Davis returning for his junior season. The Vols take some hope in the fact that Davis picked tough negotiator Scott Boras for his agent. A prior Boras client, UT pitcher Luke Hochevar, refused to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005 as a first-rounder.

"The truth of the matter is that they (Boras clients) tend to go to school more often than non-Boras guys,'' Raleigh said.

"Kentrail can still get better and he turned down a lot of money out of high school.''

Lost Who?: Raleigh was surprised to read last week that UT had "lost" pitcher Zac Fuesser to the draft. Fuesser, who pitched at Walters State last season, was a 34th-round pick by Pittsburgh. Fuesser told his hometown paper, The Herald of Rock Hill, S.C., he was planning to pitch for UT if the Pirates hadn't made an acceptable offer.

Raleigh said he had never heard of Fuesser and the only contact had been a phone call from an assistant coach to Fuesser's dad.

"We didn't 'lose' anybody,' '' Raleigh said. "That's not what happened.

Forsythe Done: Catcher Blake Forsythe's summer with USA Baseball's national collegiate team is finished. Forsythe hit .293 as the U.S. went 19-5, closing out with an 8-1 win over Germany in the title game of the Enbridge Northern Gateway World Baseball Challenge in British Columbia.

Roster Notes: Raleigh said all returnees are academically eligible and he expects no defections.

Also, Raleigh has had "positive conversations" with infielder Tyler Horne about returning. Horne, who had a blowout with Raleigh late last season, will attend UT regardless.

Another newcomer is third baseman Matt Duffy, a transfer from Vermont, was the America East Conference player of the year. Vermont cancelled its program.

Signee Khayyan Norfork, an infielder from Jackson State Community College, is hitting .161 in summer ball in Wisconsin. He hit .415 at Jackson State.