Delmonico to assist Major League Baseball in China

Rod Delmonico’s first job away from the University of Tennessee will take him to the other side of the planet.

"Major League Baseball has hired him to travel to China on Aug. 1 to help it create a baseball institute in the mainland of China," Delmonico’s attorney Terry Adkins said Wednesday.

"He has done that for them before on a couple of different occasions in Italy and in Eastern Europe."

Delmonico, who was fired by UT on June 3 after 18 years as baseball coach, had been rumored to be taking a volunteer-assistant coaching position at Florida State University. He was replaced at UT by former Western Carolina coach Todd Raleigh.

Delmonico is a former FSU assistant and his son, Tony, recently transferred from UT to Florida State.

"I called Rod and he said he’s not joining Florida State’s staff as a volunteer assistant at this time," Adkins said. "He’s still looking for a head-coaching position.

"He’s committed to Major League Baseball for the month of August and they understand his situation. They’ll release him at any point and time if need be."

Delmonico is the all-time winningest baseball coach in UT history with 699 and three College World Series appearances.

The trip to China is a first for Delmonico, but the job at hand is nothing new.

He spent the past six summers working with MLB International’s European Baseball Academy.

The goal is to bring the game of baseball to areas with little history of knowledge of the American-born game.

Delmonico spent part of the summer of 2006 mentoring players with the Italian Baseball Federation. He also has spent time working in the Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Holland and Austria.

"He has built up a really good relationship with Major League Baseball," Adkins said. "Based on his availability they tabbed him to go to China."

Tony Delmonico, a former Farragut High School star and the Vols’ shortstop and second baseman the past two seasons, told the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat last Sunday he can’t wait to get things started with the Seminoles.

"When I first came out of high school, my dad and I had a long conversation about going to Florida State or playing for him," Tony Delmonico told the newspaper. "I didn’t even think twice about it (this time).

"It’s a great opportunity and it couldn’t come at a better time."

Florida State coach Mike Martin has told Delmonico he will likely start at second base next season for the Seminoles.

At UT this past season, Delmonico hit .325 with a team-high nine home runs and 49 RBIs.

"I want to get to the College World Series," Delmonico said. "I have a feeling Florida State is going to be pretty good next year."