Garciaparra not regretting minor move over Vols

SEVIERVILLE - Huntsville Stars infielder Michael Garciaparra envisoned himself as two-sport athlete at the University of Tennessee until the Seattle Mariners made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

The younger brother of major leaguer Normar Garciaparra signed with the Vols but had a change of heart after Seattle selected him 36th overall - supplemental first round - in the 2001 Major League draft and offered him a $2 million signing bonus.

The 25-year-old Whittier, Calif., native is with his fourth organization. Garciaparra hooked up with Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Brewers after being let go by Seattle in 2007. Yet, he has no regrets.

"I've learned a lot," he said Wednesday at Smokies Park where the Stars are playing a four-game series with the Tennessee Smokies. "I've got to experience a lot of things you never get to experience in life."

Garciaparra isn't discouraged by his inability to reach the majors.

"This is my seventh year, and some might say playing seven years is too long but if I went to college, I'd be playing only three or four years (in the minors)," he explained. "I've had some rough years but I've learned a lot about the game that I thought I knew. To this day I still learn things and I've had a good time."

Garciaparra was a star soccer player at Don Bosco Technical High School. He had ambitions of starring at UT as a placekicker and shortstop.

A visit to Big Orange Country left an impression.

"I'm from Southern California," he said. "Everybody wants to play ball out there. I visited Tennessee, Clemson and Tulane. I guess I just liked orange, the tradition, and getting a chance to play baseball and football at a school like that would have been a great opportunity. I felt like I picked a school that was a good fit for me."

Garciaparra and Preston Mattingly, the son of Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly, were two of UT's high-profile signees during the Rod Delmonico era. Like Garciaparra, Mattingly, also an infielder, was a supplemental first-round pick - 31st overall - in 2005 and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I was lucky enough to have a lot of options," said Garciaparra, who is hitting .192 in 14 games with the Stars.

Garciaparra is getting a fresh start with Milwaukee and has no intention of giving up his dream.

"I feel like I'm an old guy on this team," he smiled and said. "There really isn't a timetable. Nowadays there are so many older players sticking around and taking care of their bodies better and lasting longer. People are playing into their 40s.

"I feel I still have something to offer. I'll play as long as they let me play the game."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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