When Tennessee's baseball team needs relief on the mound, pitching coach Fred Corral has no shortage of options to suggest to coach Todd Raleigh.
When Corral leaves Lindsey Nelson Stadium after Friday night's 7 p.m. SEC game between the Vols (19-23, 5-13 SEC) and Arkansas (27-11, 11-6), he goes home to a full bullpen there as well.
"It's funny,'' junior pitcher Nick Hernandez said Thursday. "When he first got to Knoxville he said, 'Can you guys help me move in?'
"The next thing we know we're moving seven or eight beds in the house. We were like, 'How many kids have you got?' ''
That answer requires explanation.
Corral and wife Cynthia, both of whom grew up in Ripon, Calif., have two of their own, Kaitlyn and Justin.
They fill out their roster with two nieces, a nephew, and here lately, a four-month-old grand-niece.
The population explosion happened in 2004, just about the time Corral was finishing his first stint at UT.
He had been pitching coach for Rod Delmonico in 2003 and 2004, helping develop Luke Hochevar into a top draft choice.
Corral's sister was having a tough time being a parent to her four children and they were staying with Corral's parents in Arizona.
"The whole situation came about by the fact that I'm blessed to have the most amazing wife on the planet,'' Corral said. "Not only in understanding the time frame put into baseball but her heart is amazing.
"Things were going good on my side of the family and she had it in her heart that these four children need that same opportunity.''
A week after the decision, Oklahoma called with an appealing financial package to a family with four new mouths to feed. So Corral joined the Sooners as pitching coach.
"Oklahoma is a good program,'' Corral said, "but the moment we got there, my wife said, 'Whatever you can do, please try to get us back to Knoxville.'
"We absolutely love Knoxville. It's the best place on the planet.''
When Raleigh was hired to replace Delmonico in 2007, he gave the Corrals the chance to come back.
"Fred had SEC experience,'' Raleigh said, "and he was very well thought of from people here at UT.
"The third factor was him wanting to come back.''
The Corrals consider their second term in Knoxville a prayer answered.
An older nephew, 20, wasn't able to come with them from Oklahoma. One niece and a nephew are teenagers and the oldest niece is a new mother.
At least one member of the pitching staff also views Corral's return a prayer answered.
Hernandez, who is from Miami, said Corral re-connected him with the Bible and attended his baptism.
"My parents really appreciate everything he's done,'' Hernandez said. "He's been great in my life.''
The 2009 season hasn't been an easy one for coaches or players. Things, however, are looking better.
The Vols have won seven of their past 10 games and taken SEC series against Mississippi State and LSU.
Part of UT's improvement is on the mound.
"The guys are pitching better,'' Corral said. "Coach Raleigh has done an outstanding job getting these guys into the buy-in process of where we're going as a whole.
"They're bowing their chests a little more. Everybody is picking it up a little bit.''
Corral thinks Hernandez or Bryan Morgado, two of his workhorses, could get to Hochevar's level if they improve their mental toughness.
He's also excited about the young talent already on board - Chad Bell and Rob Catapano are redshirting - and more arms that are coming in the most recent signing class.
"The future is definitely bright on the pitching side,'' Corral said.
If the present is more of a roller-coaster ride, Corral can always figure on something interesting going on at home.
"You go home every day thinking what you could have done differently,'' he said, "but to see my wife, it makes a lot of things just go away. Coming back to Knoxville has been everything we expected.
"Granted, any coach wants to win more than anything. But we're to the point where we're starting to do that.''
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 7
VolMoment writes:
What a Christian family. They will get their reward in Heaven!
vol4gzus writes:
Good article and nice to know Coach Corral has the right perspective on the field and off the field. For those decrying the pitching situation you got your answer......two solid pithing prospects are redshirting. So alot have been negatively commenting on pitching without possibly knowing the total situation. I don't know if the redshirt has anything to do with scholarships or not. Any insight on that anyone?
RoadTrip writes:
Pain before the gain when you rebuild the right way for long term success. Sure is nice having such a quality pitching coach for the long haul who wants to be here and has his priorities right. Be blessed, Coach!
olevole writes:
Coach C is a great coach and a great human being. He represents UT with class and has a deep understanding of the game. He has developed many pitchers into pros and guides young men the right way. We can only hope that he will stay.
I wish I knew why he isnt visiting the pitchers on the first time out.
VolsFan8 writes:
ole, he isn't visiting the pitchers on the mound because CTR doesn't let him. CTR wants to control every aspect of coaching and doesn't want any of the other coaches to get in his way. i have gone to several games where the only coaches there are CTR and Headley. i don't know where Lecroy or Corral are but all i can say is that they are not at the games. i have heard that they are out recruiting and thats why they are not present, but while Delmonico was here i never went to a game where all the coaches weren't there, and he was one of the best recruiters that always brought in the best talent. i think that CTR wants to coach all by himself.
vol4gzus writes:
IOW, you still wanted Coach D coaching here? Check scholarships available to Baseball team. Like I said earlier, redshirting two pitchers that are quality prospects. Why? Scholly limitations? Give the man time and get off this instant gratification mindset. We are not a baseball power that just reloads year after year. We hopefully will get there in time ,but it is a process.
If you don't see Coach Corral and Coach Raliegh is ok with it then just watch the game and not count bodies to see where everyone is.
Thanks Coach Corral for being a class act.
ralphie writes:
ctr neads to be replaced by th ok corral
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