Playing time sends UT's Lockwood to Carson-Newman

With Cody Hawn entrenched at first base for Tennessee, Jeff Lockwood is going elsewhere in search of playing time.

Lockwood, a first baseman/pitcher at UT and a former Halls High standout, is transferring to Carson-Newman College, Vols coach Todd Raleigh said.

"I think he wanted to play his senior year,'' Raleigh said. "He didn't play enough last year to satisfy him. I understand that. I have no beef with that."

Hawn started all 50 games last season and led Tennessee in batting average (.364) homers (22) and RBIs (81). Considering Hawn's durability and productivity, Raleigh conceded that there's little opportunity for anyone else at Hawn's position.

"It's a bad time to be a first baseman at UT," he said.

While Lockwood is leaving, junior left-handed pitcher Bryan Morgado decided to bring his mid-90's fastball back to Knoxville next season.

"Yeah, it was a little bit of a surprise," Raleigh said of Morgado's decision to put a major league career on hold. "Bryan truly believes in his heart he's a first-rounder and he had the confidence to come back and prove that.

"I think he's a first-rounder, too, and I think he's poised to have a great year."

Morgado opted to turn down an offer from the Chicago White Sox after being a third-round selection, 102nd overall, in the June draft.

The Vols recently lost centerfielder Kentrail Davis, the 39th overall pick in the supplemental first round, to a $1.2 million contract from the Milwaukee Brewers.

That one wasn't a surprise.

But when former South-Doyle star and UT signee Chad Bell decided to take the pro route after being picked in the 14th round by the Texas Rangers, UT coaches were caught a little off guard.

"Obviously the big blow was Chad Bell," Raleigh said. "He had a great summer in the Cape Cod League and that one hurt us. Losing both Chad and Bryan would have been a tough blow, but getting Bryan and his SEC experience back is a big boost."

Morgado was a second-team Freshman All-America two years ago and ranked third in the SEC with 104 strikeouts. He spent much of last season working out of the bullpen, going 4-2 with a 6.36 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings.

"It was an easy decision for me to come back for my junior year," Morgado said in a UT release. "I'm excited to be back in Knoxville and look forward to being part of the Tennessee baseball program for another season."

Raleigh thinks Morgado will return to the form he showed as a redshirt freshman after the success he had in the prestigious Cape Cod League this past summer. He went 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA for the league champion Bourne Braves.

"Yeah, I expect Bryan to go back into a weekend starting role for us for a couple of reasons," Raleigh said. "One is the emergence of Matt Ramsey (former Farragut star) in the closer role.

"Plus Bryan pitched phenomenal this summer in the Cape and expectations are high. I think Bryan really pushes us over the edge with that."

Mark Burgess is a freelance contributor.