Catapano says UT offering better start

For the first time in a long time, Rob Catapano won't spend the spring playing baseball.

But as Tennessee's baseball team begins practice Sunday, Catapano is back in his old stomping grounds.

An All-American at Farragut High School, Catapano will open practice with the Vols after spending two years at North Carolina. The left-handed pitcher just won't be eligible until the 2010 season.

"That part's going to be tough, just sitting there watching the team play and not being able to do anything to help," said Catapano, who enrolled at UT for the spring semester. "But at the same time, it kind of gives me some time to see how things work here and see how the coaches coach and it gives me a little time to get my body in shape."

A pair of offseason surgeries -one to repair a hernia and another to remove bone chips in his left (throwing) elbow - would likely have slowed Catapano this spring even if he had decided to stay with the Tar Heels.

Despite contributing in trips to the College World Series in both his seasons with North Carolina, Catapano felt like a change was in order.

"I didn't think I had the greatest chance of starting there, and that's what type of pitcher I am," said Catapano, who had a 5-1 record and a 3.42 ERA in 46 career appearances with the Tar Heels. "I feel like I'm a different pitcher than what they thought I was there."

That's not to say Carolina wasn't fun.

"The overall experience there was probably some of the greatest times of my life," he said. "I really enjoyed all the opportunities I had there, all my friendships I built with my teammates and my roommates. Not many college baseball players or professional baseball players can say they got to play in the College World Series. I'm really thankful for the opportunity and chance I had there."

But, Catapano, who made seven starts last season after working exclusively out of the bullpen as a freshman, wanted a change.

The Vols offer a new opportunity with some familiar faces, and Catapano likes that.

Freshman catcher/pitcher Matt Ramsey and senior third baseman Cody Brown both played with Catapano at Farragut. Former Halls start Jeff Lockwood and former South-Doyle standout Cody Hawn both locked horns with Catapano in high school as well.

"That kind of helped out knowing some guys on the team and knowing I wouldn't be a complete stranger," Catapano said. "I knew (UT pitching coach Fred) Corral a little bit when I was in high school. I wasn't completely starting over.

"It was a new opportunity, a fresh start here at a new college."

Despite having to sit out the 2009 season because of NCAA rules governing transfer students, Catapano is eligible for this summer's major league baseball draft. He also plans to play in the Cape Cod League in the summer to gear up for 2010 with the Vols.

"Whatever opportunity seems the best at the time," Catapano said on the possibility of being drafted this summer, "(but) my No. 1 intention is to play at Tennessee next spring."

As a sophomore, Catapano had a 3.03 ERA and struck out 40 batters in 38 2/3 innings. His ERA would have ranked third on UT's team last year, and those 40 strikeouts rank ahead of anyone in the bullpen other than Joey Rosas, who had 47 strikeouts in 11 1/3 more innings.

And that's part of the reason this year's furlough won't be easy.

"It'll be neat sitting here and watching the team, how everybody plays and everything," Catapano said. "But at the same time it's going to suck sitting on the bench and knowing you can't help them out."

Drew Edwards may be reached at 865-342-6274.