There’s a number in Chad Bell’s head.
It’s preceded by a dollar sign.
“I’m going to keep it private,” Bell said.
The Texas Rangers, who selected Bell with the 424th overall pick in the 14th round of Wednesday’s Major League Baseball draft, are privy to that number.
“They know it,” the Tennessee signee said. “I know it.”
If the Rangers pay what the former South-Doyle High School standout and Walters State pitching ace is asking, then Bell will turn pro. If not, Bell will start at UT for the 2010 season with two years of eligibility remaining.
“So I’ve got the best of both worlds,” Bell said.
While Bell must decide on starting his career at UT, three current Vols must decide whether to continue.
Center fielder Kentrail Davis (39th overall pick) and pitchers Bryan Morgado (102nd) and Nick Hernandez (377th) must now decide to go pro or stay put.
Ty’Relle Harris (586th), the fourth UT player from this season to be drafted, has no collegiate eligibility left.
“Ty’Relle obviously is a senior so he doesn’t matter (for next season),” Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh said. “But the other three guys have some options. I think it’s a win-win. I think Nick is the one guy in particular who could improve his draft status.
“We certainly welcome them all back, but at the same time we planned for this. We didn’t just find out today and say ‘oh my goodness what are we going to do next year?’”
Since the free-agent draft began in 1965, UT has had a total of 108 players drafted a total of 119 times. That total does not include signees such as Bell.
Whether Bell comes to UT or turns pro could depend on his performance this summer in the prestigious Cap Cod League. Bell is playing for the Cotuit (Mass.) Kettleers. The season opener is today.
“I’m excited to see what’s going to end up happening,” Bell said. “A lot of the talk is that they’re going to come up here and watch me throw off and on over the summer, kind of see what they think and see how I do. We’ll see where it goes after that.”
Bell was 8-1 for Walters State as a sophomore with a 2.08 ERA. He started 12 games with five complete games and pitched 65 innings. He allowed 48 hits, walked 17 and struck out 78.
Bell, who was named Tennessee Junior Community College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, held opposing batters to a .198 batting average.
It’s the third time Bell has been drafted. He was drafted out of high school in the 25th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Forgoing pro baseball, Bell had his choice of attending UT and Auburn, before finally landing at Memphis. Before the season started, Bell made the switch to Walters State to keep his pro prospects open. Bell was drafted again last year, this time in the 37th round by the Cleveland Indians.
“It’s good to know that you’re wanted,” Bell said.
Davis, a rising junior and center fielder, was chosen Tuesday by the Milwaukee Brewers in the supplemental first round. Raleigh said it would “be tough for us to keep him” another season.
Davis told the Mobile Press-Register that playing two years in college was beneficial.
“I got my stock up a little bit more and matured as a player,” Davis told the newspaper. “I would encourage every high school player to get in a couple years of college. I’m really happy with my decision.”
Morgado, a rising junior, was picked by the Chicago White Sox in the third round.
“He didn’t have the best year ever,” Raleigh said of the lefthander, “but the pros don’t really look at that. They look more at what your ability is.”
Morgado redshirted in 2007 but returned in 2008 to rank third in the SEC in strikeouts with 104. He had 11.66 strikeouts per nine innings to rank high among national leaders.
Last season Morgado started five games and made 15 appearances out of the bullpen to finish with a 4-2 record and two saves with a 6.36 ERA. He struck out a team-high 75 batters in 52.1 innings of work.
“I am excited just about being taken,” Morgado said. “I was not expecting the White Sox at all but it is an awesome feeling. I am excited to get to work but right now I am just celebrating with my family.”
Hernandez, a rising senior and the pitching ace the last two seasons, was selected Wednesday by Philadelphia in the 12th round.
“I know he didn’t have the best year ever,” Raleigh said, “but I still felt like he would go higher — not to diminish where he went, because it’s a great honor to go.”
Hernandez was 4-5 with a 5.23 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 21 walks in a team-high 84.1 innings.
“I was hoping to go a little higher but I am excited and now I am just celebrating with my family,” Hernandez said. “I am excited about the Phillies. “I can say that I was drafted by the defending world champions and hopefully one day I will get to play for them. It was unexpected but the Phillies gave me a chance so we will see what happens.”
Harris, a right-hander, was chosen by Atlanta in the 19th round. In two seasons at UT, Harris was 6-6 with a 5.34 ERA, including 16 starts and two saves.
Former UT catcher Yan Gomes, who transferred to Barry University in Miami after the 2008 season, was selected in the 10th round by Toronto with the 310th pick.
Along with Bell, two other UT signees were drafted Wednesday.
Right-handed pitcher Jon Reed, from Tulsa, Okla., went in the 21st round as the 629th pick to Cincinnati. First baseman Cody Stubbs, from Waynesville, N.C., was selected by Boston in the 29th round as the 888th pick.
“Those we worry about, too,” Raleigh said. “There’s a little bit of anxiety going on. You just have to filter your way through it.”
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 24
mattj497 writes:
GO VOLS!!!!
OldSmokey writes:
Is it Football season yet?! Naw seriously hope he comes back and finishes the last 2 seasons with us.
Go VOLS!!
cjensen writes:
The baseball draft is one of the more bizarre things in modern sports. Anybody that knows where first base is and can occasionally hit a ball out of the infield will get drafted.
The Ball Organization throws a few dollars at them, the kid signs, the BO throws them in the meat grinder that the minor leagues is, and waits to see if anything comes out the other end.
So seldom is draft position so meaningless. There seems to be a low correlation between being drafted and making the Bigs. I guess it plays to their ego, but when you're picked 337th, such as Hernandez....here's a hint for Mr. H; get your education first...you'll probably be needing it.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
How many days, Ashley (GerryOp)?
stayingorange writes:
Raleigh sure reads like a complete jerk. Through the season trying to defend games it seemed a little more acceptable, but even here it's as if he simply can't be a player's coach and say anything actually positive. His quotes here certainly don't seem to uplift his players and they sure don't seem to make them feel encouraged to return. This is a fluff piece where he should provide the old "Bull Durham" standard quotes, yet he seems to almost sling mud and dig a deep hole.
I really wonder about this guy.
RJP11 writes:
I agree ... it may be out of context but how many ways are there to read, “Ty’Relle obviously is a senior so he doesn’t matter" ... nice PR coach. If that's not what you mean, don't say it like that.
I'm getting the sense that Coach Raleigh isn't going to "matter" around here much longer at the rate he's going.
thewalloffame#333843 writes:
Mr Jensen
The Phillies will be paying for Mr H's education and he will get to play professional baseball and not having to put up with Raleigh's antics any longer.Don't you wish you had that opportunity.
DC_Vol writes:
I agree with your post, Raleigh's comments and actions towards his players always seems to have a negative spin. I just don't understand how Raleigh expects to motivate current players to stay or inpsire future plays to sign with UT when his comments downplay his current players performance in almost every article.
“He didn’t have the best year ever,” Raleigh said of the lefthander, “but the pros don’t really look at that. They look more at what your ability is.”
Come on Raleigh focus on the positive a little. Can't you talk about Morgoda's amazing strikeout total for the season. Oh I know how you could be positive why don't you discuss what a great overall talent this kid will be with the proper coaching. LOL
TrouserCough writes:
I hate to pile on, but Raleigh just isn't warm and fuzzy. Generally, he is pretty abrasive. It's hard to understand why he hasn't figured out how to use the press or at least keep his comments neutral. I guess its of some value that we see who he really is, however, no one seems to like who he really is and obviously he doesn't care.
Volunatic writes:
Hey CJ-- one thing you didn't put in your post-- MLB rules require that if a player signs and plays at least two years, then the MLB organization that signed him has to pay for two years of college if the player elects to go that route in the future.
This is why Mike Rozier isn't taking up a football scholarship for UT right now. (I sure hope he's a good QB, btw.)
Volunatic writes:
What WallOfFame said...
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Let me help CTR out here.
Morgado - " the young man has everything you could ask for in a power left handed arm. Where his numbers might be lacking, I will take the blame. It takes innings to balance out poor numbers ( I am sure you can go back and look at Minor's numbers with the same amount of innings, his weren't much better) plus add the roller coaster affect that I provided no doubt he was going to get drafted. We are proud of his accomplishments."
Tyrelle " really proud of all he did here in his 2 years. I knew something like this would happen for Tyrelle. He wanted the ball always and came up big a great number of times. The Braves organization has a work horse type pitcher in him."
Hernandez "very consistant performer all year, the Phillies made a good choice as Nich is a proven strike thrower. If pro ball is his choice, look for great things as he will be asked to use his fastball more which should make his offspeed better. We hope he returns as in doing the same here will provide a great number of wins."
KD "no one plays harder than KD. Brewers are fortunate to have landed him that low."
Not really tough CTR.
I don't coach but I did stay at a Holiday inn.
Futurecoach16 writes:
You all are hypocrites. You attacked Fulmer when he would baby the players, saying things like "It's ok that he dropped 3 passes, it's ok that he fumbled at our own goal line" or avoided saying something bad, yet, when Raleigh tells it as it is, you attack him for not being a players' coach. None of those 3 guys that have the option to come back had the best year this past year, but have had some highlights. I'm sorry, but I'd rather have a coach that will say it straight instead of coddling the players. It'll only motivate them to work harder.
DC_Vol writes:
Exactly Vol4Ever.
Great point!!
See Raleigh was that so hard to be a little postive about your own players.
FWBVol writes:
On surface it seems there is a low correlation to being drafted in a higher round and making the big leagues, but if you really do some research the numbers support guys that are drafted at the top of the draft have a better chance of being a Major Leaguer than a lower round pick, and the money is much better.
An organization is more likely to give a player it has spent a lot of money on longer to develop than the bargain basement player.
And here's an interesting fact, since the MLB draft was started in 1965 only four of the 24 players in the draft era that are in the Hall of Fame were selected after the fifth round.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Funny how they all had better years last year. I guess the hard approach didn't get them better.
Maybe a third year is the charm.
Didn't Fulmer win alot of games with that approach?
CTR is a 50 percenter. His approach is exactly why.
Maybe the poor seasons had to do with the "man in the mirror" CTR.
the10sevol writes:
"Whether Bell comes to UT or turns pro could depend on his performance this summer in the prestigious Cap Cod League."
it's not quite as prestigious as the cape cod league, however.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
Congrats to Danny Wiltz who was picked in the 35th round by White Sox.
Best of luck to you.
What will be CTR's response?
a.) CWS will have a good pitcher with an excellent ch and upside.
b.) Danny didn't have a great year.....
c.) He doesn't have any eligibility. Next!
d.) b and c
4 pitchers drafted, could that have been more if we let our asst coaches coach?
VOLsince68 writes:
Can anyone really tell me why the let Delmonico go??? Raleigh does not impress me at all.
Go Vols!!!
us43137415#376444 writes:
Face it Vol Fans..
These draftees will be absorbed into the melting pot of MLB and we will never hear from them again, much less see them playing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
They'll never get there, because too many good players are in front of them, and in baseball, there's ALWAYS enough money to go around. Let them go, and colleges and the minor leagues will move everybody up one.
Still haven't seen Arencibia, Borbon, Alley, King, Rivera and many of the other major league "draftees" in the 250th rounds playing when and where we can see them. A short list of others, among them Headley and Hochevar fared better.
College baseball needs to get back to the old days, of just playing for tradition.. better yet, let's just do away with it altogether. Players can go from high school directly into the minors..they don't need educations. An "X" will still sign a contract.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
CTR couldn't have said it better.
Scratch that. Your name wouldn't be "Eyor" would it? "it will never work", " don't go", stay inside".
How many years did you play proball?
Are you that guy that still drops the ol' " I wish I would have...........( complete sentence with dream)
I am sorry. Just following the team, it just sounds too familiar.
thewalloffame#333843 writes:
You don't have a clue about this imbecile.He could not coach pee wee ball.Ask the players what they think about him and then make your comments.
thewalloffame#333843 writes:
Arencibia and Borbon will be in the majors this year or next.Stick with football.
gmoneyvol writes:
Bad hire, Mike. Please fix it.
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