When college classes begin in late August, Ryan Casteel will remain in Cleveland rather than traveling to Knoxville.
The Bradley Central catcher signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Tennessee last September, but has decided instead to go to Cleveland State Community College. He signed the papers on Monday.
"I wouldn't get to catch (at UT)," he said. "If I'm going to get drafted it will be as a catcher and not as an outfielder."
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Comments » 35
MadMax writes:
Way to go Todd. Pick up the phone and call your recruits, it's not like you can afford to lose any of them. I am betting it is just one more year of this miserable baseball you have brought to UT before a change is made.
mlbrown5454 writes:
wait, when did we get a baseball team?
i thought we had one in the early 2000's, but softball beat them off campus since.
olevole writes:
Brandon King, All-State pitcher from West Virginia also signed last fall but now has decided he doesnt want to play at UT and is trying to get released from his letter of intent.
What is going on here? In addition to some big but expected losses in graduation, underclassmen are celebrating their departure in the draft, signees are jumping ship,and the state's top-ranked players are heading to other SEC and ACC schools. Who else is getting ready to run? How much more can we afford to lose before the proram is no longer competitive?
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Did any of you actually read the article? Here are some quotes, mostly from the kid himself:
"I wouldn't get to catch (at UT)," he said. "If I'm going to get drafted it will be as a catcher and not as an outfielder."
"For whatever reason - and it was probably signability - they didn't draft me," he said. "I guess I was asking for too much money."
"I think they didn't want to pay what I was asking. I overpriced myself. Next year I'll know what to say and what not to say,"
"Because he is going to a junior college, Casteel won't have to sit out a year, and he will be eligible again for next year's draft. If he had gone to UT he would not have been eligible for the draft until his junior year..."
"I think he wants to play pro baseball and I think he decided he didn't want to tie himself down for three years," Bradley Central coach Travis Adams said.
orngbluded writes:
Wow,now we are loosing recruits to cleveland st. community college,well it sounds like Mike Hamilton will have to start making his list on a new manager.Heck go hire Tommy Fahr from CAK.Im sure he can do just as good of a job.
CanestoVols writes:
There are a number of prime prospects down Geogia way with ties to Tennessee waiting for the program to rebound and will go JUCO until that happens. I'm not going to bash CTR who is the obvious choice if blame is to be handed out. I'd prefer to work at figuring out how to right the ship and get things going in the right direction at UT. I feel we need players who love baseball and UT who just want to wear the orange and not necessarily players looking to go pro. IT BEGINS WITH RECRUITING. The program needs DEDICATED players that will stay with the Vols for 4 years of growth and development (but UT MUST insure that they get that growth and development). That could still happen with the right players, the right attitude, and the right work ethic....but will not happen as long as we continue with the blame game.
CanestoVols writes:
I've got two prime suggestions for Mike Hamilton's short list if that's the course he see's fit to take: (1) Stuart Chester-Cartersville High School who has 5 AAA State Titles in 12 years (2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009) of coaching the Cartersville Canes; and (2) Bobby Howard-Columbus High School who has 9 State Titles in 25 years of Coaching the Columbus Blue Devils. Yes, these are high school coaches, but the absolute hands down best long-term, proven coaches in the State of Georgia. Both play the game the right way and most importantly win. Go Vols!
armyvol22 writes:
This kid sounds like he wants the position given to him instead of working for it. If he is good enough for the pros (but he asked for to much money) at catcher seems like he could beat out the current UT catcher, but it sounds like he doesn't want to try. Maybe he isn't as good as he thinks he is. It is all about him. We need team players.
eefor10c writes:
IF you read the article it appears this kid has an ego that is out of this world. He isn't thinking of helping out any team, he is interested ONLY in what will get him drafted. He PRICED himself out of the draft--sounds as if he thinks he is a great player but the scouts don't think he is that good.
volboy81 writes:
we should have hired the Arizona State guy that used to coach at Maryville College! It doesnt say too much for Raleigh that 5-6 players were drafted, yet we cant beat most of the small in-state schools, muchless the other SEC teams!
brmvol#231732 writes:
Why would Pat Murphy leave ASU to come to Tennessee? Arizona State is one of the top 5 baseball jobs in the country, right up there with Texas and LSU. Murphy isn't going to leave Tempe for Knoxville, nor should he.
This whole thing is not an issue. The kid knows he won't start at UT. The Vols have an outstanding returning catcher and it's apparent from reading his quotes that Casteel wants to be a one and done and on to pro baseball guy. If he were to come to UT he would have to wait until after his 3rd year to be eligible for the draft again and sign a pro contract. By going to Cleveland State, a junior college, he will be eligible to be drafted and sign next June. Some of the repliers here need to get a grip and actually read the stories before commenting on them.
stayingorange writes:
Because of NCAA & MLB draft rules there are various circumstances that lead kids to juco, which the article explains. I won't fault his decision, though I wish he were a Vol.
The BIGGEST thing in this story is yet another indication of Raleigh's childish, unprofessional, top down mentality that he wouldn't actually call the kid and speak to him, but rather repeatedly texted him. Those of you questioning the kid's ego, let's consider who should be the adult and set the example of a leader here.
Intheknow30 writes:
Peronally I think that CTR is in trouble to even be the coach this fall. But knowing that Hamilton already knows plenty to warrant a firing, maybe he will still be sticking to his guns when the tennessee baseball program posts its gorgeous 12 man roster in september. I strongly believe we will not get a single pitching recruit onto UT's campus, and hesitate to imagine any hitters would like to brave the storm.
I have heard rumors of some of our most talented freshmen from last year heading to juco.
this will get worse before it gets better. Corral was a major factor in pitchers being able to justify being a vol under raleigh.
brmvol#231732 writes:
Coach Raleigh isn't going anywhere. He'll be here for at least two more years.
Don't believe every rumor you hear.
jmr68ut writes:
Cleveland!! Is that our competition?? OMG!!!
armyvol22 writes:
This is BS. Hell if I had a kid that did not want to play for me I would say NEXT. This kid does have an ego and and all he has played is high school baseball. Raleigh should have an ego. I would not want a coach without an ego. It is hard to find a kid now a days that wants to play for a school first...now it is all about me. UT does not need this guy if he doesn't want to work for a position on the field. He wants to go pro and priced himself to high for the draft this year. Poor guy looks like it is all his fault.
rockytopspottedbirgdog writes:
trust me...i have played with and against ryan for about the past 5 years and his work ethic and ego should never be called into question. He simply has a dream to play in the major leagues and believes this is the best way for him to get there. Ryan is a huge Vols fan but believed that he had a better chance to succeed at Cleveland State, which is a very good junior college program. He also is probably acting on a little emotion that he did not get drafted this year which he was expected to do.
Intheknow30 writes:
Lets just say I know more than you do and leave it at that. But I do think Raleigh will be here for all of next season... not because he deserves it, but because Hamilton is obviously insane. I think that even if the roster has less than 20 players at the start of the semester(something I imagine to be highly likely as long as players can come up with remotely reasonable alternatives), Hamilton will still not get the message.
And bite me. I wish i could mention names but I cant. I know plenty are strongly considering a transfer.
halloffamebowler writes:
we are non competitive now.It started the day this joker was hired.
Volin68 writes:
And we fired Delmonico because why?
Futurecoach16 writes:
Ok, most of are either illiterate, or just plain stupid. It says in the article that he wants to catch and play professionally. Coming to UT would be a bad choice for both of them. Having an upcoming junior catcher who earned All-Region and All-SEC catcher ahead of you makes it difficult to come in here. Give the guy a break. You all are such bandwagon fans. You're the same people that are all "we love the baseball team" when they won at LSU and swept Vandy.
brmvol#231732 writes:
Bite yourself. You aren't the only one who has contacts.
Name names or can it.
Players at every program every year talk about transferring. More times than not it's just talk and nothing else. If a player doesn't want to be at UT, then they need to go elsewhere. More times than not a player who leaves because of a coach wasn't good enough to play, anyway.
Vol_Ball_Fan writes:
The kid wanted to play catcher!! Don't dog him because he went to a school that was going to let him to play catcher. UT wanted him to be an outfielder. That isn't a recruiting problem that is a kid making a decision that is best for him. He is going to a CC which means in 2 years he will probably end up in MLB or at UT. A bench player in baseball is much worse than a bench player in basketball.
CynicalCitizen writes:
Mostly because he was an idiot. The problem was hiring a bigger fool to replace him.
murrayvol writes:
Good post Jeff.
Should clear things up for those who never get past a headline that includes "spurns Vols".
murrayvol writes:
Uh, what?
KingVol writes:
Long live Big Rod.
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
Amazing the people who post on this site. Talking about one track minds. You don't like Raleigh fine but this kid not coming here has nothing to do with the way Raleigh does things. You guys need to take a break and get a little knowledge about the situation before you show your ignorance. Junior college is the only way to go when a kid is not wanting to commit for three years and has his eye on the draft the following year. If the NCAA had the same rules, you would see many of these kids going to Div one schools instead of Jr college. As it stands now, many Jr. colleges have as much or more talent then many Div one schools. But don't be ignorant and blame a kid going to a Jr college as a bad mark on Raleigh. It has nothing to do with him.
KingVol writes:
Todd Raleigh could not coach Farragut to a win against the Michael Dunn Center.
bballvol1234 writes:
In CTR's defense (don't ask why i'm doing this) but in his defense this kid has waffled about five different times since signing with the vols...if you believe they(cleveland st.) didn't contact him since he signed here you know nothing about recruiting. Furthermore, if he is crying because he isn't going to catch his freshman year he doesn't belong at this level anyway he wouldn't catch anywhere in the SEC next year freshmen rarely do because of the responsibility of the whole pitching staff versus 3-4 guys on a high school team and besides baseball is such a different game in college compared to high school (especially sec baseball) he's not going to catch over Forsythe (1st team all sec catcher)...Bottomline is someone told him he was way better than he is and he asked for too much so he decided to go and not be tied down in JUCO and then next year he'll probably be drafted late and sign for very little because he wants to get drafted so bad good luck to him but there are other ways to play than being the everyday catcher as a freshman (DH, second catcher catching to give the other guy a day off which forsythe could use)
vol4gzus writes:
Nice touch bringing a place for those with developmental disabilities into an article on baseball. The issue many have is with the coaches mannerisms/methods etc. I believe his leting Corral go was ok if they were not going to be on the same page. That said I didn't like him letting coach Corral go. The manner that came off was not the smoothest piece of media handling at all. The new pitching coach has decent credentials so we will see.
That said ,on topic, I can plainly read this is a youngster trying to determine the best route to achieve his dream of playing in the Bigs. He sees an all-sec catcher in front of him and doesn't want to play two positions at UT. He believes one year juco and drafted again with lower $ expectation and he is on his way. So let's watch the drama play out with the rest of the players currently on board.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
This makes alot of sense now. I just posted under the new PC segment and the only thing Corral mentioned about CTR was that he never talked, it was all text and emails. To hear what CFC says he never had a problem with CTR, they never talked. CTR can't talk listen to his interviews.
Vol4ever_1 writes:
I had to re-read the article.
Sounds like CTR did not like this kid. Kind of like Brandon King that was drafted. Maybe he expected more. Can play pro ball but not for CTR.
The kid maybe needed to be told he would split time with Blake. The reason Blake caught everygame is because he had to.
Maybe he should have text the above. What was I thinking.
CTR is out of his league.
us43137415#376444 writes:
With all due respect to the posters above (and some of them are very good), I think everybody missed the point. Read the Chatt Times-FreePress article:
"Coach Raleigh called my dad (over the weekend) and asked that I call him ASAP. I called him and he said he'd call me back and then he started texting me. He tried to talk me out of going juco. He kept texting but wouldn't call me back," Casteel said. "He knew I was thinking about it, and I finally told him through text (message) I wasn't coming."
Casteel said he told Raleigh through text messaging because the coach wouldn't call him back."
THE COACH WOULDN'T CALL HIM BACK? CTR called him on the phone FIRST, and then could not talk to him..he could only text him. That burned my eyes the first time I read it.
Now I've heard everything. If you don't want the dude, or don't have a place for him, or have philosophical differences with the kid, have the decency and the professionalism to talk to him, either on the phone or in person. Nobody is THAT busy. I think you use the same fingers to text, to dial a phone (of course this is the 21st century). Imagine talking to the CEO of IBM about a job, by TEXTING him.
Some things cross the line, and this one did BIG TIME.
What's next? Texting the pitcher on the mound during a game? Better yet.. use Nextel Quick-Connect.
Considering many of our players come from JUCO's, CTR is making yet another bonehead decision by burning that bridge.
sully95 writes:
Mike Hamilton's close family got Todd Raleigh the job at UT. He barely had a .500 win% in the SOCON.
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