Tennessee freshman outfielder Andrew Toles, 2011
Andrew Toles has been dismissed from the Tennessee baseball team, coach Dave Serrano announced Wednesday.
Toles, a sophomore center fielder, hit .270 as a freshman when he started 50 games, stole 21 bases and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
The loss of a starter up the middle of the defense is a blow for Serrano's rebuilding plans in his first season.
"Within all successful programs, there is a certain standard of accountability to which every member of the team must be held,'' Serrano said in a UT release. "Andrew and I have come to an agreement that this decision is in both of our best interests as we continue to move this Tennessee baseball program forward.
"Andrew is a talented young man, and we wish him nothing but the best in his future.''
Toles is from Fayetteville, Ga. His father, Alvin, was a star linebacker at UT in the 1980s and later played in the NFL. His uncle, Johnnie Jones, also was a 1980s UT football star.
Toles was a fourth-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins in 2010 and was one of only five players drafted in the top four rounds who elected to enroll in college rather than sign a contract.
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Comments » 18
Ironcity writes:
The only good freshman player Raliegh ever recruits and he gets kicked off the team. Oh well.
TennesseeTonyT writes:
Like so many of Kiffin's kids that got kicked off.
VOODOOley-2011 (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
OrangePride writes:
Without jumping to any conclusions regarding the reason for this parting, I'm sorry to see this young man having to be dismissed. I'm sorry to see any of them end their career here that way. But I am glad to see that CDS has set down some clear expectations for the team. I hope whatever the reason, Andrew gets it straightened away.
The_Ghost_of_Duke_DeLuca writes:
Wow. This kid had the potential to be a great one. Didn't always show the best judgment on the field last season (too eager and needed seasoning), but his speed and defensive skills are exceptional.
Best of luck to you, Mr. Toles. May you prosper wherever you wind up.
Meanwhile, kudos to Coach Serrano for managing the team and not letting the reverse take place.
Rockytop38 writes:
Always hate to see a good player leave, but I am sure there must have been a good reason.
LJS1984 writes:
Raleigh? Who's that?
VOLsince68 writes:
Nice!!!
Londonjohn writes:
Ed Ogeron, I know you're behind this. Come out from behind the fridge.
THEKIDWISCONSIN writes:
That is a blow. Do we have any idea what it was? Never read or heard anything bad about Toles and he tore it up in the Cape Cod League this summer...darn it!
But after enduring CTR I have the utmost faith in CDS. Had to be a good reason.
RockyMountainVol writes:
Double dose of Nice!!
thatsthetruthtruth writes:
He'll probably go to Walters State for the spring and get drafted again... It's amazing how baseball works. Kid gets dismissed from UT where he would have had to stay for the next two years to get drafted again. Now he will be rewarded for whatever he did by getting drafted next spring. Enjoy your spring in Morristown doing nothing and playing ball
TRUTH!
easygoing writes:
T R HAD NO CONTROL OVER THIS YOUNG MAN.
ACWLY writes:
Maybe the fans agree or maybe they don't. We have no idea as to why this kid was kicked off the team. A lack of accountability, that tells us a lot, the whole team could probably be released for that. So are we ever going to know what the kid supposedly did other than tick the coach off for some reason??? NOT GOOD
SummittsCourt writes:
For people wondering why he was dismissed keep in mind it really is none of our business why. All we need to do is trust the judgement of our new coach and move forward. Whatever the reason was, it had to be a good one. Now lets move on.
THEKIDWISCONSIN writes:
Negative. I think as fans who follow the program we have a bit of a right to know what goes on...within reason.
It's like the big hush-hush on the Janzen Jackson thing. Was it that hard to let the fans know he was a pot-head?
I trust CDS. And it'd make me feel a whole lot better if Toles situation was like Jackson's (of course he should be kicked off), but if it's something trivial...that's a lot of talent to let walk.
We're just curious.
us43137415#376444 writes:
Toles was dismissed because he did not attend a couple of mandatory meetings that all team members have to attend. During the off-season, players are required to attend mandatory conditioning, academic, strengthening and coordination, and other meetings as mandated by team rules, and Toles did not attend them, for whatever reason.
Actually, he's been gone from the team a little over a month.
He has also taken down his Facebook page, meaning he has abandoned what few friends he had, which is an indication that he has some growing up to do.
Ah.. the brashness of adolescence.
Leaving a team on good terms (medical, academic, personal, or family reasons) is usually viewed as acceptable and understandable, but simply not attending required meetings is not acceptable. Putting himself in the position of being dismissed from a team is a decision the player himself makes, not coaches, fellow players, parents, fans, advisers, Future Coach 16, the man-in-the-moon, or anybody else.
We will miss Andrew and raise a toast to his accomplishments, because if you ignore the team rules and regulations, you're out. Period. End of story.
I applaud CDS for using this as an example to the other players. Unexcused and unsolicited absences cannot be tolerated.
Have a care.. his excellent team mates will bounce back.. they do not, nor have they ever needed him to succeed. CDS has plenty of promising players who can step up.
seadaddy writes:
KNS its dec 16th 2011 don't you think its about time to take this down,it been up almost 3 months?????
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