By Jimmy Hyams
While Tennessee pitcher Kyle Serrano drew a line in the sand at $300,000 to sign with the Houston Astros, further evaluation led him to change his mind.
Serrano signed Thursday at 4 p.m. for $203,000 after being selected in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball draft in early June.
Serrano had intended to return to Tennessee for his senior year if Houston didn’t meet his request, even saying he looked forward to being a part of a “dynamic’’ pitching staff at Tennessee and that he had a good relationship with new UT coach Tony Vitello.
But when Serrano stepped back to assess the situation, finances, the risk of injury and going to school led him to sign a pro deal, according to his father and former UT coach Dave Serrano.
Former Vols Jordan Rodgers, a sixth round pick, signed for about $5,000; former Vols Jeff Moberg and Hunter Martin signed for about $1,000, Dave Serrano pointed out.
If Kyle Serrano had returned to UT, he would have lost his bargaining power and rolled the dice on staying healthy.
“When Houston jumped up $70,000 from the slotted position,’’ Dave Serrano, “Kyle felt (signing) was the right thing to do.’’
Even if Kyle Serrano had been a second-round pick next year, he might not have gotten much more than $200,000, Dave Serrano said.
Dave Serrano said Kyle’s advisors, the Boras Group, thought accepting the Astros’ offer was the right thing to do.
Houston also agreed to pay $40,000 so Kyle Serrano could finish his college education.
Nonetheless, Kyle signing was a tough decision because “he really liked the (UT) coaching staff,’’ Dave Serrano said of Vitello and new pitching coach Frank Anderson.
“It’s real important that I say what a wonderful job they did courting him,’’ Dave Serrano said. “I’m very grateful for that.
“I have a lot of respect for what they’re trying to do and how they handled my son.’’
Another factor for Kyle Serrano was having had Tommy John surgery two years ago.
“He’s only pitched nine innings the last two years, he’s had Tommy John surgery and he was in a rehab center,’’ Dave Serrano said. “Despite those three things, Houston still offered that amount of money.’’
