MLB Draft recap: Five Vols selected in 2017

MLB Draft recap: Five Vols selected in 2017

Posted on June 15, 2017
MLB Draft / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Volunteer baseball program had five players selected by four different organizations in the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft (Monday, June 12 – Wednesday, June 14).

On Tuesday, Tennessee third baseman Jordan Rodgers was selected in the sixth round (170th overall) by the Atlanta Braves, becoming the first Volunteer draftee in 2017. He was later joined by Kyle Serrano (10th round — Houston), Zach Warren (14th round — Philadelphia), Hunter Martin (20th round – Houston) and Jeff Moberg (30th round — Colorado) as Tennessee’s five draft selections this year.

Since the Major League Baseball Draft began in 1965, Tennessee has witnessed 55 players selected in Rounds 1-10. With this year’s picks, the Volunteers hold an all-time total of 132 players drafted out of Rocky Top.

Here’s a quick look at Tennessee’s 2017 MLB Draft picks:

Named a First Team All-SEC third baseman as a senior, Jordan Rodgers hit a career-best .322 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 2017. He committed just four errors over 160 total chances with 117 assists at the hot corner, good for a .975 fielding percentage.

Rodgers became the 54th Volunteer to be selected in the top 10 rounds of the draft since 1965 and is now the first UT draftee by the Atlanta organization since Ty’Relle Harris was selected in the 19th round of the 2009 draft.

Click HERE for the complete release on Rodgers.

Entering the 2017 season, Kyle Serrano ranked No. 93 on Baseball America’s Top 100 Draft Prospects list. He went 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA over nine appearances prior to his departure from the program in April due to personal reasons. In 9.2 innings of work, he struck out 21 batters and held opponents to a .194 batting average.

Serrano is the first Astros draftee out of Rocky Top since VFL Matt Duffy was selected by the franchise in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Click HERE for the complete release on Serrano.

Zach Warren claimed Tennessee’s Saturday starter role to begin 2017 before transitioning into one of UT’s go-to relievers. He started 11 of 18 games, posting a 2-5 record with one save and 6.31 ERA while collecting 34 strikeouts over 51.1 innings of work.

Previously drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (23rd round — 2014) out of high school, Warren is the first pick by Philadelphia out of Rocky Top since fellow lefty VFL Bryan Morgado was taken in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB Draft.

Click HERE to view the full release on Warren.

After claiming Tennessee’s Friday night starter role in 2017, Hunter Martin finished the season ranking ninth in NCAA Division I baseball and tied for first in the SEC with four complete games. He ranked fourth in the league with a 5.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio, as well as second among SEC pitchers with just 1.55 walks allowed per nine innings.

This season, Martin started a career-high 14 games, posting a 5-7 record with a 3.59 ERA with a career-best four complete games and 89 strikeouts in 92.2 innings of work. He led the Vols’ staff in multiple pitching categories, including innings pitched and strikeouts.

For the complete release on Martin, click HERE.

As a redshirt senior in 2017, Jeff Moberg hit .311 with 10 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 33 RBIs over 51 games at second base. He ranked second on the Vols’ squad in batting average and tied for first with nine homers, while his 108 total bases on the year were the most for Tennessee’s offense.

Moberg becomes the first Rockies draftee out of Knoxville since former Vol outfielder John Czarniecki was selected in the 25th round of the June 2003 Draft. He is also the 132nd all-time player drafted out of Tennessee since 1965.

To read the complete release on Moberg, click HERE. 

-UT Athletics

Remembering Waylon Jennings’ 80th Birthday With His No. 1 Hit From ’80, “Theme From the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” [Listen]

Remembering Waylon Jennings’ 80th Birthday With His No. 1 Hit From ’80, “Theme From the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” [Listen]

Posted on June 15, 2017

It’s often hard to pinpoint who started a movement. But in every musical offshoot there is inevitably someone who rises to the forefront and whose name becomes synonymous with the new direction. When it comes to the Outlaw Movement, that someone is Waylon Jennings, who was born on June 15, 1937, in Littlefield, Texas, and died on Feb. 12, 2002.

In honor of what would be Waylon’s 80th birthday today, let’s revisit Waylon’s 1980 No. 1 hit, “Theme From the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys).”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2ZuR9BTXg

photo courtesy Big Machine Records

Take a Peek Inside Alan Jackson’s New Downtown Nashville Venue, AJ’s Good Time Bar [Photo Gallery]

Take a Peek Inside Alan Jackson’s New Downtown Nashville Venue, AJ’s Good Time Bar [Photo Gallery]

Posted on June 15, 2017

“It’s time for a good time.”

That’s what Alan Jackson sang in his 2008 No. 1 hit, “Good Time,” and that’s what he’s created with his new AJ’s Good Time Bar.

The four-level building on Nashville’s Lower Broadway boasts more than 6,000-square-feet of good timin’ fun, including a honky-tonk on the first floor, a man cave on the second floor, a fishing-themed third level (the bar is a replica of AJ’s Hullbilly boat from his “5 O’clock Somewhere” video) and a rooftop bar. The venue also sports wall-to-wall memorabilia from throughout Alan’s career, televisions for watching the big games, stages for live performances and a karaoke bar.

After opening the first two floors in 2016, the third floor and rooftop patio are now open.

Take a look inside AJ’s Good Time Bar below (click the link if the gallery doesn’t appear below).

photos by Jason Simanek

Watch Trace Adkins Perform “Something’s Going On” & “Watered Down” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Watch Trace Adkins Perform “Something’s Going On” & “Watered Down” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Posted on June 15, 2017

Trace Adkins stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (June 14) to perform “Watered Down” and the title track of his new album, Something’s Going On, which dropped in March.

“The first couple of lines of ‘Watered Down’ just hit me right between the eyes the first time I heard it,” said Trace to Nash Country Daily. “There are some songs on the new album like ‘Watered Down’ that really are very personal, and speak to where my head is right now, but you have to balance that stuff out with some fun stuff too. It’s not a departure. It’s not different—I don’t think—from what fans have come to expect from me over the years. It’s just another collection of the best tunes I could get my hands on, and with two or three very reflective, personal things thrown in there for good measure.”

Watch Trace’s performances of “Something’s Going On,” which was written by Chris Cavanaugh and Mark Stephen Jones, and “Watered Down,” which was written Matt Jenkins, Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen.

“Chuggin’” Charles Esten Keeps Streaking as He Approaches Week No. 52 of #EverySingleFriday

“Chuggin’” Charles Esten Keeps Streaking as He Approaches Week No. 52 of #EverySingleFriday

Posted on June 15, 2017

“Joltin’” Joe DiMaggio had a 56-game hit steak in baseball in 1941, a record that still stands today.

“Chuggin’” Charles Esten is working on an impressive streak of his own. Full disclosure, we just made up the “Chuggin’” nickname, but it seems befitting as Charles chugs along toward country music history.

Since July 15, 2016, Charles has released an original song every Friday for 48 consecutive weeks. On June 16, Charles will release No. 49 in his #EverySingleFriday series.

God willing—and if he can stave off extreme exhaustion—Charles will release No. 52 on July 7, a feat that has never been accomplished, as far as we know.

“I’ve been writing and performing music since I was in college and had a deep catalog of original songs I wanted to put out,” says Charles. “Last July, I decided to release one song a week, every single Friday. Here we are, almost a year later, and we’re still going strong.”

As Charles continues his DiMaggio-like streak, he’ll be chuggin’ along with the cast of Nashville for a few more European tour dates before kicking off the U.S leg of the tour on July 23.

As Father’s Day Approaches, Garth Brooks Credits His “Dreamer” Mom and “Realist” Dad for Helping Him Succeed

As Father’s Day Approaches, Garth Brooks Credits His “Dreamer” Mom and “Realist” Dad for Helping Him Succeed

Posted on June 15, 2017

As Father’s Day approaches on Sunday, June 18, Garth Brooks took time to reflect on the values his parents instilled in him as a youngster growing up in Oklahoma.

“They were pretty real people,” says Garth. “Mom believed you could fly. Dad would pull you over and go, ‘Ok, if you’re going to fly, it’s going to take a helluva lot of work.’ So he was the realist . . . she was the dreamer . . . and they worked really, really good together. Dad would tell you things, man. My dad, he was sweet, full of love . . . but he’s going to be a realist.”

The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year’s career is still flying high thanks, in part, to Mom and Dad’s advice. Garth pulled in $60 million over the last year, according to Forbes, making him the highest-grossing country star in the world. But that hasn’t stopped Garth from trying to be a loving super-dad to his three daughters, Taylor, August and Allie.

“You kind of figure out what true love is, don’t you?” says Garth. “And true love is simply this: when she’s sad, you’re sadder than she is. And when she’s happy, you’re happier than she is. That’s true love, right there.”

photo by Jason Simanek

Shania Twain Says New Album, “Now,” Is About “Exercising Independence” & “Scaring the Hell Out of Myself”

Shania Twain Says New Album, “Now,” Is About “Exercising Independence” & “Scaring the Hell Out of Myself”

Posted on June 15, 2017

Today (June 15), the best-selling female artist in the history of country music—Shania Twain—announced the upcoming release of her fifth studio album, Now, on Sept. 29.

Now, which is Shania’s first album since 2002’s Up!, will be offered as both a 12-track standard album and 16-track deluxe album.

Her new single, “Life’s About to Get Good,” premieres on country radio today (listen below).

“The new music is more celebratory, more inspirational, more about coming from somewhere bad and going somewhere good, dark to light, and that whole transition emotionally,” says Shania to NCD. “So, it’s a little deeper emotionally, for sure, this new album. There’s a lot of optimism, like ‘Life’s About to Get Good.’ The words are quite melancholy, but it’s just a happy song. It makes me feel happy when it comes on.”

Shania not only served as the album’s co-producer but she also wrote every song . . . by herself.

“I wrote it alone,” says Shania. “I wanted to exercise independence, and I think that’s really where the power of this album is. Everyone talks about the female power with my music in the past . . . and the whole attitude there, but this one is even more about just personal power and exercising independence and putting myself forward and scaring the hell out of myself by taking on that challenge of saying, ‘Ok, I take full responsibility for the songwriting and if it sucks, then I take responsibility for that.’ But I needed to try to do this, not try, ‘I’m going to do this by myself.’ I was determined to do it alone. Because I had been in a co-writing scenario for all those years, and this was going to be the first time after all that time that I’ve written solely alone, so it’s all about independence, and I needed to learn that about myself, I needed to rediscover that about myself.”

Shania will perform “Life’s About to Get Good” as part of Today’s Summer Concert Series on June 16. In addition, Shania’s Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit will open on June 27 and run through mid-2018.

Shania remains the first and only female artist in history to have three consecutive albums certified diamond by the RIAA for sales of more than 10 million units each. “The Queen of Country Pop,” a title she definitely deserved to call her own, earned five Grammys, four ACMs and two CMAs, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Listen to “Life’s About to Get Good” on Spotify below.

Academy of Country Music Announces Studio Recording Award Nominees for 52nd ACM Awards

Academy of Country Music Announces Studio Recording Award Nominees for 52nd ACM Awards

Posted on June 15, 2017

The Academy of Country Music announced the Studio Recording Award nominees for the 52nd ACM Awards.

Winners will be announced during the 11th annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd ACM Awards. The 11th annual ACM Honors will take place on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and will be broadcast at a later date on CBS.

52nd ACM Awards Studio Recording Nominees

Producer of the Year

  • Ross Copperman
  • Byron Gallimore
  • Scott Hendricks
  • Dann Huff
  • Jay Joyce

Bass Player of the Year

  • Mike Brignardello
  • Mark Hill
  • Tony Lucido
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas
  • Glenn Worf

Drummer of the Year

  • Chad Cromwell
  • Fred Eltringham
  • Miles McPherson
  • Greg Morrow
  • Nir “Z” Zidkyahu

Guitar Player of the Year

  • Tom Bukovac
  • Kenny Greenberg
  • Rob McNelly
  • Danny Rader
  • Ilya Toshinskiy

Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year

  • Dave Cohen
  • Tony Harrell
  • Charlie Judge
  • Gordon Mote
  • Michael Rojas

Specialty Instrument Player of the Year 

  • Dan Dugmore
  • Stuart Duncan
  • Carl Miner
  • Bryan Sutton
  • Ilya Toshinskiy

Steel Guitar Player of the Year

  • Dan Dugmore
  • Steve Hinson
  • Mike Johnson
  • Russ Pahl
  • Justin Schipper

Audio Engineer of the Year

  • Chuck Ainlay
  • Jeff Balding
  • Joe Baldridge
  • Steve Marcantonio
  • Reid Shippen
Jimmy’s blog: Serrano says `mindset’ is to return to Tennessee

Jimmy’s blog: Serrano says `mindset’ is to return to Tennessee

Posted on June 14, 2017

By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee pitcher Kyle Serrano said his “mindset’’ is to return to Tennessee rather than go pro.

That’s because the 10th-round pick by Houston doesn’t think the Astros will meet his asking price: $300,000.

The slotted position for a player taken in the third round is about $130,000.

“I’m not going to set a deadline (for making a decision) if the money doesn’t go up,’’ Serrano said in an exclusive interview on Sports Talk WNML radio Wednesday afternoon. “My mindset has to be, `I’m coming back to school.’’’

Serrano said it was “pretty shocking’’ to get picked by Houston considering his asking price, but he also called it an “honor.’’

Serrano said there is a “good shot’’ he remains in college and that new coach Tony Vitello has been “very welcoming and made it real clear he would love to have me back.’’

Asked if he’d like to have a banner senior season, Serrano said: “Yes, definitely. I feel like I owe the University of Tennessee more. I didn’t come to Tennessee to get drafted real high after my junior year. I came to Tennessee because I wanted to help Tennessee win and get back on the map.’’

Serrano acknowledged that the “deal with my dad’’ as Tennessee’s baseball coach “didn’t work out.’’

Coach Dave Serrano was allowed to resign recently after six unsuccessful seasons in which UT never made the NCAA Tournament.

Kyle Serrano, a right-hander with a solid fastball and nasty curve, has not lived up to his potential. Drafted out of high school and again after three years at UT, Serrano has a college career record of 8-10. He played just over half this season before leaving the team and dropping out of school for undisclosed reasons.

The rising senior has talked several times to Vitello about returning to the team. Serrano said he will be academically eligible.

He seems eager to shed a tag that apparently was an albatross throughout his Tennessee career.

“I told him (Vitello) I’m actually really looking forward to playing in college and finally being just Kyle Serrano, the baseball player, and not the coaches’ son,’’ Serrano said, “That’s been something that’s really been tough for me over the past few years. … I just want to be a baseball player. That’s what I feel like I can finally be with Coach Vitello.’’

Kyle said he’s also excited about playing with the young talent UT has assembled and that the pitching staff could be “pretty dynamic’’ and “pretty dominant’’ on the mound.

Kyle said his time away from the team and school has made him “tougher, more mature, I feel more like a man.’’

He said he’s a better pitcher now than he was when he came out of high school because he has a better feel for the strike zone and his fastball has improved. And he wants to display his talent that, to date, hasn’t surfaced much on the mound.

“There’s a really, really big part of me that wants to come back and help the program get back to where it should be and give Tennessee what Kyle Serrano was supposed to have been the whole time,’’ Kyle said.

Serrano said he felt pressure coming out of high school to produce. That pressure waned with age, but he hinted that playing for his father was not a good match.

“I took advantage of lot of situations,’’ Kyle said. “I made a lot of mistakes in my career with my dad as my coach, mistakes that wouldn’t have been allowed at a lot of other places.

“I had my dad as my coach. I wasn’t looking at him as my coach and I wasn’t respecting him as my coach a lot of times and I kind of got a little payback for it.

“I’m really looking forward to maybe possibly having the opportunity to play for coach Vitello and being held to a higher standard. And I think it’s going to work out really good if I got back to Tennessee.’’

Meanwhile, Serrano plans to pitch this summer in the Cape Cod League, and wait on a final offer from Houston.

If it’s not $300,000, he hopes to have that “banner’’ season at Tennessee.

Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

Jeff Moberg selected in 30th round of MLB Draft by the Rockies

Jeff Moberg selected in 30th round of MLB Draft by the Rockies

Posted on June 14, 2017
Jeff Moberg – UT / Credit: UT Athletics

University of Tennessee infielder Jeff Moberg was selected by Colorado Rockies in the 30th round (896th overall) of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

With his selection, Moberg joins Jordan Rodgers (sixth round — Atlanta), Kyle Serrano (10th round — Houston), Zach Warren (14th round — Philadelphia) and Hunter Martin (20th round – Houston) as Tennessee’s 2017 Major League Draft picks through the first 30 rounds.

Moberg becomes the first Rockies draftee out of Rocky Top since former Vol outfielder John Czarniecki was selected in the 25th round of the June 2003 Draft. He is also the 132nd all-time player drafted out of Tennessee since 1965.

As a redshirt senior in 2017, Moberg hit .311 with 10 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 33 RBIs over 51 games at second base. He ranked second on the Vols’ squad in batting average and tied for first with nine homers, while his 108 total bases on the year were the most for Tennessee’s offense.

Among his team-leading nine home runs, the California native belted UT’s first homer of the season with a solo blast in the first inning of the Vols’ season opener at Memphis. Later, he would homer in UT’s regular season finale against Missouri with a leadoff homer to left field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The previous season, Moberg began a then-career best campaign over his first 16 games in 2016, leading the NCAA and SEC with 28 runs scored, 1.75 runs scored per game, and ranking tied for second with nine doubles before suffering a knee injury. His .415 average ranked tied for fourth in the SEC.

Over the course of his five seasons with the Orange and White, Moberg hit at a career .296 clip with 10 homers, 77 runs scored and 124 hits in 133 games (102 starts).

Following the 2016 season, Moberg was one of eight graduating seniors for Tennessee, earning his degree in Sociology – Criminal Justice before pursuing a graduate degree in Agriculture, Leadership, Education and Communication in 2017. 

-UT Athletics

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