FB: MATT PONATOSKI UPDATE
- Thread starter TheResistance
- Start date
Well that really sucks because I think Stein was counting on him to be the backup this year. It won’t matter if Minchey stays healthy but if he goes down it could be lights out on the season.
After reading that article we should drop him now. Stars went down big time last season from year before and doesn’t sound like he gives a shi% about football.
Saw this coming as soon as we got a commitment from Nawrot. Not that Matt was afraid of competition, but they are only a year apart. One of them wasn’t going to play and I think Stein knew Matt was going the baseball route.
Matt Ponatoski’s future with Kentucky remains uncertain as MLB Draft approaches | A Sea Of Blue
I imagine it all depends on where he gets drafted. Last I saw he is projected to get drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round of the MLB draft. ESPN has him as the 90th best prospect. The slot for the 90th player (third round) selected this year is $887,000 (of course that is just a bit of a guide, and he could go earlier or later). Perfect Game has him as the 140th prospect. The fifth-round slot for pick 140 is $532,000.
With a football/baseball scholarship in hand and some NIL money on the table, he does have some room to negotiate above slot.
Of course, he can also use draft slot value to try to negotiate more NIL from UK.
Doubt he steps foot back on campus. Best of luck to him either way. I would never fault a guy for following his passion!
To be honest, I was more looking forward to him being a BatCat than I was him being a potential QB1.
I imagine it all depends on where he gets drafted. Last I saw he is projected to get drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round of the MLB draft. ESPN has him as the 90th best prospect. The slot for the 90th player (third round) selected this year is $887,000 (of course that is just a bit of a guide, and he could go earlier or later). Perfect Game has him as the 140th prospect. The fifth-round slot for pick 140 is $532,000.
With a football/baseball scholarship in hand and some NIL money on the table, he does have some room to negotiate above slot.
Of course, he can also use draft slot value to try to negotiate more NIL from UK.
Doubt he steps foot back on campus. Best of luck to him either way. I would never fault a guy for following his passion!
To be honest, I was more looking forward to him being a BatCat than I was him being a potential QB1.
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Perhaps he wasn't clear a year ago which of several ways he wanted to go but now he is after another season of HS baseball. He has more data now on himself to make this decision. Best to him. I doubt another QB recruit was the reason. He knew that was always going to happen.
That's a bummer for both the baseball and football teams. But he also has to say this leading up to the draft, otherwise teams would let him slide and try to pay over slot in the 4th or 5th round.
Not saying this isn't true but if you want to get drafted as high as possible, you don't want teams thinking you're most likely going to play football and they'll be wasting a pick on you. He should be saying this now, even if it's exaggerated.
I have not followed his baseball season, but thought I heard he was not having a great season at the plate. I kind of thought coming to college made sense for both football and baseball. I don’t think he pitched regularly this year and as a pitcher would be viewed as “raw.” The interview sound like a kid talking baseball and trying to not make a pro team think he does not want to be drafted.
Worst hitting season & only 30 innings pitched.
Don't go disparaging the guy. He's a great young man from an awesome family. Everyone at Moeller loves this guy.
It is true he wants to be a MLB player. It is not true that he doesn't give a **** about football. He understands his best chance at being a professional is in baseball. With the upcoming MLB draft it's not only smart to be focused on baseball and the draft it's common ******* sense. Somebody mentioned not being the "starter". That has jack **** to do with anything. He never asked for it nor was he ever promised it. Just baseless ********. Another in a line of 2-way athletes we've had at Moeller
On top of that: His team won 2 baseball games last week to make it to the semi-finals in the state baseball tournament. Moeller would have had to have been eliminated the week before for him to be able to join the football team last week.
It is true he wants to be a MLB player. It is not true that he doesn't give a **** about football. He understands his best chance at being a professional is in baseball. With the upcoming MLB draft it's not only smart to be focused on baseball and the draft it's common ******* sense. Somebody mentioned not being the "starter". That has jack **** to do with anything. He never asked for it nor was he ever promised it. Just baseless ********. Another in a line of 2-way athletes we've had at Moeller
On top of that: His team won 2 baseball games last week to make it to the semi-finals in the state baseball tournament. Moeller would have had to have been eliminated the week before for him to be able to join the football team last week.
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Jun 2 (Tue) 2:00 PM
vs
#9 Grove City High School
Regional Semifinals
Wright State University
W, 8-0
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Jun 3 (Wed) 5:00 PM
vs
#1 Centerville High School
Regional Finals
Yes, he very well may not make it to campus, but it will have nothing to do with "hating" competition or "nickel and dime" more NIL compensation.
No reason to bash this kid, as he is following his dream. If he decides to play baseball, I wish him the best of luck. However, as the draft approaches, I am only seeing his draft status staying around the same or dropping. I would think UK would be paying him more than being selected in the 4-th-7th round? Any, I’d love to see him in blue, but if not…..best of luck kid!
Amen brother. If our football program and baseball program wanted him badly, they could have ponied up. I’m thinking the kid could help both sports, but I guess someone knows more than me.