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Alberto Osuna on being at Tennessee: “I know I’m here for something.”

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•about 18 hours•

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Tennessee infielder Alberto Osuna. Credit: Emma Ramsey/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee infielder Alberto Osuna. Credit: Emma Ramsey/Tennessee Athletics

It’s March 4 and the undefeated Tennessee baseball team just clobbered Radford in run-rule midweek fashion, exploding for 11 runs in the seventh inning and Tony Vitello is steaming postgame.

Maybe the four fielding errors had something to do with it. Maybe it was the fact that the first three pitchers Tennessee sent to the mound couldn’t keep the pesky team from the Big South Conference off the scoreboard. Those two factors could have had something to do with it.

The main reason Vitello was flat out pissed off, however, was the fact that Alberto Osuna’s preliminary injunction was denied the day before following a hearing in federal court the week before.

“Not good. Not today either. I don’t have a reaction. I would like your guys’ reaction,” Vitello told the media that night. “I’d like to know what that is because all I have gotten out of you guys is it is straightforward and it is this — I don’t see how it is straightforward. I can’t do anything other than I can tell you this: We will make sure it is worth his while being at this place.”  

Focus on that last line. We, meaning Tennessee, will make sure it is worth his while being at this place.

Almost three weeks later, Osuna is still not eligible despite plenty of public backing from teammates, former players, classmates, a congressman and hundreds of Tennessee fans. Osuna wrote a public letter to the NCAA in the process and it was met with nothing. As he and his legal team continue deciphering their next steps, it’s been a waiting game for Osuna.

Good thing he’s making the most of it.

“I’m a big believer. Wherever God needs me to be is where I need to be,” the transfer said on the Vol Club Confidential this week. “I know right now I need to be in Knoxville, Tennessee. That’s all I’m worried about.

“God put me here for a reason. I know I’m here for something. I’m not exactly sure what. I thought at first it was for playing, but I know I’m here for something. I’m still just extremely happy to be here.”

Osuna is a part of the team. He’s one of the guys, despite arriving on campus roughly two weeks before the season-opener. The players donned #FREEBERTO t-shirts in warmups last weekend ahead of the first Southeastern Conference game with Florida. Fans have been seen sneaking in signs of support to Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The ‘rock’ on campus was painted last week. Social media has been a buzz. There’s been plenty of support despite the guy being here for what feels like five minutes.   

“I’ve barely been here but feel like I’ve been here for a year. They’ve really brought me in like family,” Osuna said on the show. “I can’t say [enough] about the fans just getting behind me, so much. It’s been incredible to see the amount of support I’ve had here. It’s truly been a blessing.”  

He practices, but doesn’t play. We’re talking about a guy who has launched 45 homers at the Division I level across 644 at-bats in three seasons with North Carolina. The guy was playing in the College World Series last June. He could obviously help this team on the field, but for now, he’s making an impact off.

“I have younger guys coming up to me asking me about different approaches, how to approach different pitchers and trying to get an idea from that way,” the veteran said. “At the end of the day, I have had a lot of experience and I’m just trying to help them as much as possible to stay in a clear mind.”

Even though he hasn’t been a member of this team for very long, Osuna isn’t shy about trying to jump in the fray and help his teammates through the ups the game can bring.

“A couple of times, I had to pull guys aside after a bad at-bat and remind them like ‘hey, that one is behind you and all the matters is the next one,’” Osuna recalled. “Just trying to bring a little bit of maturity to help those guys. Even though I can’t get on the field, I know I can help in other ways. That’s what I’m trying to do. Just bring a positive vibe every single day and chatter as much as I can. Even if a guy might be having a bad day, I feel like I can sense it a little bit. Just go up to him and get him to smile.”

Osuna’s playing days could be behind him. His temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction motion have both been denied. There’s football players and basketball players across the country, also coming from the junior college ranks, who have been granted another year of eligibility. Three former junior college baseball players have not. Osuna is one of them who was denied in court while Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was not.

They are still fighting. It’s not over. The season, however, is moving right along. So, was the move to Knoxville worth it? The future coach knows it was.

“I’m so happy I’m here,” Osuna told Austin Price on the show. “It’s been so much fun, and I’ve gotten to learn a lot from coach [Tony] Vitello, coach E [Josh Elander], coach Rickey [Martinez] and coach [Ross] Kivett, just everybody on the staff is phenomenal. Let’s not forget coach Q [strength coach Quentin Eberhardt]. I think he is the best in the business. Just the coaching staff here is phenomenal. The players have made it extremely easy.”

Being able to watch, learn and ask questions to this college baseball staff. It’s a privilege for all the players on the roster, but maybe even more for the guy in limbo waiting for his future to be decided.

“It’s crossed my mind, definitely, that I’m getting a great opportunity. If this is the start of my coaching career, just a great opportunity to learn,” Osuna concluded. “I’m more of a player coach right now more than anything, but just being able to learn and help as much as I can.”  

Osuna and his teammates continue Southeastern Conference play this weekend on the road at No. 12 Alabama.

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