Tony Vitello on Alberto Osuna: "He wants to coach. He wants to get involved"

When asked about transfer Alberto Osuna being denied preliminary injunction in court earlier this week, Tony Vitello said the program was going to make it ‘worth his while’ being at Tennessee.

The former JUCO player turned North Carolina Tar Heel was ready to play for Division II Tampa this spring due to not having any remaining Division I eligibility. That changed when Diego Pavia took the NCAA to court and won by being granted preliminary injunction and gaining eligibility for the next football season.

Osuna lawyered up and decided to take a chance. He transferred to Tennessee in late January and began his legal battle. His motion for a temporary restraining order was initially denied – just as Pavia’s was – but an expedited hearing for his preliminary injunction request was scheduled for Feb. 26.

The ruling came down Monday of this week and it was not the outcome Osuna was hoping for.

“Not good,” Vitello answered when asked what his thoughts were on the outcome Tuesday night. “Not today either.”

Against Radford earlier that night, Osuna was seen coaching in the first base box during the second inning. He was trying to be involved and do something to help benefit the team.   

“He wants to coach. So, he wants to get involved, too,” Vitello said of Osuna on Wednesday. “If you pay attention, it’s kind of like Kirby [Connell]. One of the reasons why fans really started to fall in love with Kirby first was by our dugout, they noticed how active he is and how good of a teammate he is. And the kid’s got a big heart, and it makes sense.”

Osuna’s lawyer told Volquest on Monday in a statement that Osuna was disappointed with the outcome and they were determining what their next course of action will be. Who knows what that will be on the legal front, but for now, the slugger remains with the club that’s welcomed him with open arms.

He just can’t play in games. Tennessee doesn’t care. The team and staff has got his back.

“As far as making it right, that’s a very important phrase. That’s what I was getting at. We will make sure he gets his money’s worth for being here,” Vitello continued. “He wants to be a coach. Our strength coach Q [Quentin Eberhardt] immediately took care of that kid when he was crying on the phone with the news he had. And we will make it worth his while.”

Alberto Osuna: Back of the Baseball Card

The first baseman and designated hitter spent two seasons at nearby Walters Sate Community College in 2020 and 2021 before transferring up to North Carolina.

Osuna played in 63 games with 61 starts in 2022, slugging 20 home runs and 57 runs batted in with 86 strikeouts and 27 walks while registering a .265 batting average. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound athlete hit for a .223 average across 52 games (48 starts) with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 2023. This past season for North Carlina, Osuna recorded a .259 average across 62 games (62 starts) with 14 home runs and 56 RBI.

While at Walters State, Osuna was named the 2021 NJCAA D1 Player of the Year, a first team All-American and the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Player of the Year while batting .459 with 25 home runs and 107 RBI (led the country) in 68 games. Prior to Walters State, Osuna attended Mauldin High School in South Carolina where he was an All-State player.