Matt Ponatoskis - baseball draft

[Los Gatos]

This article sure sounds like QB Matt Ponatoskis will forgo college football if he is drafted in the upcoming baseball draft. I sure misread his intentions, thought he would be a Cat for sure.

https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-...aft-approaches

[Matt Dillon]

This article sure sounds like QB Matt Ponatoskis will forgo college football if he is drafted in the upcoming baseball draft. I sure misread his intentions, thought he would be a Cat for sure.

https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-...aft-approaches

I agree. I didn't realize going pro right out of h.s. was his desire. It appears playing any college sport is just a fall-back plan for him.

[Pete Hogwallop]

It's hard to get a good read on this. If he's testing the draft, then he kind of has to say it's his first priority because that's what the baseball teams need to hear. They aren't going to draft a guy who says he's not serious about it. At the same time, I think he's projected around 140 or so. Perhaps he really is just testing the waters and there's a good chance he still comes to UK. Then again, he skipped workouts with the football team recently. But then also his HS team is still alive in the baseball playoffs in OH, so he probably couldn't join our football team.

So as I said - it's tough to read this situation.

[Matt Dillon]

It's hard to get a good read on this. If he's testing the draft, then he kind of has to say it's his first priority because that's what the baseball teams need to hear. They aren't going to draft a guy who says he's not serious about it. At the same time, I think he's projected around 140 or so. Perhaps he really is just testing the waters and there's a good chance he still comes to UK. Then again, he skipped workouts with the football team recently. But then also his HS team is still alive in the baseball playoffs in OH, so he probably couldn't join our football team.

So as I said - it's tough to read this situation.

After reading the article twice, it seems to me if he gets an offer he likes, when the MLB draft comes around in July, he's gone. Otherwise, he will be at UK this coming Fall.

[Los Gatos]

I found a projection by "Battery Power". They posted a consensus of seven rankings. Matt came is at 127. Assuming 30 picks per round, he goes in the fifth round. Per another site, fifth round picks will get a bonus between 388K and 553K. Anyone know what his NIL value is?

[Matt Dillon]

I found a projection by "Battery Power". They posted a consensus of seven rankings. Matt came is at 127. Assuming 30 picks per round, he goes in the fifth round. Per another site, fifth round picks will get a bonus between 388K and 553K. Anyone know what his NIL value is?

I don't know what his NIL value might be, but he seems to want to get his pro baseball career started as soon as possible. Given that, he might take less money to begin playing pro baseball right away.

[Matt Dillon]

The latest on the Matt Ponatoski saga.
Will Stein told Matt Ponatoski he'd be 'stupid' to pass on MLB if he gets lucrative offer: 'We’re all on good terms' - On3

[Trueblujr]

I found a projection by "Battery Power". They posted a consensus of seven rankings. Matt came is at 127. Assuming 30 picks per round, he goes in the fifth round. Per another site, fifth round picks will get a bonus between 388K and 553K. Anyone know what his NIL value is?

I would say it's more than that if he's playing both sports. And that's just a one-time signing bonus, minor league baseball contracts aren't much. I think a lot depends on how long they project for him to reach the MLB level. If his ultimate goal is to be an MLB player as opposed to an NFL player, then he should really just focus on baseball. He won't be able to participate in spring football due to baseball, and he would need to spend the summers playing in baseball leagues as opposed to working out for football if he wants to progress to a point where he would be closer to MLB ready coming out of college. playing both sports was all good and well back in the day, but anymore it's a rarity and getting to the highest level requires dedication and focus to that particular sport.

As for our backup next season, I'm confident that Brennan Ward can be a very capable backup after seeing what I saw of him in the Spring and at the end of last season when he got some snaps in.

[NCCat]

Stinks for the team if he goes but I don't feel like this was a big secret or anything that he was thinking about it (to Matt Dillon 's point, his definite intentions were murky). I've kind of operated under the belief maybe pessimistically that he wouldn't ever suit up for the Cats though.

His commitment was still good PR for Stein and I think the article saying Stein would think he was stupid to not take an opportunity like that if he gets drafted highly is also good PR. Shows genuine disposition on the situation....plus staff knows we are going to be in good shape at QB going forward.

Wish him the best whatever he decides. Must be nice having options like that!

[Matt Dillon]

I would say it's more than that if he's playing both sports. And that's just a one-time signing bonus, minor league baseball contracts aren't much. I think a lot depends on how long they project for him to reach the MLB level. If his ultimate goal is to be an MLB player as opposed to an NFL player, then he should really just focus on baseball. He won't be able to participate in spring football due to baseball, and he would need to spend the summers playing in baseball leagues as opposed to working out for football if he wants to progress to a point where he would be closer to MLB ready coming out of college. playing both sports was all good and well back in the day, but anymore it's a rarity and getting to the highest level requires dedication and focus to that particular sport.

As for our backup next season, I'm confident that Brennan Ward can be a very capable backup after seeing what I saw of him in the Spring and at the end of last season when he got some snaps in.

I agree 100%.

[Los Gatos]

Stinks for the team if he goes but I don't feel like this was a big secret or anything that he was thinking about it (to Matt Dillon 's point, his definite intentions were murky). I've kind of operated under the belief maybe pessimistically that he wouldn't ever suit up for the Cats though.

His commitment was still good PR for Stein and I think the article saying Stein would think he was stupid to not take an opportunity like that if he gets drafted highly is also good PR. Shows genuine disposition on the situation....plus staff knows we are going to be in good shape at QB going forward.

Wish him the best whatever he decides. Must be nice having options like that!

One site I checked said that only about 35% of fifth round choices ever make it to the majors.

One factor, as i understand the rules, if he plays college baseball he could still try professional baseball after three years. Not sure how this works however as he would be on fb scholarship not a baseball one. However if he opts for baseball now his five your clock would still start the academic year after his 19th birthday. Thus the longer he stays in baseball the fewer years of football he would have should he want to try college football later.

[Trueblujr]

Stinks for the team if he goes but I don't feel like this was a big secret or anything that he was thinking about it (to Matt Dillon 's point, his definite intentions were murky). I've kind of operated under the belief maybe pessimistically that he wouldn't ever suit up for the Cats though.

His commitment was still good PR for Stein and I think the article saying Stein would think he was stupid to not take an opportunity like that if he gets drafted highly is also good PR. Shows genuine disposition on the situation....plus staff knows we are going to be in good shape at QB going forward.

Wish him the best whatever he decides. Must be nice having options like that!

I think Stein recruited Nawrot, Primarily because he knew Ponatoski was going to be a long shot to really ever contribute here.

[NCCat]

I think Stein recruited Nawrot, Primarily because he knew Ponatoski was going to be a long shot to really ever contribute here.

Agree. I guess these coaches are always considering recruiting over guys anyway. That might be hard to do if Nawrot is as good as he's shaping up to be. Staff seems to foster the true competition vs promise vibe.

QB room should be well-stocked going forward regardless (and all the rest it appears!)