Aug. 20, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Outfielder Dominic de la Osa will return for his senior year at Vanderbilt after he was unable to come to terms with the Detroit organization.
De la Osa, a first-team All-American in the 2007 campaign, was drafted by the Tigers in the 10th round of the amateur baseball draft in June but did not reach an agreement with them prior to the Aug. 15 deadline.
“I am looking forward to coming back to Vanderbilt and building on where we left off last season,” said de la Osa.
De la Osa had the best season of his three-year collegiate career last spring as he finished with a .378 batting average to go with 20 homers and 62 RBI. He also led the team with 20 stolen bases and was one of only three players in the country to have both 20 plus homers and stolen bases.
His return means the Commodores will have seven of eight position starters, including three All-Americans, back from the 2007 squad that finished with a SEC best .324 batting average. The lone offensive starter not returning is outfielder Matt Meingasner (.321, 7 HR, 37 RBI) who was a senior and completed his eligibility in the spring.
Outfielder Jonathan White (.289, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 6 SB) was the only other veteran Commodore that did not sign and will return for his redshirt junior year. He was drafted in the 24th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Four Vanderbilt newcomers were also drafted and did not sign and will start their freshman year’s next week. Left-handed pitcher Kellen St. Luce was a 37th round pick of the Florida Marlins, right-handed pitcher Chase Reid was a 42nd round pick by Milwaukee as was left-handed pitcher Sean Bierman (Cincinnati). Outfielder Joey Manning rounded out the group after getting drafted by Philadelphia in the 47th round.