Well, that was anticlimactic.
Donavan Tate, the No. 3 pick in the MLB draft and one of UNC’s prized incoming recruits, has left training camp to possibly accept an offer from the San Diego Padres, a UNC spokesman said Wednesday.
Tate, a talented athlete from Cartersville, Ga., had until Aug. 17 to reach a deal or else could return to play backup quarterback for the Tar Heels.
Also released, Kevin Bryant, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman from Lauderdale Lake, Fla., has decided to leave the team for unspecified reasons.
Bryant was set to backup Alan Pelc at right guard and Mike Ingersoll at right tackle on the preseason depth chart and now leaves Carolina a bit thin on the offensive line; he is the second offensive lineman to leave UNC without using his entire eligibility (Aaron Stahl left the program after graduating) since the end of last season.
Bryant’s departure means junior Greg Elleby and sophomore Carl Gaskins will get significantly more playing time and leaves little room for injuries before the season has even began.
Bryant, the 6-foot-7, 340-pound lineman, was ranked the No. 27 prospect at his position by Scout.com in 2007.
