Draft Prospect Q&A

Draft Prospect Q&A: Michael Chavis

By Zachary Links | June 3, 2014 at 11:54am CDT

MLBTR is re-launching its Draft Prospect Q&A series this season in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects over the next couple of weeks as they prepare for the 2014 draft on June 5-7.

Scouts see Georgia high school prospect Michael Chavis as someone who can do it all thanks to his well-rounded skill set as well as his versatility. Chavis spent most of his career at Sprayberry High School at the shortstop position but he also boasts arm strength that can allow him to play anywhere in the infield. He’s got the speed to play second base or stick at shortstop, and while he has a bit of experience behind the plate and in the outfield, most say his big league future is at third base. The Clemson commit is ranked No. 21 by MLB.com, No. 26 by Baseball America, and No. 27 by ESPN.com’s Keith Law.

The first-round prospect left high school on a high note, slashing .557/.580/.663 with 13 homers in his senior season. At the plate, Chavis flashed his plus bat speed as well as his plus raw power, which helped him to win the Perfect Game Home Run Derby over other notable prospects such as Alex Jackson, Braxton Davidson, and Michael Gettys.

The charismatic and confident young man spoke with MLBTradeRumors recently about what position he wants to ultimately play, the prospect of going to Clemson, and more:

Zach Links: Scouting reports seem to have you pegged as a third baseman at the Major League level, but you have the ability to play multiple positions. Do you have a preference on where you play?

MC: A lot of people ask me that and they ask if I’d be more comfortable at third base or at second base. Right now, I’d be more comfortable at third base just because I’ve played there, but down the road I think I’d be just as comfortable at second base once I get more reps in. I definitely have the speed to play second base.

ZL: What do you expect the transition of moving over to second base to be like?

MC: The only adjustment is that at second base, you have more time. You have to play the ball differently, knowing different things, the angles on the throws…the only difficult part would be learning how to turn the double play from the other side of the bag, with the footwork and your body going the opposite way.

ZL: Could you see yourself playing outfield or catcher?

MC: People have talked to me about that and I’ve done some scouting drills where they had me make throw downs. I think I could make that transition, just because I think I have the catcher’s mentality; I have a bulldog heart. I’d rather not become a catcher but if it comes down to “Hey, Mike, you can either play catcher or get out of baseball,” I think I’ll go out to be a catcher.

ZL: You’ve had a couple of notable big leaguers come out of your high school in Marlon Byrd and Kris Benson. Have you ever had a chance to meet them and get advice from them?

MC: Kris Benson came back to high school in my freshman year and he talked to me teammates and everything but I haven’t talked to him since….As for Marlon Byrd, he follows me on Twitter, if that counts.

ZL: If you got to talk to them, what would you ask them?

MC: I’d be curious to talk to Kris about his college experience because he went to Clemson as well and that’s where I’m committed. So I’d be curious to hear about what he has to say about the Clemson experience compared to MLB life. Byrd went to Georgia Tech so I’d like to ask both of them if they felt like that experience benefited them or if they wish they went straight into the draft [out of high school].

ZL: You’re widely projected as a first round pick. Is there any chance that you change course and go to Clemson?

MC: If everything doesn’t work out as I hope it does, then yes.

ZL: If you go pro and skip college, is there any part of you that worries about missing out on things, whether its the baseball experience or just being a college kid?

MC: Obviously, college life compared to the life of a professional baseball player will be different. In college baseball you have a bunch of fans and everyone knows you, but once you hit the lower parts of minor leagues, it’s going to be four fans in the stands at every game. That’s a big difference.

As for the college life, I’m not a big partier or anything like that, so if I did go to Clemson the main reason would be to play baseball. I honestly don’t think I’d miss out on too much when it comes to that.

ZL: What will you major in if you go to Clemson?

MC: Sports broadcasting. That’s something I’d like to get into when my playing career is through.

ZL: What role do you envision yourself in? Play-by-play? Color analyst? Studio anchor?

MC: I haven’t really thought that out in detail, but I know that I love talking about baseball and I want to stay around the game even after I’m done playing, so I figured it’d be good for me.

ZL: What does your daily baseball consumption look like?

MC: I watch MLB Network just about 24/7. It’s on the TV whether its me watching or my dad and it’s all that’s ever on. My mom gets tired of watching so much baseball and sometimes she goes into her room by herself to go watch something else.

ZL: Do you have set goals in mind for the first few years of your career? Do you want to reach Triple-A by a certain point or the majors by a certain point, or do you not think about timetables?

MC: As for right now, obviously it’s kind of early to talk about that because I’m not even a professional baseball player yet and, ideally, I’d like to get into the organization and get acclimated to everything there. I’d say in three years I’d like to be in the majors though.

ZL: Has your swing changed at all in recent years?

MC: It has changed, but not a lot. We made minor tweaks, but they made a big difference this year. One of my problems this summer is that when I would come into contact I’d rise up with my front leg and we changed that by activating my back leg and using my lower half a lot more.

ZL: Ever catch yourself Googling your own name to see what’s being written about you?

MC: I do every now and then but I tried to avoid that, especially during the season, because I didn’t want to get caught up in the hype and start pressing things.

ZL: Every scouting report I’ve seen has noted how well-rounded you are. In your estimation, what’s the one characteristic you possess that stands out above the others?

MC: I think it would be either how hard I play or how much I truly love being out there.

ZL: Some of the draft sites out there like to bestow major league comparisons on prospects. Who would you say your game is styled after?

MC: I haven’t exactly styled my game after anybody…For a second base comparison I was thinking Dan Uggla when he was on the Marlins. Third base, I think of myself as a David Wright. He’s not a big guy but he can hit for power.

ZL: You’ll be one of just seven players in attendance at the draft. Are you excited about that?

MC: Oh I was thrilled to get that invite. I was actually in class when I found out and the person from MLB called me to let me know that I was invited. I didn’t have the number saved and, I don’t know why, but I just knew it was MLB calling to invite me. I walked out of the classroom to take the call and when I walked back in I was so excited. I just sat in the back of the classroom with a big smile on my face.

ZL: Was your teacher mad at you for taking a call during class?

MC: No, she understood. She was really cool.

ZL: If you weren’t going to be there for it live, what would draft night look like for you? Just the immediate family or a big party for everyone?

MC: We would probably just have the same people that are going to go up with me for draft night and afterwards we’d have a bigger party with everyone.

ZL: Will you be giving Commissioner Selig a handshake or a hug?

MC: I don’t know, it might be an in the moment thing. He might get both.

ZL: Do you have your suit picked out?

MC: No, I don’t, but I decided that I’m going to try to wear a bowtie.

Other entries in this year’s series include prep shortstop Nick Gordon, University of San Francisco center fielder Bradley Zimmer and Louisville right-hander Nick Burdi.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Nick Gordon

By Zachary Links | June 2, 2014 at 5:00pm CDT

Florida’s Nick Gordon is universally regarded as the best shortstop in the 2014 draft and, according to some, is the best position player prospect in the draft. With a pedigree like his, it’s no surprise. Gordon is the son of three-time All-Star right-hander Tom “Flash” Gordon and the younger brother of Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon. While his father made his mark in the game and Dee continues to see his star rise, all signs point to Nick making a terrific legacy of his own in the years to come.

At 6’2″, 170, Gordon exhibits tremendous speed both on defense and around the base paths. Of course, he also boasts a terrific arm for the shortstop position and, in fact, many believe that he could pursue pitching if he wanted to. At the plate, the Olympia High School star projects to be an above-average hitter, but his intangibles and makeup have scouts drooling just as much as his physical tools.

In 27 games last season, Gordon, reportedly being advised by Beverly Hills Sports Council, which also represented father Tom “Flash” Gordon and represents brother Dee, posted an absurd slash line of .494/.576/.843 in 99 plate appearances and stole 13 bases. The youngster has had the attention of college scouts and pro scouts alike for years, but his senior season helped to boost his stock even further.

Gordon, ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the draft by ESPN.com’s Keith Law, No. 5 by MLB.com, and No. 7 by Baseball America, spoke with MLBTradeRumors late last week about the draft process, the possibility of going No. 1 overall, and what he’s learned from watching his father and brother:

Zach Links: What advice has your dad given you about the draft process?

Nick Gordon: He gives me very good advice. He just tells me to sit back and take it one day at a time, don’t stress out about these things. You can’t control what happens. I did my best and left it all on the field and after that it’s in God’s hands.

ZL: What did you take away from your brother’s draft experience?

NG: I just remember the great feeling we had afterwards. Just knowing the hard work he put in high school and to know that it was starting to mean something. He was ready for his moment and he earned it.

ZL: Do you feel like your transition to major league life will be smoother than others thanks to your family’s experience and guidance?

NG: I think I have a little bit of an edge because of my brother and dad. With everything I’m about to go through they can help me along the way and give me information that maybe some other kid might not get because of the relationships I have with my dad and my brother.

ZL: Scouts look at you as a phenomenal shortstop prospect but there’s also talk that you could be a strong pitcher as well. Is that something that interests you?

NG: I’ll do whatever my team needs from me. I love playing shortstop, it’s my Plan A and I don’t really have a Plan B. I think I can be a great one. But, if my team needs me to pitch, I’ll do whatever my team needs from me.

ZL: Before you chose Florida State, what other schools were you giving serious consideration to?

NG: Florida, North Carolina, Clemson, LSU, and a couple of other big schools. I even liked UCF a lot.

ZL: Why did you ultimately choose FSU?

NG: I went down and I loved it. Every bit of it. The coaching staff they have, the players, and just a great environment to be around. It’s like a home away from home for me and knowing the coaches there, it’s phenomenal. Being there I feel like I learned more about my game and myself. It also helped that I knew a couple of other players that have been there as well and they told me it’s awesome.

ZL: Is there a certain range that you have in mind that would make you forgo college? Certain contract terms? Certain clubs?

NG: I could see myself playing in every single uniform so every club interests me. I wouldn’t mind playing for every single club. I just want to play the game. My lifelong dream has been to play professional baseball and I want to fulfill my dream. Whichever organization I end up with, I know that God has a plan for me.

ZL: If you had to call it now, what are the odds that you go to Florida State?

NG: When that day comes for me to decide, I’ll talk it over with my family and I’ll do whatever is best for me, my mom, and my dad. I couldn’t really put odds or a number on it.

ZL: I’ve read that you’re working to add muscle to your frame. What’s your weight right now and what’s your goal weight?

NG: My goal weight is about 185, 190 pounds. When I get older, probably 24 or 25, then I’d like to be 195 or 200. Right now I’m at 177-180 pounds.

ZL: Do you have any concern that more muscle will hinder your speed and agility?

NG: Not at all. In fact I think it can make it just that much better.

ZL: What’s the top thing you want to improve on as you go forward?

NG: My strength and staying healthy and getting stronger.

ZL: At what age did you realize that you had a good chance of becoming a major league baseball player?

NG: I always believed that, ever since I was a kid I said I’d be a Major League baseball player. And when my teachers said, “You need a backup plan,” I said, “No ma’am, I’m going to be a baseball player.” All my life I’ve all I’ve known is baseball and I’ve always been striving to be a baseball player and an athlete. I was never okay with anyone telling me that I wouldn’t make it as a player.

ZL: Did you play other sports growing up? Was there ever a point in your life where you thought your future might be in a different sport?

NG: I played football and basketball. I played both up until 9th grade. I was playing football and I broke my ankle in 6th grade and then rolled it playing ball..or at least I thought I rolled it. My dad just told me that I bruised it. Whatever it was, I think it just told my brain [to stop playing] basketball and football.

ZL: What positions did you play in each sport?

NG: I played running back and slot back and safety in football and in basketball I played shooting guard and small forward.

ZL: There was a report recently that the Astros are considering you at No. 1 overall. I’m sure you don’t want to address any team or outcome specifically, but what would it mean to you to be the very first player off the board?

NG: It would mean the world to me. I know how much talent there is in this draft. You can’t really predict it and there are so many guys that could go No. 1, so it would be a blessing. If the day comes and I’m the No. 1 pick, that’d be great, but I’m taking it one day at a time. There’s so much great talent here and you can’t predict who will be No. 1.

ZL: If, hypothetically, you had your pick, would you prefer to play in a warm climate like what you’re used to in Florida or would you welcome a change? [Note: The Astros and Marlins have the top two picks in the draft, but it gets a lot colder from there with the White Sox, Cubs, and Twins rounding out the top five.]

NG: I’d welcome a change because I know I can play in a warm or cold climate. I know that some guys have a hard time playing in cold weather and I know if I go out there in the cold weather, I’ll be fine. I want that change and that experience as well because just playing in the hot sun all the time can wear on you too. When I do get the chance to go elsewhere, I mean, it can get cold, but if I’ve got to play in the cold or the sun, I’m going to play the same way no matter what. There’s no difference in my mind.

ZL: You’ve spoken quite a bit about your relationship with God. How has that shaped you as a baseball player and as a person?

NG: I thank God every moment, for everything I get, everything I do. My faith is a very big part of my life experience and my success in baseball. I thank God for everything and the position he’s put me in and even when he allows for me to learn from my mistakes.

ZL: Recently it was announced that you’ll be one of just seven prospects in attendance on draft night. Who will be with you?

NG: My mom, my father, my little sister, my little brother, and my coach and his wife.

ZL: Will you be nervous on draft night?

NG: I think I’ll be a little bit nervous, but I think I’ll be relieved when I hear that today is the day I’m welcomed into professional baseball.

ZL: Did you ever find it challenging to keep yourself focused on your high school team’s goals as you prepared to take the next step in your career?

NG: Not at all. It’s actually pretty fun for me to sit there and play with my teammates. I enjoyed it as much as I could and I rarely thought about things concerning the draft. A lot of times my coach would come to me and say, “Wow, it looks like you’re not really thinking about the draft too much,” and I just said that I’m enjoying my teammates…I’m appreciative of every moment I had with them. I loved playing with those guys.

ZL: We all know that you’re not going to last until the Dodgers’ pick at No. 22, but how cool would it be to play alongside your brother on the other side of second base?

NG: It’d be pretty cool but it’d be competition every single day even though we don’t play the same position anymore [laughs]. We’d give each other a handful but it’s brotherly love. I mean, that’d be great. It’d be a blessing to play next to my brother and my family would love that as well.

ZL: Who wins in a footrace, you or your brother?

NG: I don’t know…well…he’d get me. There’s not too many people in this world that can run as fast as him. He wouldn’t beat me by much, but he’d get me.

ZL: How about basketball in the driveway, 1-on-1?

NG: I’d dunk on him.

ZL: As someone whose lifelong dream has been to dunk a basketball, I’m jealous. At what age could you dunk?

NG: The first time was in 8th grade. I remember as soon as I did it I called Dee right after the game. The ref told me to get off the rim. I remember it like it was yesterday. When I called Dee, my mom was in the background yelling “What?! You got in trouble for hanging on the rim?“

Draft Prospect Q&A: Nick Burdi

By Zachary Links | June 1, 2014 at 12:05pm CDT

Teams looking to draft a future closer with serious velocity will be taking a long look at Louisville pitcher Nick Burdi. In fact, with a fastball that hits 96-100 mph on the radar gun, Burdi stands as the hardest thrower in college. To complement the heat, Burdi also boasts a plus slider that can develop into a premium pitch.

You could say that hard throwing runs in the family. Burdi’s older brother, Drew, was a quarterback at Western Michigan. His younger brother, Zack, is a promising pitcher in his own right for the Cardinals. Burdi has shown that he can hold that velocity over two- and three-inning outings, leading some to believe that he could blossom into a starter. Baseball America has Burdi pegged as the No. 27 prospect in the draft, MLB.com has him ranked at No. 34, and ESPN.com’s Keith Law has him at No. 52. Burdi spoke with MLBTradeRumors on Friday about his skill set, whether he’d be interested in starting, and more:

Zach Links: What can you bring to an MLB organization?

Nick Burdi: I think what I can bring is just being a reliable relief pitcher. I’m already comfortable in that role and I’m ready to be the seventh or eighth inning guy, know my place, and help a team out.

ZL: Ultimately, though, you want to close, right?

NB: Yes, absolutely.

ZL: Who are some of the closers that you’ve modeled yourself after?

NB: Trevor Rosenthal, Aroldis Chapman, and Craig Kimbrel. I always watched the taller closers and followed what they did.

ZL: How vital is the “closer’s mindset”?

NB: I think being a closer is different when the game is on the line, everything is riding on the line at the end. So, I think having that mindset is something that really sets some pitchers apart from others. It’s a big quality and having that football mentality where you want to just go in and set everyone down is what I bring every time.

ZL: How long did it take you to cultivate that way of thinking and what’s going through your head when you’re running out to the mound?

NB: For me, I kind of learned the whole mindset of being a closer while I was at Chatham playing in the Cape Cod League and facing stiff competition up there. You learn that role pretty quickly because you know that if you have success there against that kind of talent, it shows big league scouts that you’re capable of more. I took that into my sophomore year and, as you said, I just felt comfortable in that closer’s role. I just close everything down when I’m up there it just me and the catcher.

ZL: Do you feel like you could start in the big leagues? Is that a transition you’d be interested in making?

NB: Yeah, if a team wants to groom me to be a starter I’d be comfortable with that. That’s what I was doing up until these last two years, so I’d never rule it out. But, for me, growing into this closers role has made me that much better of a pitcher. That’s where I shine.

ZL: How was making that transition from starter to closer for you in terms of recovery time? I’d imagine that it’s hard for a lot of guys to go from pitching every fifth day to consecutive outings.

NB: Yeah, not for me. With my diet and my workout regiment, it was kind of an easy transition. You pitch an inning on Friday and then maybe on Saturday and you’ll usually get Sunday off. It was never a bad bounce back for me.

ZL: What does your diet look like?

NB: I’ve gotten really serious about it over the past couple of years. I eat a lot of chicken, fish, veggies, rice, fruit, smoothies, and stuff like that. As a closer, recovery is really important, so I’m very diligent about putting the right things in my body.

ZL: With a fastball that sits at 95-98 mph, velocity is one of your best attributes. Did it take you some time in college to develop that or have you always been throwing that hard?

NB: Since my junior year of high school I’ve been throwing pretty hard and my senior year of high school I reached this velocity. I’ve also become a more complete pitcher and over the last few years I’ve been making the most of my slider and the other pitches.

ZL: When did you realize you were MLB bound?

NB: Back in junior high I was hitting 93-94 [mph] on the gun and that’s when I got really serious with the game of baseball. Ever since then, that’s what I’ve lived and breathed. I work out, play the games, and then get start getting ready for the next day immediately after. This is what I’ve always wanted to do.

ZL: When did you stop playing football? Could you have pursued that instead?

NB: I played quarterback freshman and sophomore year. Honestly, at that time, that was probably my better sport and I had some interest from different colleges. My pitching also got sharper at this point and I realized that if I wanted to make it baseball I had to totally commit to it and give up the whole football deal.

ZL: You’re widely regarded as one of the top pitchers in this year’s draft and there’s no shortage of complimentary things written about you online. Do you pay attention to the rankings, scouting reports, etc?

NB: For me, I’m focused on just going out and playing baseball. As a closer, there’s not much more I can do than going out there and getting the job done. Hopefully teams realize the stuff that I have and my potential. I’m a hard working player who wants to give his all every single day and I’m sure everyone sees that.

ZL: What were some of the other schools you had offers from before you committed to Louisville?

NB: I had an offer from Florida State and I was also talking to LSU, Clemson, and Vanderbilt.

ZL: What did you learn from your time at Louisville?

NB: Over these past two-three years, [Louisville pitching coach Roger Williams] has really taught me how to control the game. If I went to a different school, I’m not sure that I would have gotten all of the same benefits and insight. I’m really glad that I got to develop my game at Louisville and I’m grateful to the coaches for giving me the chance to make those strides in my game.

ZL: Your brothers are accomplished athletes themselves. Drew played quarterback at Western Michigan and your younger brother Zack is a pitcher for Louisville. Could we see Zack on a big league mound someday?

NB: Yeah I definitely think so. He throws 93-95 mph, touching 96 at times, so he’s a little bit like me. Over time he’s going to grow a bit more and I think he’ll be a starter ultimately. He has a big frame and he’s so athletic so I think that’s the best role for him.

ZL: Is Zack in the same mold as you or is he a different kind of pitcher?

NB: He’s a little bit different. His mechanics are a little more clean than mine when I was his age. His fastball is right there and he’s got a good change up, so I think once he develops his other pitches a bit more he could be just as good as anybody.

ZL: When you were taken in the 24th round of the 2011 draft, did you give some real consideration to making the jump to the pros?

NB: Coming into my senior year that was something that was up in the air and I ended up being drafted by the Twins. There was some consideration on my part, but I always wanted to come to school and play at the college level and play in the College World Series.

ZL: One scouting report indicated that you made some changes to your delivery which may have an adverse affect on your command. Do you feel like that’s a valid point?

NB: I don’t think so. I know people have said that but this year I pitched 32 innings and had just eight walks. So, from a command standpoint with my two plus pitches I’m able to place everything in the exact spot I want to.

ZL: Who did you grow up rooting for?

NB: I was kind of a Red Sox fan, though I wasn’t a diehard or anything. I just love watching the game in general.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Bradley Zimmer

By Steve Adams | May 23, 2014 at 3:01pm CDT

University of San Francisco center fielder Bradley Zimmer is considered by some to be the best college position player in this year’s draft. The brother of Royals prospect and 2012 No. 5 overall pick, Kyle Zimmer, Bradley is ranked as the fifth-best prospect in this draft class by ESPN’s Keith Law (ESPN Insider subscription required and recommended). Baseball America has Zimmer ranked 14th, and MLB.com currently ranks him No. 10.

The 6’5″, 205-pound Zimmer put himself on the prospect map with an outstanding sophomore season in 2013 when he slashed .320/.437/.512 with 29 walks with seven home runs against just 31 strikeouts in 58 games.

He’s followed up that breakout campaign with an even more impressive .368/.461/.573 batting line to go along with seven homers, seven triples and 10 doubles. Once again, he’s walking (31 times) almost as often as he strikes out (34), and he’s swiped 21 bases in 32 tries in 2014. Bradley was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR last week:

Steve Adams: The first thing I want to ask you is if you can, in your own words, describe your overall game.

Bradley Zimmer: I think, I’d say I’m a very hard-working, very hard-nosed player. I go out there every day with the mindset that I’m going to do whatever I can to help my team win, whether that be stealing a base, driving in runs, or playing good defense.

SA: Is there a particular player or maybe multiple players that you modeled your game after growing up, or that you continue to model your game after?

BZ: Yeah, definitely. I think guys like Carlos Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Jacoby Ellsbury — I think those are all some names that I kind of look to and model my game off.

SA: Those guys you mentioned there are kind of “complete players” — blends of power, speed and hitting for average. Is that the the type of player that you ultimately see yourself becoming in an ideal setting?

BZ: Yeah, I think so. I think that I have attained those five tools as my career has gone on. I think there’s definitely room for improvement, and as time goes on, I think I’m just going to get bigger, stronger, faster and be able to hit for more power, run faster, throw a little harder. I think as time goes on, I’ll just continue improving.

SA: I know you were drafted previously in the 23rd round by the Cubs back in 2011. Can you talk a little bit about the decision to head to college and go play at the University of San Francisco instead of signing out of high school?

BZ: I think it was a decision based off of the sole fact that I wanted to pursue my academics and play college baseball. I’d like to get my degree from USF whether that be now or in a year or two. That was a big reason, and I wanted to get the college experience. And the coaching staff at USF is amazing. I give them all the credit for my success as a player and a student. I got the opportunity to play with brother as well, which was awesome. I think those things were the main components of my decision.

SA: Talking about your brother, you’ve been through process before, to an extent, in terms of being exposed to the pressure and the attention that a potential first-round pick goes through. Has what Kyle went through a couple of years ago helped prepare you for that scenario this year?

BZ: Yeah. I think seeing him going through this process previously in 2012 was definitely a leap in the right direction for me, as far as getting to experience the process of being looked at and being a high prospect. I think that was definitely beneficial for my development as a player — being able to see him go through that.

SA: I’ve seen a couple reports that you were actually clocked in the 90s off of a mound. Kyle’s obviously had plenty of success as a pitcher — was there ever any temptation for you to follow that lead and pitch as well?

BZ: No, not really. We’ve joked around about it here and there, but I never really strongly considered being a pitcher. I’ve always been a hitter, and I think that’s the way I always will be.

SA: You’ve played all around the outfield, and you played center field primarily of late. Is that your preferred position in the outfield and the position you see yourself playing in the future?

BZ: Yeah, I got the opportunity to move over to center field this year, and I think did a really good job there. I think I helped our team quite a bit out there. I felt really comfortable, and I feel like I can really help a team the most at that position. Hopefully, I get a chance to stay there, but if not, whatever works — I can play corner outfield as well.

SA: There are some people that say you’re 6’5″ — which is big for a center fielder. What’s your response to scouts that say that despite the fact that you have good speed, you’ll eventually have to move to a corner? Do you feel you can handle any outfield position?

BZ: Oh, absolutely. I played right field my first year in college, and I had no problem with it. Like I said, wherever works best and whatever fits for the team, I’m willing to do that.

SA: There’s a lot of praise for your swing — a really smooth, line-drive stroke that lets you hit for good average. Have you ever felt any pressure to hit for power, or are you of the mindset that home runs will come when they come?

BZ: Yeah, I think some people question my power, but I think I’ve put up some good power numbers. But with that, I know it’s only going to improve more. I’ve just got to keep going out there every day and do what I do and let the rest take care of itself.

SA: It seems like your sophomore season is what really put you on the map. Your freshman year, you hit .242 and walked four times, and then you had this breakout season as a sophomore where you walked almost as many times (29) as you struck out (31). What was the difference between those two seasons for you? What changed from freshman to sophomore year?

BZ: I think just overall experience of playing at the college level and knowing that I can compete at that level and potentially dominate. I think just the experience. The coaches are awesome. They helped me a lot. I felt a lot more comfortable and I knew that I belonged.

SA: At the beginning of this year you hit third a lot, and then toward the end you were hitting leadoff a lot. Do you have a preference between those two positions? What’s your ideal slot in the future?

BZ: I’m not really used to hitting leadoff — I’ve been in the middle of the lineup the last few years — but coach put me there and he thought that was best for the team, so I had no problem with it. I think it’s been going just fine. I’ve actually gotten used to it to the point where I enjoy hitting leadoff. I don’t see that big of a difference in hitting leadoff versus hitting third, at least for me. My approach has pretty much stayed the same and like I said, I’ve enjoyed it.

SA: That’s obviously a change late in the season. Have you, with the draft coming up, made any changes to your training regimen and day-to-day activities?

BZ: No, not necessarily. I’ve taken batting practice for a few scouts — they’ll come out to practice — but other than that, it’s pretty standard stuff at the ballparks. Just execute in my role and help my team win.

SA: I’ll wrap this up pretty quick but wanted to ask one more question. If we fast forward to five years from now, and Bradley Zimmer is stepping into the box in the bottom of the ninth inning with two guys on base against Royals ace Kyle Zimmer, who is trying to close out a complete game shutout… who wins that battle?

BZ: [Laughing] Obviously, I’ve got to give it to myself. I’m going to win that battle. I think he wouldn’t even mess with throwing me the offspeed stuff, he’d just try and blow it by me, so I’d be ready for that first-pitch fastball and just jump all over it.

SA: Future bragging rights at every family holiday?

BZ: Oh, yeah. Just wait for one of those 98 mph fastballs.

Photo courtesy of the University of San Francisco Athletics Department.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Anthony Rendon

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | April 28, 2011 at 3:18pm CDT

As the 2011 Draft draws closer, MLBTR will be introducing you to a handful of the top eligible prospects with a series of Q&As. The series includes four of the top college pitchers in the nation and a top college position player. Here's another position player to watch.

Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon is considered the top college position player in the 2011 draft and he remains a candidate to be the first overall pick this June. Both Baseball America and ESPN.com have reported within the week that it appears Rendon will either go first overall (to the Pirates) or second (to the Mariners) with UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole going to the other team.

Rendon entered the season as the top prospect in the draft after being named Baseball America's Player of the Year in 2010 and the publication's Freshman of the Year in 2009. Ankle and shoulder injuries have slowed Rendon down this year and limited his time at third base, where he is considered an excellent defender. The 20-year-old Houston native shines at the plate as well and has a .350/.552/.552 line with 62 walks so far this season.

I spoke to Rendon earlier today about his injuries, the team he rooted for growing up and the hype surrounding the draft. Here's a transcript of our conversation:

Ben Nicholson-Smith – Not to start off on a bad note, but I’ve got to ask you about your injuries. Your ankle and your shoulder injuries – have those been the biggest challenges that you’ve had to face as a player this year?

Anthony Rendon – Yeah, definitely. You want to keep on playing the game that you love, so it’s always going to be on your mind, but it’s part of being a player – actually getting over those injuries to be stronger when you come back and I feel like I’m doing that.

BNS – How are you feeling now?

AR – I feel good. The ankle’s fine. I’m still on my throwing program with my arm, so I’m just trying to get it back stronger so I can go back 100% on the field and not have to worry about it down the road.

BNS – Is that the goal – just to be able to go out there and basically relax?

AR – Oh yeah, definitely. That’s a whole part of the game. When you play you’re supposed to be relaxed, you’re not supposed to be tense out there and you’re not supposed to be thinking about too many things. If you think about things too much, you’re not going to be as great as you can be because you can forget about other aspects of the game and it can hurt you in the long run or you might make an errors.

BNS – One of the things I hear a lot is that you’re a strong defender. How do you go about preparing defensively and improving yourself on the field?

AR – I like to get loose out there, I like to get free out there, but at the same time, you’ve got to be prepared so you can read the hops and stuff like that. I like to take practice seriously and I like to have fun out there and just focus on little things because when little things add up – just keeping your head down on a ground ball or keeping a free hand on top to guard against bad hops – those little things add up.

BNS – A few years ago the Braves drafted you and you were a 27th rounder back then. It’s pretty apparent that the industry sees you as a completely different player now than you were back then, but do you see yourself differently?

AR – I do see myself differently. I’ve changed physically and mentally. Back in high school I was probably about 5’10” and 165 pounds and I’ve grown since then [Rice's website lists him at 6'0", 190 pounds] because we’ve got such a great strength program. And … it’s not only the physical, but the mental aspects, too. Handling the problems that may arise, the different issues and the different aspects of the game. I’ve learned the game a lot more. I can kind of predict what’s going to happen next or what the other team’s going to do in a certain situation, so I’ve actually started to appreciate the game more and learn the ins and outs of the game instead of just going out there and playing.

BNS – Are you in touch with any of the guys who have come through [the Rice] program like David Aardsma or Lance Berkman? Any of the current big leaguers who went through the same things that you did?

AR – It’s not that much, but I’ll talk to Berkman every now and then … we’ll talk about baseball and he’ll just keep us laughing the whole time. [He has gone through] pretty much the same thing as what we’re going through now, so we just talk about the game and how he is and how the program is.

BNS – Were you an Astros fan growing up, coming from Houston?

AR – Yeah, definitely. They’re the hometown team. They haven’t always been the greatest team, so some of the years you get mad at them because they haven’t done so well, but deep down they’re the hometown team.

I remember growing up, watching [Jeff] Bagwell and his weird stance and [Richard] Hidalgo and his arm in right and left field. I definitely enjoyed watching the Astros growing up. My Dad would take my brother and I – though I only went to one game at the Astrodome [before the Astros moved].

BNS – In terms of talking to guys like Berkman, have they given you any advice about the draft, because it’s obviously going to be a different experience for you this year than it was a few years ago.

AR – You know the funny thing is you try not to worry about the draft too much, so that hasn’t been a topic that we’ve talked about. But the people that I’ve talked with say ‘just take it one step at a time.’

One of the things one person told me was ‘don’t let your highs get too high or your lows get too low.’ It’s just baseball, it’s just a game. With the draft if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

BNS – Are you trying to embrace all of this coverage and all of this buzz or are you trying to ignore it as much as possible?

AR – I mean you can’t ignore it with everything out there and it is a lifelong dream to play professional baseball so it’s not just that I can’t ignore it, I don’t want to ignore it. It’s what I want to do. I want to play baseball, it’s why I’ve been playing for the last 17 years of my life. So you can’t ignore it and if anybody tells you differently they’re lying. But you can’t get ahead of yourself and I’m not in the pros. If it happens, it happens. I can’t get ahead of myself and think about pro ball right now. We’re still trying to make it to the College World Series.

BNS – In terms of developing as a player, what are your goals for the rest of this season and potentially further on? What kinds of improvements might you want to make?

AR – I want to get faster. I tell everybody that. I’ve never been the fast guy on the field, so I want to bring a little speed.

And obviously I’ve got to treat my body better or something like that. Drink more milk or something. I’ve been injured for the past year, so maybe I should start taking some vitamins or something. I think I can take care of my body more, because I don’t want to be known as the guy who’s injury-prone. I don’t want to be that guy, I just want to be a reliable guy that plays every day.

BNS – What about all the walks that you’re drawing? I know they’re pitching around you, but how do walks fit into your offensive game?

AR – It definitely has a big impact. I mean I’m not trying to walk. As a hitter, I want to hit the ball every time I go up there, so that’s what I’m looking forward to doing. But it definitely plays a big part in my game.

Once you get so many walks, you can’t get into that rhythm. If they walk you intentionally one at bat and you only see four balls outside, you can’t get a read on his arm angle or pick up little tendencies, so you really get out of rhythm.

BNS – Have you allowed yourself to think about what you’re going to do on the day of the draft?

AR – We’re going to be playing baseball actually, so I can’t be worried about the draft, we’re going to have a game to win!

Draft Prospect Q&A: Danny Hultzen

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | April 18, 2011 at 8:12pm CDT

As the 2011 Draft draws closer, MLBTR will be introducing you to a handful of the top eligible prospects with a series of Q&As. The series started with three of the top college pitchers in the nation and a top college position player. Here's another arm to watch.

Danny Hultzen was the ACC pitcher of the year and a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award last year, but even he is a little surprised by how well the 2011 season is going. The Virginia left-hander has helped lead the Cavaliers to a 36-3 record and the top ranking in the country thanks to his arm and his bat.

Baseball America's Midseason Player of the Year is climbing up draft boards and may be the third-best draft prospect in the country behind Anthony Rendon and Gerrit Cole. ESPN.com's Keith Law reported last week that the D'Backs, Orioles and Royals are among the teams eyeing Hultzen. Anyone picking much later on can likely forget about him, since he doesn't figure to be available for long.

Earlier today I spoke to the 21-year-old about his team's title hopes, his two-way play and the draft. Here's what he had to say:

Ben Nicholson-Smith – I know that you were expected to be a pretty good team, but did you expect going into the season that you would be 36-3 and doing as well as you are.

Danny Hultzen – Well that’s a lot to expect of any team. I’m not surprised that we’re doing well, but there were some questions that had to be answered after coming off of last year. We lost a bunch of guys into the draft, lost a bunch of guys to graduation, so there were a lot of holes to fill, but a lot of younger guys have slipped right in and filled those spots really, really well.

BNS – If I had come up to you before the season and said you’re going to be 36-3 as a team and you’re going to be personally 8-0 with all of these strikeouts [99 in 61 innings this year], which one of those things would have been more surprising to you?

DH – Definitely my success. I knew that we were going to be a good team. It doesn’t really matter, whatever my stats are. That’s nice to have, but it’s all in the effort to help the team win. We’re a very confident bunch and we were very confident going into the season, so it doesn’t surprise me that we’re doing so well.

BNS – When you start breaking these records – the all-time wins leader for the school and the all-time strikeouts leader – and there’s recognition in the media, is that a distraction, or is it invigorating to get that recognition?

DH – I think it’s an honor. It’s an honor to be recognized in that kind of way. It feels good to be recognized like that, but at the same time, you’ve got to stay level-headed and realize that just because someone says you’re good doesn’t mean you’re very good. You’ve still got to go out there and compete. So it’s very cool to have your name out there like that, but you’ve got to stay humble and just go out there and play baseball.

BNS – What kind of an arsenal do you have and how do you go about your business on the mound?

DH – I’m a typical left-handed pitcher. Fastball, change-up and slider. But the main thing I do when I go out there is just compete with an aggressive mentality every time I pitch. You’re not going to have your best stuff every day, so to compensate, you’ve got to go out and be competitive and be aggressive and attack hitters. I think that’s really important and it’s something that I try to do every time I go out there.

BNS – And is that [aggressive approach] the reason that you have so few walks?

DH - It’s definitely a result of attacking the hitters. We’re not going to try to avoid contact. We’re not going to try to strike people out [at all costs]. We’re going to throw strikes and make them beat us and not let us beat ourselves by walking people and getting behind in the count. So the aggressive mentality that I was talking about feeds into that.

BNS – If you think of some MLB left-handers who don’t walk a lot of guys, Cliff Lee comes to mind. If you were to compare yourself to any Major League pitcher, not obviously in terms of where your game is now, but in terms of who you might look up to as a pitcher, who would you point to?

DH – I don’t necessarily compare myself to Major League pitchers, but I do try to learn from Major League pitchers and watch them and Cliff Lee is definitely up there as one of my favorites to watch because he has that aggressive mentality that he’s going to throw strikes. He’s going to make you beat him and he’s not going to walk people. He’s going to be the attacker.

I watch Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels and I really liked watching Andy Pettitte when he was playing. So there’s guys like that who I look up to and try to learn from.

BNS – What about you as a hitter [Hultzen entered the season with a .316/.405/.426 career line as a first baseman and outfielder]? How would you describe yourself?

DH – I’m just out there to try to hit the ball hard somewhere. I’m not going to hit many home runs, if any at all. I’m just up there to try to hit the ball somewhere where they’re not. I’m not a power guy, I’m just going to try to put the ball in play somewhere in the hole or in the gap.

I try to take that same competitive mentality to hitting, too. I know the pitcher’s now up there to walk me, so I try to take my aggressive mentality to the plate, too. I wait for a good pitch to hit and try to hit it somewhere hard.

BNS – When you look ahead, say, a couple years from now, do you see yourself still hitting and being a two-way player, or do you see yourself focusing more on pitching and trying to develop your career in that way.

DH – I’m not really sure yet, but my guess is that I’d probably be focusing on pitching. I’m a lot more confident on the mound, not that I’m not confident at the plate, but I feel better pitching than I do hitting, even though I love doing both and I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to be a two-way player in college. Probably down the road I see myself as a pitcher.

BNS – How much are you looking forward to the rest of the season now that you’re off to such a great start?

DH – It’s awesome. We’ve been playing well right now, but I think if you ask any of my teammates, they’ll say that we haven’t peaked yet and we all feel that we’re capable of playing better baseball, even though that may sound a little arrogant to say given the record we have, but I think that we’re confident that we still haven’t played our best baseball yet and we’re working to get there and try to reach that goal of playing our best baseball when it matters most – in the postseason.

BNS – Are you thinking of the draft now? Is it even in the back of your mind? How much of a role does it play in terms of your state of mind at this point?

DH – I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s in the back of my mind. That kind of stuff can overwhelm you a little bit and I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t want to be concerned about focusing too much on my personal situation, so I’ve been focusing on the team’s success and not personal goals. My personal goal and every player on the team’s personal goal is to win the national championship and we’re just working hard to reach that goal.

BNS – Have the Diamondbacks approached you about selecting you again or is that something that you would be open to giving them permission to do if they were interested in taking you? [The D’Backs drafted Hultzen in 2008 and would need his permission to select him again. They have the No. 3 and No. 7 selections this June]

DH – That’d definitely be something I’d be interested in. I haven’t talked to them at all and I haven’t talked to any scout like that at all, so that’s a little bit down the road, but that’d be something that I’d be willing to do.

Photo courtesy University of Virginia Athletics.

Draft Prospect Q&A: George Springer

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 15, 2011 at 9:10pm CDT

Teams looking for powerful outfielders with speed to spare will be intrigued by George Springer of the UConn Huskies. The 6'4" 21-year-old has improved his draft stock dramatically since the Twins selected him in the 48th round of the 2008 draft; Springer is now a projected first round pick.

In its college baseball preview, Baseball America described Springer as one of the nation's best power hitters, who's a superb defender and a "plus-plus" runner to boot.

He hit 18 homers with 33 steals, 60 walks, 84 runs and a .491 on-base average last year, prompting ESPN.com's Keith Law to rate him second among eligible prospects last month. Law described Springer as "an athletic outfielder with an above-average arm who projects to hit and hit for power and just needs to refine his approach, especially with two strikes."

Springer started slowly and some said to ESPN that he changed his mechanics. After collecting just three hits in his first six games (22 at bats), Springer appears to have rediscovered his stroke, as his numbers are on the rise.

He spoke with MLBTR after UConn's loss to Sacred Heart today. Here's what he had to say:

Ben Nicholson-Smith – I wanted you to start by describing your game for me. I’ve seen it written up in a few different places, but I wanted to get your assessment of your overall game.

George Springer – I just go out and play as hard as I possibly can – I think that’s basically it. I just go out and play as hard as I possibly can and just let my approach and my style of game happen and just go out and put it one the line.

BNS – When you’re at your best, what might be some of the specific things that we would see from you on the field?

GS – One hundred percent – this’ll probably sound dumb – but just balls out all the time. Not playing with any fear. Not afraid to fail. I just go out and I let the game come to me – I just go out and I play as hard as I possibly can and if for some reason the game says that I have to run into a wall, I’ll run into a wall.

BNS – I’ve seen your game written up as a combination of power and speed. Do you see yourself as a power guy, or a speed guy, or somewhere in between.

GS – I see myself as a guy that can hit for power, but I don’t necessarily see myself as hitting for power [primarily]. I see myself as hitting the ball hard and however far it goes, if it stays in the ballpark, I just keep running.

BNS – Is there a major league player who you would compare yourself to as far as a guy who maybe has that gap power and occasional home run power?

GS – Well there’s actually a guy – I wouldn’t necessarily say I do things like him – but I model my game, my style of play, after him and it’s Hunter – Torii Hunter. I used to watch him play when he was in New Britain. When he was in Double-A [in 1997-8] I watched him play with the Twins. He’ll get after it. He plays without fear. He’ll run into a wall or he’ll run through a wall. He’s not just going to swing to swing, he’s going to swing hard. I think that seeing him play as a kid [influenced] who I resemble the most.

BNS – Any other major leaguers, or mostly Torii Hunter?

GS – It’s him, but one other player who has a good overall approach is Robinson Cano. He goes out and he’s basically the same way as Torii Hunter, but he’s a very, very smart hitter. There are certain situations where he doesn’t necessarily swing at a 3-0 fastball because he knows he’s going to get a 3-1 pitch to hit.

He does the small things. If you need a fly ball to score somebody, he hits a fly ball. Or if he’s got to roll one over to get someone from second to third, that’s exactly what he does.

BNS – If we were to fast forward to five years from now, which of those two guys do you think you would resemble more? Hunter or Cano?

GS – I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I’d like to say it would be a combination of both. Not afraid to fail, but at the same time being smart, being patient.

BNS – Having guys like [former UConn teammate] Mike Olt drafted last year in the first round and then [UConn pitcher] Matt Barnes, who could also go in the first round with you potentially, does that change things at all? Does that make it any easier having some guys who are going through some of the same things that you are?

GS – I can say yes and I can say no because to me Mike Olt is Mike Olt. I played with him for the last three years of his [college] career and I’ve seen him grow as a player and as a person. Yeah he’s Mike Olt and he went in the first round, but I just see him as Mike Olt and it’s who I played with for three years.

The same thing for Matt. I’ve known Matt my whole life. I’ve played with him the last six, eight years. So having them there I would say has helped, but at the same time, he’s just Mike Olt and Matt is just Matt Barnes.

BNS – You talk about Mike developing as a player and as a person at UConn. What might those [developments] be on the field for you since you started playing college ball?

GS – I’ve been taught my whole life to let the physical stuff happen. The strength, the speed, the power – let that come. But I think the biggest development in my eyes is developing the mental side of the game, which can help me go out and play if I learn about the game. And that’s something that I’ve been working on the last four or five years.

I’m not in the big leagues, so I obviously have some stuff hitting-wise and fielding-wise and baserunning-wise [to work on]. But I think the biggest thing I’ve tried to learn has been the mental side of the game.

BNS – Is that through coaches or is that through books or videos or just talking to people? How do you go about doing that?

GS – Through experience. You’ve got to learn pitch to pitch and at bat to at bat. The last three or four years, I’ve had the privilege to talk to guys and play with guys who know certain things that I wouldn’t have thought about.

Being with guys like Matt Barnes – being with Matt I can get the pitcher’s side of the game and I can learn from him what I have to do as a hitter in certain situations and learn what he’s thinking and what the other guy’s thinking and learn from my mistakes and my successes and learn from the success of my teammates. There’s always something I can learn and over the past three or four years it’s been mainly just through playing and just learning at bat to at bat and pitch to pitch, but I’ve also played with guys like Matt Barnes and [2011 draft prospect] Jackie Bradley Jr.

BNS – What about your season so far? A slow start and now it seems like you’re hitting better. How do you evaluate the season so far.

GS – So far it could obviously be better. It could obviously be worse, too. I think one of the main things for me is just to not try to do too much, to not press. Just to get in the box and play hard and swing and slow everything down and eventually they’ll start falling.

BNS – What about the draft? Last time, going in the 48th round was probably different than what you’ve experienced so far and what you’re looking ahead to.

GS – I look ahead to it as June 6th to the 9th because if I think for one second that the draft is set or anything like that that’s when I let down my team. That’s when I don’t play as hard, that’s when I don’t stay positive or get a big head and say ‘here’s the hype, here’s the potential.’

But that’s not what I’m about. I’m about the success of my team and my teammates before myself and if something happens in the draft, it’s something that I can’t focus on now because I have to help our team win.

Photo courtesy University of Connecticut athletics.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Gerrit Cole

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 10, 2011 at 3:35pm CDT

As the 2011 Draft draws closer, MLBTR will be introducing you to a handful of the top eligible prospects with a series of Q&As. The series started with two of the top college pitchers in the nation and continues today with another one.

UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole was one of the top draft prospects in the country before last week, but his performance against Nebraska on Friday sure didn't hurt his stock. Cole pitched nine innings of two-hit, shutout ball, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning and striking out eight.

It's not particularly surprising to see the 6'4" 20-year-old thriving. Baseball America announced earlier in the year that his mid-90s fastball and devastating slider give him "best pure stuff in the [2011] draft" and Cole struck out 153 batters in 123 innings last year, helping the Bruins reach the College World Series finals.

Cole has been a known commodity for years, since the Yankees selected the power pitcher in the first round of the 2008 draft out of high school. He will likely go higher than 28th overall in 2011; ESPN.com's Jason A. Churchill and Keith Law suggested last week that Cole is a threat to surpass Anthony Rendon and go first overall this June.

MLBTR chatted with Cole about his most recent outing, turning down the team his family cheers for and having Charlie Sheen show up at his team's practices. Click through to read our conversation:

Ben Nicholson-Smith – We’ll start with the game you had last week. Was that the best you’ve ever felt on a pitching mound?

Gerrit Cole – No. Not really, especially because I had great defense behind me. I felt good, but I’ve felt just as good or better a couple other starts. Things were going our way, we were playing really good defense and when you make a lot of really good defensive plays, you tend to get a lot of quick outs.

BNS – What about your repertoire? Can I get you to break down your different pitches for me?

GC – It’s a traditional three-pitch mix with a fastball, a slider and a change-up. I don’t necessarily go to the slider all of the time. I like to change it up quite a bit, right on right, right on left, it depends. I’ve had good control of both off-speed pitches this year, allowing me to go in and out of the zone with both of them so I’m comfortable throwing all three pitches in really any count.

BNS – When you were in high school, did you have that confidence in your off-speed pitches, or was it just rear back and throw the heater?

GC – It was definitely more rear back and throw the heater compared to now, but I’d say for a high schooler, I think I mixed pretty well. When you have a pitch that you can get guys out with consistently, your coaches are going to want to call it most of the time and you’re going to want to throw it, so there was really no need to set up guys very much. But I did throw the change-up in high school and I did throw the slider as well.

BNS – The Yankees liked your stuff well enough to draft you 28th overall. What’s it like when the Yankees are calling and they say they want to sign you, what’s it like to say ‘no’ to the New York Yankees? That’s probably not a feeling that many people experience.

GC – I mean obviously when you get called on draft day, it’s really exciting and it was a tremendous honor to be selected by such a prestigious organization, but I wouldn’t call saying no a joy. That’s the way that my family and I had planned on going – to UCLA. You never want to say ‘no’ or give the impression that I was throwing it in their face or anything like that, because that’s not what it was about.

BNS – It would appear that after last year’s run to the College World Series and this year with the potential the [UCLA] team has, it would seem that that’s a decision that’s gone pretty well. Is that the way you look at it?

GC – I definitely would say that it was probably one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve had an unbelievable experience here. I’ve made a lot of friends and we’ve had our highs and we’ve had our lows and learned a lot. It’s the whole college experience here, being surrounded by a lot of stuff that’s surreal – like when Charlie Sheen shows up to your practice it’s kind of weird –

BNS – Did Charlie Sheen show up to your practice?

GC – Yeah he did a couple weeks ago [Cole said this happened before Sheen’s recent stint in the international spotlight]. We have a lot of big leaguers who stop by the park and take BP, ‘cause it’s L.A. and a lot of people come through here and need a place to hit, so it’s been a pretty surreal experience with all of the surroundings and all of the friends and to have the opportunity to take classes at a school like this. Because I would never have been able to do it without baseball. I wasn’t necessarily your 4.0 [GPA] type of guy in high school, so it’s been exciting to take advantage of an opportunity like this.

BNS – Sorry to go back to this, but what was Charlie Sheen doing? Was he just watching practice or what was he doing?

GC – He just showed up and took BP. He’d been there a couple times before, but recently he showed up about four weeks ago before we started playing.

BNS – Do you look up to any past or present big leaguers and model yourself after them at all?

GC – I really loved watching Roger Clemens pitch when he was in his prime. He was such a bulldog on the mound and I try to replicate that mentality, that aggressiveness the best I can. Obviously without throwing bats at other people. But he was someone that I liked to watch and I like to watch Mariano Rivera because it’s kind of polar opposites when you look at a guy who’s really fired up and really emotional versus a guy who’s consistent and really disciplined and just goes about his work. You try to combine the best of both worlds and see what you get out of that.

BNS – A couple Yankees there – are you a Yankees fan or are these just your players because they’re Hall of Fame caliber guys?

GC – Because they’re Hall of Fame caliber guys, but my dad went to high school in New York and he was a big New York Yankees fan and passed it on down to me when I was growing up, so we’ve been Yankees fans for quite a long time, which kind of made the decision [in 2008] that much tougher.

BNS – Knowing that it’s a few months away, is it hard not to think about the draft?

GC – If anybody tells you that they aren’t looking ahead to June, they’d be lying. You really have to take it day by day and focus on what’s most important at that time, which would be what’s going on that week or what’s going on that practice. You just take it slow, because it’s a long process and it’s easy to get caught up in. Fortunately for me, I’ve already done it before. You can never really prepare yourself for the unexpected, but you kind of have an idea of how the process goes and it makes things a lot easier. You have a better understanding of what’s going to happen, so you can really slow things down and not really get yourself caught up in what’s about to happen.

Photo courtesy UCLA Athletics.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Matt Purke

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 2, 2011 at 3:18pm CDT

As the 2011 Draft draws closer, MLBTR will be introducing you to a handful of the top eligible prospects with a series of Q&As. The series debuted last week with one of the top college pitchers in the nation and continues today with another.

Matt Purke pitched well enough as a high schooler to go in the first round of the 2009 draft. He didn't sign with the Rangers, who selected him 14th overall, and instead joined the TCU Horned Frogs. He led the team to its first ever College World Series appearance last year with a shiny 16-0 record and 142 strikeouts in 116 innings.

The 20-year-old sophomore is draft eligible once again and, according to Baseball America and ESPN.com's Keith Law, should go in the first round once again, possibly first overall. Baseball America called Purke "a bona fide ace with a lively 91-94 mph fastball and a wipeout slider" that can overmatch hitters. Purke calls his breaking ball a curve, but he isn't going to get into an argument about semantics with the publication that named him the 2010 Baseball America Freshman of the Year.

Purke talked to MLBTR this afternoon. Here's what we discussed:

Ben Nicholson-Smith – Can you describe yourself as a pitcher – what pitches you throw and what your approach is on the mound?

Matt Purke – I’d just say I’m a normal pitcher like any other. I just throw three pitches: fastball, curveball, change-up and my approach to pitching is to be very aggressive and get guys out as quick as possible.

BNS – What about your off-speed pitches. Which one would you be more likely to throw in a go-to situation?

MP – I’d say I’m equally confident with both [the curve and the change] at any point in time.

BNS – You say you’re like any other pitcher, but do you think you resemble any current major leaguers or past major leaguers in the way that you go about pitching?

MP – I’d say I get compared to Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, a young kid, and Cole Hamels of the Phillies. I have kind of the same body build, the same arm action, things like that.

BNS – Two pretty good pitchers that you just named. When people compare you to those guys is that a comparison that you like to hear?

MP – Definitely, definitely. Any time that you get compared to someone playing professional baseball it’s definitely a compliment that you take pride in.

BNS – Do you watch those guys during the season as fellow left-handers and see how they go out and attack hitters?

MP – I watch baseball when I’m not playing baseball, so I’ll catch them every now and then. So I try to watch them and just use some of the stuff that they do to help me out.

BNS – You’ve been through the draft before as a first rounder before, so does that make it any easier having already experienced the rigors of being drafted?

MP – Yeah. The experience is nothing you can take away – it just helps. I know what to expect with the months coming and know what to expect the few days before. That’s already transpired, so obviously I’m in a more comfortable state than I was when I was first drafted out of high school.

BNS – You have the whole rest of the season ahead of you here, but what is there to expect once that draft actually comes around?

MP – I don’t have any control in it, I have no say in what happens. All I can do is sit there and watch … It’s definitely an opportunity to be drafted and have the opportunity to play professional baseball, but really it’s another process you’ve got to go through. So it’s an exciting time and a stressful time, but it’s nothing that you wouldn’t want.

BNS – Can you compare Matt Purke the 2009 pitcher and Matt Purke the 2011 pitcher?

MP – I’d say now I’m definitely a lot more seasoned [now]. I learned a lot more, not only on the field but off of the field. After ’09 I was a young high school kid that really just played baseball and I only knew what I had done in the summer with team USA and in high school. And now I’m in college, I’ve been able to travel and learn how travel and also have a social life and be able to take care of my academics as well. So I’ve definitely learned a lot more, have a lot more experience now and I’m a lot more prepared for the travel that’s in the future.

Photo courtesy Michael Clements.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Sonny Gray

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 22, 2011 at 3:17pm CDT

As the 2011 Draft draws closer, MLBTR will be introducing you to a handful of the top eligible prospects with a series of Q&As. The series debuts today with one of the top college pitchers in the nation.

Vanderbilt right-hander Sonny Gray has "the best curveball in college baseball," according to Baseball America, and ESPN.com's Keith Law suggested last week that he has an outside shot of being the first overall pick this June. According to Baseball America, some scouts wonder if Gray's future is in the bullpen. But with an above-average curve, a 93-96 mph fastball and a change-up, he could become a starter like Mike Minor and David Price, two Vanderbilt products who were selected in the first round.

Gray talked to MLBTR about his size, his curveball and Roy Halladay. Here's a transcript of our conversation:

Ben Nicholson-Smith – Can you describe your pitches and what kind of pitcher you are?

Sonny Gray – I’m a guy that has a pretty good fastball and I like to use it a lot. I also rely on my curveball quite a bit. It’s been a pitch that I’ve been able to go to for a while – ever since I can remember pitching. I like to throw mainly a lot of fastballs and curveballs and I’d say between fastball and curve that’s probably 85% of the pitches I throw.

Varying speeds on my curveball of course, so some are a few miles an hour harder, which can make a difference, and I mix in change-ups. I kind of like to just go after the hitter and just throw my stuff against their bat and see what I can get out of it.

BNS – It sounds like you’re pretty comfortable with your curveball at this point.

SG - Yeah, I’ve always been pretty confident in it. It’s always been something I can use and it’s always worked pretty well. If I need to make a big pitch, I’ll go to either that or my fastball, but I’m pretty confident in [the curve].

I’m really confident in my fastball as well and I’m gaining confidence in the change-up. This year I’m going to end up throwing it a lot more and I threw it quite a bit this summer, so I’ve just got to gain more confidence in that pitch and I’m starting to get that, since I’m starting to have success with it.

BNS - Is that one of your goals for the season? To keep working the change-up into the repertoire?

SG - It’s not one of my goals. My goal is to get outs and win games. If it’s throwing a change-up that certain night, then I’ll throw a change-up. If it’s not throwing any, I won’t throw any. If it’s mixing everything, I’ll mix everything. It’s just the way the flow of the game goes.

I don’t think that’s a goal – ‘today I’ve got to make sure I throw a change-up.’ I don’t really look at it that way. It’s just whatever I need for each particular outing.

BNS - Tell me about how you’ve changed or evolved as a pitcher since the Cubs took you back in [the 27th round in] ’08.

SG - I’ve changed a lot actually. I still go with the fastballs and curveballs, but I’ve added I think 25 or 30 pounds. Back then I was 5’11” and 170 or 175 [pounds] and now I’m right at 200.

I’ve learned how to pitch a lot more. In high school you can kind of throw it by people, but here you have to learn how to throw the ball to both sides of the plate – which is important – and I’ve learned a lot about the game. I’ve learned how to pitch, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m able to correct things now if something’s not going well, I can correct things in the moment which was something I wasn’t able to do then. Back then I’d try to rear back and throw as hard as I could if something wasn’t going right, but now I know why stuff happens and I’m able to correct if from one pitch to the next.

BNS - You said that throwing change-ups is not one of your goals, but what goals would you say that you do have for the rest of the college season?

SG - The goal is just to get out there and give the team a chance to win every game. There’s going to be outings when I’m really good, when my stuff’s real good and there’s also going to be outings like last Friday when my stuff’s not quite there and the offense is going to have to pick me up [Gray pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and four hits and striking out six against the University of San Diego on Friday]. But to be able to give the team a chance to win every Friday night I go out there is one of my main goals.

BNS – Do you watch a lot of big league baseball? Are you a big baseball fan in general?

SG - Yeah, I am actually.

BNS - What major leaguers do you look up to?

SG - Roy Halladay does things the right way. His team follows around him; he knows how to come into a new place and maintain his work ethic.

Also the guys coming out from Vandy, guys that I’m pretty close with. I check to see how David [Price] does every time he pitches. We’ve developed a little bit of a relationship, coming from Vandy. So I look up to him and his success as well.

BNS - How much does the success of a guy like David Price or Mike Minor drive you?

SG - It does. Just to be able to see what they’ve done and try to build on that. To think what they’ve been able to accomplish and by doing it the right way. Especially coming here – the program has high expectations and I think that they kind of brought this program to a new level that hadn’t been pushed before.

And me being here I’m just trying to get to the next level that they weren’t able to make it to. And I’m going to leave it to the guys that come behind us. But we want to push the program far – to where it hasn’t been [a College World Series championship].

BNS - When you look ahead, say, five years from now, do you see yourself as a starter or do you see yourself as a reliever?

SG - I’ve always thought of myself as a starter. Some people say 'he’s shorter,' but I’ve seen myself as a starter. I closed my freshman year here at Vanderbilt and it was the first time I’d ever been out of the bullpen and it was actually an enjoyable time, I actually had a lot of fun with it.

It was a new role I hadn’t played before but once I got used to it it was something I enjoyed doing. I looked forward to throwing more than once in a week. So I’ve always seen myself as a starter, but if anything were to happen, I’m versatile, I’m not someone who’s just stuck on something and doesn’t want to try to experiment or do whatever needs to be done.

BNS - What about all of this interest in the draft? You have people like me calling, you have Baseball America writing about you, you’re on ESPN. How much of that stuff is exciting and really cool and how much of that is a distraction?

SG – I think it’s very exciting. It’s nice to receive recognition for the hard work you’ve put in from way before college, growing up playing the game. It’s nice to receive some kind of recognition, but then again you kind of have to take a step back and take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture. And for me right now the bigger picture is next Friday night and the next Friday after that. It’s just this season and this team, putting this team in position to win and stuff off the field can come off the field. It is nice to receive that stuff, but you have to take it with a grain of salt and just do what you can do.

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