Interviews

Blaine Boyer And His Personal Entourage

By Zachary Links | March 23, 2015 at 2:19pm CDT

In March, it’s not uncommon to see over-the-hill veterans in camp looking to extend their careers for just one more season. By the same token you don’t normally see marketable 30-year-old players call it quits, but that’s what reliever Blaine Boyer did three years ago. Boyer didn’t fall out of love with baseball, but he was decidedly heartsick and missing his family back home. When the right-hander told his wife Ginsey that he wanted to retire and potentially leave a mountain of money on the table, she understood the way he felt and the reasons behind his decision.

“I grew up in a household that was broken early. My parents divorced when I was three and there was just so much inconsistency there,” Boyer told MLBTR in the Twins’ dugout prior to their afternoon contest against the Phillies. “I’ve had to live with that for a long time. I was coming and going and I wasn’t consistently there for my boys and my wife and that brought back a lot of what I went through when I was little, so she understood that. It wasn’t about me not wanting to play baseball anymore, it was much deeper.”

While Boyer’s sabbatical from the game effectively amounted to a boxer’s retirement, he was confident that he was done with baseball for good. When the pull of the sport was too strong for Boyer to resist, he and his wife came up with an unorthodox game plan: she and their two young sons would travel with Boyer on the road as much as humanly possible throughout the season.

Boyer, 33, feels as though he has found the right balance between being an active parent and doing what he feels he was put on this planet to do professionally.

“The boys, they’re 3 and 4 now, they’re at the point where they’re kind of expecting baseball season and they love it. My wife especially, she loves the atmosphere of the games, she loves sitting back and eating a hot dog, watching the boys and the seventh inning stretch and it’s just so much fun for her to be their mother watching them watch their daddy,” Boyer said. “For me, I’m able to experience this as their father and my wife always being with me, it’s kind of like the Boyer family adventure and it’s a blessing.”

For the right-hander, traveling with the family entourage means that he doesn’t have to live with regret in the present or in the future.

“I feel like God has given me the ability to throw a baseball and he hasn’t given that many people this kind of ability. So, when I have to answer to him about the gifts he has given me, I don’t want to have to say, ’Oh, I’m sorry I wasted that one.’ On top of that, I didn’t want to be 60 years old and thinking what might have been,” Boyer explained. “So, the whole no regrets mindset and still playing baseball gives me the opportunity stand up and talk about family and talk about God. Helping people understand my relationship with Jesus Christ is important to me.”

Boyer has taken his family with him all over the map, even internationally in 2013 when he pitched for Japan’s Hanshin Tigers. Boyer, who bristled at the thought of takoyaki and some of the country’s more adventurous cuisine, experienced a bit of culture shock, but he also fell in love with Japan’s baseball culture and its people. It also helped that friend Jason Standridge was pitching with Hanshin and, of course, his family was by his side.

For now, the Boyer family adventure has landed the traveling clan in Minnesota, but that could change in a matter of days. The reliever has a March 30th opt-out clause that can be exercised if he has not been added to the 40-man roster by that time. Boyer doesn’t know how that will play out yet, but he’ll have his own personal cheering section with him no matter where he winds up.

Justin Smoak Looking Forward To Fresh Start

By Zachary Links | March 22, 2015 at 11:59pm CDT

Entering his fifth major league season, Justin Smoak knows that he hasn’t accomplished everything that he set out to do when he was regarded as a top prospect. He also believes, however, that it’s not too late to turn on the jets and fulfill his potential.

“I’ve learned a lot over the years. I think I’ve had some good few weeks, a good month here and there, but I haven’t been the player that I know I can be and what a lot of people thought I was going to be, so it’s just about getting better and doing what I can day in and day out,” Smoak told MLBTR after the Blue Jays topped the Rays 3-0 in Dunedin. “I feel like I’m at a point where I’ve learned what works for me and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve just got to make it happen.”

Just four years ago, Smoak was the centerpiece of a trade package that sent ace Cliff Lee to the Rangers. Smoak didn’t blossom into the fearsome bopper Seattle hoped he’d become, and last October, the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers. Soon after, they declined Smoak’s $3.65MM option and non-tendered him, but he knew all along that he was still wanted in Toronto.

“Yeah, that was the first conversation I had with them. That was already a known. I knew that was going to happen, and I’m still arbitration-eligible, so I just tried to come to a deal and it ended up being what it is now,” Smoak said, referring to his one-year, $1MM pact.

Late last year, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet learned from Smoak’s agent that he turned down more money elsewhere to sign with the Blue Jays. Predictably, Smoak cited playing time as a reason for his decision, but not the only one.

“Probably more just the opportunity, you know, the opportunity to play and be in this lineup and be in the American League East and some hitter ballparks, that was probably the number one thing for me,” said the 28-year-old.

Toronto could provide a springboard for Smoak to make that money back and then some, but, above all else, he believes the change of scenery will help him get his career back on track.

“In Seattle, I had some good times and I learned a lot, but it’ll be a fresh start in Toronto and, hopefully, I’ll get things going here.”

Daniel Norris Tuning Out Trade Rumors

By Zachary Links | March 22, 2015 at 5:35pm CDT

Long before people were eyeing Daniel Norris as the next spokesman for Dos Equis beer, he was a wanted man around baseball. When the Cubs were shopping ace Jeff Samardzija last summer, Theo Epstein & Co. were reportedly targeting Norris as a centerpiece in a potential deal with Toronto. Ultimately, of course, the Blue Jays stood pat and held on to one of the brightest young pitching prospects in baseball. Through it all, Norris says he didn’t allow the trade talk to be a distraction, but he couldn’t avoid hearing about it on a daily basis.

“At first it was like, I would never see it, but I would always get text messages from buddies back home like, ’Dude, are you getting traded?’ and they’d send me screenshots of MLB Trade Rumors and I’m like, ’What the heck?’ But, at the end of the day, it’s just about throwing a baseball,” Norris told MLBTR. “Whoever it’s for, whether it’s for the Blue Jays or for the Cubs, whatever, that’s all I can control. It’s not like I can say, ’Hey, please don’t trade me, I like your organization.’ So you just have to take whatever is given to you.”

Even as speculation mounted about the Blue Jays making a play for Samardzija and the potential pieces that could be involved in a swap, no one from the organization approached the young pitcher to let him know a trade was imminent. His representatives at Excel Sports Management thought enough of the buzz to keep him apprised, but Norris wasn’t exactly waiting by the phone.

“I got a call from my agent once when I was in Double-A and he said, ’Hey, there’s a possibility you might get traded, it’s out there, I wanted to let you know,’ and I was like, ’Okay, whatever,’ so that’s about the extent of it,” the pitcher explained.

By all accounts, the 21-year-old (22 in April) is the frontrunner to land the final spot in the Blue Jays’ rotation, but he refused to pat himself on the back for what he’s displayed this spring. With some prodding, he acknowledged that he did well for himself in his Friday night outing when he allowed one run across 5 2/3 innings against the Rays, but he’s determined to improve on his command and delivery as the season draws near. Norris hopes that if he has everything clicking to start the year, he can direct the conversation away from his fascinating off-field life and back to his pitching.

“I don’t think it’ll be long before the focus is back on my playing again,” Norris said. “I just want to go out there and take care of business.”

Dioner Navarro Addresses Trade Speculation

By Zachary Links | March 22, 2015 at 12:46pm CDT

Dioner Navarro was gearing up for his second season as the Blue Jays’ starting catcher when Toronto decided to make a massive splash by signing Russell Martin in November. Navarro, an offensively-gifted catcher is his own right, was understandably unhappy with the prospect of seeing less at-bats at a new position. Navarro asked for a trade days after Martin’s arrival and weeks ago he said that the D’Backs and Tigers were among the teams that have called on him. For now, however, he’s keeping his focus solely on the field.

“No not at this point. I really try to stay away from it now [laughs],” Navarro told MLBTR when asked if he’s heard of additional clubs that have interest in acquiring him. “I already said my feelings about it, whatever happens is going to happen.”

Navarro had a chat with Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos earlier this offseason where both men were able to explain their positions. In the weeks that have followed, Navarro said that he hasn’t heard from AA or anyone else in the front office about a potential deal.

“No, I just had a conversation early during the offseason and we spoke our piece. Since Spring Training started he expressed his feelings and I expressed my feelings and we’ll leave it at that. We don’t need to be saying anything else, we gotta get ready for baseball season.

“I think I’m at that point where I don’t even pay attention anymore, whether it’s here or somewhere else. I’m just trying to get ready and let my agent do what he’s got to do. If he gets something done, he’ll let me know,” the 31-year-old said.

In other words, if a trade is merely days away, Navarro doesn’t know about it. The catcher also told MLBTR that he hasn’t given any thought to where he might potentially be a good fit. In the interim, his plan is to do whatever is asked of him, even if he’s not all that gung ho about playing primarily in the DH spot.

“There’s a little bit that I like about playing DH, but, I mean, I love playing behind the plate. I love being in there every pitch every play, I love playing behind the plate, and I feel like myself behind the plate. But, right now I want to help my team win. In this case, if I stay with the Blue Jays I’d love to help them win and help them be in the postseason this year,” said Navarro.

It remains to be seen whether the Tigers, Diamondbacks, or another team will make a move for the well-traveled veteran, who will be a free agent again after the season. Even if the outside interest is significant, a deal might not materialize for a while as Anthopoulos knows how valuable Navarro can be for a catching-needy team and is demanding a quality return for him. In the interim, Navarro says he’s ready to give 100%, even if he’s only doing 50% of what he loves at present.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Braxton Davidson

By Steve Adams | June 5, 2014 at 9:30am 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.

In a draft that’s light on impact college bats, many clubs will be looking toward the high school ranks in search of adding some thump to their lineup down the road, and first baseman/outfielder Braxton Davidson of T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville, N.C., figures to be one of the top prep bats off the board in the 2014 draft.

The 6’3″, 215-pound Davidson boasts a strong left-handed swing and the ability to drive the ball to all fields, per scouting reports. Both Baseball America and MLB.com rank him 36th among draft prospects, while ESPN’s Keith Law is even more bullish, pegging him as the No. 16 prospect in the 2014 draft class.

Davidson’s pop drew quite a bit of attention at last June’s Tournament of the Stars, as noted by both BA and MLB.com in their scouting reports. He set a tournament record with three homers in four games, including one that traveled an estimated 500 feet. BA notes that improvements in his hit tool this season may have that tool ahead of his power in game action, and Law notes that he has “no wasted motion” in his swing when he’s at his best.

Davidson was kind enough to take some time out of a very busy schedule for a phone interview with me and discuss improvements to his game over the past year, his defensive preferences and his close relationship with a current big leaguer…

Steve Adams: I want to start by asking if you can describe your overall game for me in your own words.

Braxton Davidson: Yeah, my overall game, I feel like I’m an advanced hitter. People say I’m a power hitter, but I believe I’m more of a hitter with power than a power hitter that can’t hit. I can spray the ball all over the field. If I get my pitch, I can turn on it, hit it in the gaps for a home run or a double. I just really focus on spraying the ball and trying to make plays out in the field that help my team win whether at first or in the outfield.

SA: Is there a Major League player or multiple players that you’ve tried to model your game after as you’ve grown up watching the game?

BD: Yeah, my favorite player of all time that I saw growing up is Barry Bonds. Guy was just a freak athlete, could steal bases, could hit bombs, could throw it from the outfield. He was a playmaker. He was one of my favorites. Now, in today’s game, I watch a lot of Joey Votto, Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Carlos Gonzalez from the Rockies. Just a bunch of left-handed hitters — Robinson Cano will spread the ball over the field, hit with power. They’re just playmakers.

SA: What areas of your game do you feel like you’ve improved the most over the course of your senior season?

BD: Being consistent. Last year, my junior season, I struck out 25 times, I believe. My senior season I struck out only 10. So being more consistent at the plate. I lost a lot of weight — I was 230 pounds coming off the summer circuit, and I hit it hard in the weight room and got myself in shape so I could play the outfield. I really worked hard at being a better all-around player.

SA: What aspect of your skill-set do you feel is the most beneficial to helping your team win a game?

BD: My leadership. Just being positive. Trying to make plays to help the team win by getting on base, or moving the runner over — just doing your situationals right. You know, that’s what really helps teams win and win championships, and that’s what we all want is championships. That’s really what I focus on: doing the right thing on the field and doing whatever the situation calls for.

SA: Talking about leadership, do you consider yourself more of a “lead by example” and “lead on the field” type, or are you more of a vocal leader that will step up and be outspoken?

BD: I might be a lead by example. I believe in karma, and I feel like if I try to vocalize my opinion to teammates it might come back and bite me. I don’t really say much on the field. I just let my play do all the talking, and it’s been successful and I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.

SA: You were talking about your improved contact rate before. Did you make any conscious changes to your approach this year, or do you think that’s just more experience coming through and getting better with more reps at the plate?

BD: This whole offseason, I worked on seeing the ball, hitting the ball and not worrying about pitches. A pitcher can have three or four pitches, and if you think about all four of those pitches at one time, you’re going to get kind of messed up at the plate. So I just really tried to focus on seeing the ball, hitting the ball, and really focusing on counts. Like in advantage counts, 0-2, he’s probably going to try to waste a pitch. Just be careful in advantage counts, try to get back into the count, get a fastball and don’t miss it. That’s really my approach at the plate, and this season and offseason, it’s what I worked on.

SA: Has hitting the ball to all fields always come naturally to you, or is that something you’ve developed more later in your career?

BD: It’s kind of developed a little bit recently, just because once I committed to North Carolina, my dad was like, ’You’ve got to work on spreading the ball all over the field so you can get more recognition from professional scouts.’ That’s just something that we’ve worked hard on for the past two or three years, just being able to hit to the other side of the field and hitting with some authority, not just little dinkers. Driving it to the gaps, hit bombs, you know. That’s what we really worked on the past couple years, maintaining on keeping your front shoulder on it and just hitting it up the middle and to the other side of the field.

SA: You’ve played the outfield and first base. Are you equally comfortable at each of those positions?

BD: Yes. The past two years I’ve played a lot of outfield for my travel team and school ball. I played first base growing up from little league until now. I feel like first base comes naturally, but outfield is fun. It’s kind of new. I’ve still got a lot learn, but I feel I’m pretty good for the amount of time I’ve been playing that. So yeah, they’re about equally the same.

SA: Do you see yourself playing one or the other long-term, or are you open to either one?

BD: Either one. If I end up not playing the outfield, I’ll be perfectly fine at first. If I don’t play first, I’ll be happy playing in the outfield. I feel like if I play in the big leagues for a long time, like Albert Pujols — 10-plus years — I will eventually move to first base because I won’t be able to move as well as I did when I was younger, of course. If a team wants to put me — wherever they want to put me, I’m going to play. As long as I’m in the lineup hitting, that’s fine with me.

SA: I did see a scouting report that said you’ve been clocked in the 90s off the mound before. Did you ever give any serious thought to pitching, or have you always had the mindset that you’re a hitter and you want to be out there every day?

BD: Yeah, my mindset is that I want to play every day. I really didn’t start throwing hard until my junior year. Growing up, I didn’t throw much. I kind of rested my arm … I never really thought of myself as a pitcher, I thought of myself as a thrower. I just throw the ball hard. I didn’t ever work on it, I just threw it.

SA: I know you’ve had a lot of pretty high draft picks come out of your school — Cameron Maybin in the first round in 2005 and Chris Narveson went in the second round in 2000. Can you talk a little bit about the program you came from and how it prepared you for professional baseball?

BD: Yeah. The program at T.C. Roberson is one of the best the state, if not the best in the state, and one of the best in the country, just for the tradition that we have. Our coach, Eric Filipek, puts together a really, really tough schedule just so that we’ll be ready for anything that comes our way. We don’t play cupcakes. That doesn’t help you become a better player. I feel like the tougher the competition, the more you’re going to step up your game. By the foundation that Cam, and Chris Narveson, Darren Holmes and Justin Jackson and all these guys have set, has made T.C. Roberson one of the best baseball programs around. Everybody wants to beat us, I feel like, and we want to beat everybody else so the best of the best come and play us, which steps up our competition level.

SA: Have you ever had a chance to talk with Maybin or Narveson or any of those guys that have come out of your high school about their journey from being drafted to making the Major Leagues?

BD: Yeah, I talk to Cam a lot. He’s kind of like an older brother to me. His dad and my dad are good friends. They’ve known each other for awhile. I grew up watching Cam play in high school, and he’s a great dude. He said once you get into pro ball, it’s a grind. You’re playing every day. You’ve got people that want to to take your spot. … He just gives me advice like, ’Keep working hard,’ and ’Never lose hope of your dreams.’ My dream is to play in the big leagues. Cam’s just a great guy. He’ll do anything in the world for anybody. I was talking to him earlier today, actually, and he just wanted to make sure how the process was going. He keeps in touch with me, and I really appreciate that, him being like an older brother and keeping me in check.

SA: Last question I’m going to ask is if you’ve figured where you’re going to be and who you’re going to be with on Draft Day.

BD: Yeah we — my family and I — we’re going to invite a bunch of friends and family over to this little steakhouse at home. Good food, bunch of TVs there. We’re going to set up, bring a lot of people and just have a good time watching the draft. Stuff like this only happens once or twice — once if you go out of high school, twice if you go to college. I’m just excited and blessed to be in the situation I am today.

Photo courtesy of Kathryn Sizemore/Golden Fleece Media.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Aaron Nola

By Zachary Links | June 4, 2014 at 11:19pm CDT

This season, LSU powered their way to the Regional Final round of the NCAA Tournament thanks in large part to the pitching performances of ace Aaron Nola. While the Tigers were eliminated on Monday night by Houston, the 6’2″, 195 pound right-hander is on the verge of realizing his lifelong dream in Thursday night’s draft. Nola has probably been baseball’s most dominant pitcher over the last two seasons and appears to be a lock for the top ten.

With a laser-guided 95 mph fastball, a plus curveball, and an ever-improving changeup, Nola pitched to a 1.57 ERA with 8.71 K/9 and 1.29 BB/9 in his sophomore season. For an encore, he followed that up with a 1.47 ERA, an even stronger 10.37 K/9, and a still stingy 2.09 BB/9 in 2014. In short, Nola has been absolutely stellar over the last two years for the Tigers and is viewed as one of the most surefire talents in this year’s class.

It’s safe to say that Nola is more familiar with the draft process than 99% of prospects out there. The righty was picked by the Blue Jays in 2011 and watched his brother Austin, a talented shortstop, get drafted twice before signing with the Marlins, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. Reportedly being advised by Joe Longo of Paragon Sports, Nola is ranked No. 6 by MLB.com, No. 7 by Baseball America, and No. 10 by ESPN.com’s Keith Law. On Tuesday, Nola took time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTradeRumors about his impressive body of work and what he’ll bring to the table at the major league level:
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Zach Links: You powered your team to a big win on Saturday despite some bad breaks in the second inning and getting in a bases loaded jam with the score tied 1-1. We’ve seen that from you at other points this season, where you might encounter some brief trouble but you always find a way out. How do manage to stay zeroed in when things get dicey?

Aaron Nola: For me, it’s all about slowing things down. When guys get on base, I put the game in front of me, slow everything down, focus a little more, and try not to let the game get out of control.

ZL: Even though LSU’s season ended on Monday night, how much did it mean to you to go out with a deep postseason run?

AN: We’ve been playing our best baseball these past couple of weeks and that’s the time we needed to get hot. We were good and everything was going our way but we were ahead in the third game [of the Regionals], we slipped, and Houston capitalized on it. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t have gone even further.

ZL: With so much talk surrounding you on an individual level, how have you managed to tune out all of the talk about your own individual performance and draft stock and focus on winning?

AN: Talking to my brother [Austin] about going into the draft and handling the draft helped a lot. He went through all of that when he was in college and he gave me some input and some advice on how to handle it. He basically told me not to worry about this stuff, that the draft is going to take care of itself. I’m going to be happy wherever I go. All season long I was playing for my team and trying to help them go as far as possible.

When Austin was going through the draft process, each time, he handled it really well. We were in the Super Regional in 2012 and we were all at practice when he got the call that he was drafted. We were all so excited for him, but his focus was still on helping the team win.

ZL: Did you ever feel extra pressure on the mound knowing that scouts were in attendance?

AN: No, I mean, I didn’t see any of them in the stands really. I saw a couple of them but usually we’re playing in a place with a lot of fans. I’m pretty good about concentrating on getting guys out and not looking up in the stands. I always played my game and I didn’t try to light up the radar gun to impress people like a lot of guys do.

ZL: What do you attribute your low walk rate to?

AN: I’ve always been accurate since we all know the strike zone gets smaller and smaller. Our coach stresses that we throw the ball in the zone, go after the hitters, and don’t pitch passively. That’s what we do and we don’t walk too many guys. We stay in the strike zone and pitch aggressively.

ZL: Have you always had exceptional command or has that come along in the last few years?

AN: Since I’ve been pitching I’ve had pretty good command but it has gotten better over the years. Part of that comes from working with [LSU pitching coach Alan Dunn] who taught me a lot about the game and what you need to do. Back in my freshman year, I threw too many strikes and my sophomore year I learned how to get the ball where it had to be. This year it was kind of the same thing.

ZL: The Twins drafted your old rotation mate, Ryan Eades, in the second round last year, and they’ve been heavily connected to you heading into the draft. What would it be mean to pitch with him again?

AN: That would mean everything. I’m blessed to be drafted anywhere but I would be excited to go there and to play with Ryan, that would be awesome. I pitched with him for a bit at LSU and I’ve known him for three or four years and he’s a great kid. He’s going move up in that organization and he’s just a positive guy to be around.

ZL: You’ve said that you’ll be happy wherever you land, but without naming teams, are there clubs in the top ten that stand out to you above others?

AN: No, like I said, wherever I go, I’m going to be thankful that that team drafted me and we don’t know anything about the draft really where you’re going to go. Whoever gets picked before me, they deserve it, they’re obviously great players and they’ll do great for their organization. Wherever I get picked, I’m going to enjoy myself and do my best for my team.

ZL: Your 2-seam fastball and curveball get a ton of attention but you also boast a strong changeup. When did you first start to really get that pitch down?

AN: I had my changeup my freshman year a little bit at the beginning, but it kind of died off, honestly. Last year I was more of fastball/curveball guy and I worked on my changeup a lot in the fall this year. For me, it was more about throwing it a lot and getting a better feel for it. I think it has improved quite a bit over the last few years.

ZL: Some scouting reports have expressed concern about your 3/4 arm slot. Is that warranted at all?

AN: I don’t think it is. I’ve been throwing with this arm slot my whole life and I’ve never used a different style. It’s been that way my whole life and I’m comfortable doing what I’m doing. I haven’t had any serious arm problems at any point and hope that I never will.

ZL: Do you feel like you have a better handle on pitch sequencing than your average college pitcher?

AN: Our pitching coach calls all our pitches but he teaches us why we throw certain pitches in certain counts and also encourages us to go with what we feel instinctively. I feel like I can call my own game because of all of the things that he’s taught me.

ZL: Did you give real thought to going pro when the Blue Jays drafted you in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft?

AN: I think I would have had to go pretty high, but after seeing Austin turn down offers twice to make a career at LSU, that’s what I wanted to do. I also wasn’t ready to make that next step from high school to pro ball and Austin has zero regrets about going to college. So, I’m glad I made the decision to go to LSU. I feel like I’ve become a better person and a better player. I’m stronger, both physically and mentally.

ZL: You turn 21 [today] – first of all, Happy Birthday – will being a top draft pick on Thursday be the best birthday present you’ve ever gotten or is there a moonwalk birthday party from ten years ago that tops that?

AN: [laughs] This will be a pretty good birthday present for me, to be honest with you, this is a pretty big one. My life changes on Thursday and for me and my family this is a big moment for us, this is special. This is definitely going to rank as one of the best birthdays ever.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Jacob Gatewood

By Steve Adams | June 4, 2014 at 9:49am CDT

There are few prospects with more power potential in the 2014 draft than California prep shortstop Jacob Gatewood. The Clovis High School product turned heads last summer when he won the All-Star Game Junior Home Run Derby at Citi Field, and for good measure, he turned around and won the Under Armour All-American Game’s Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field as well a few months later.

A shortstop by trade, Gatewood stands at 6’5″ and weighs in at 180 pounds, so it’s reasonable to think that more power might be in the offing as he fills out. ESPN’s Keith Law, who ranks Gatewood as the draft’s No. 15 prospect, agrees with that line of thinking, as he gave Gatewood a 55 for his current power (on the 20-80 scouting scale) and graded his future power potential at 65. MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis, who ranked Gatewood 22nd overall, graded his power at 65. Baseball America ranked him 21st overall and said his raw power is “at least 70-grade.”

There have been some concerns about Gatewood’s hit tool, but he’s quelled some of that concern by “quieting a hand hitch and and [making] mechanical adjustments” this spring, according to BA. Gatewood took some time last week to talk with MLBTradeRumors about his future at shortstop, last season’s Home Run Derby triumphs and the advice he received from some of the game’s top players at last year’s All-Star festivities.

Steve Adams: Describe your overall game and day-to-day approach to me.

Jacob Gatewood: I always try to play the game as hard as I can, no matter what — if I’m tired or whatever the circumstances are that day, I try to play as hard as I can and most importantly win the game that we’re playing.

SA: Is there a particular Major League player that you’ve modeled your game after that you watched growing up?

JG: Definitely Troy Tulowitzki. Me and him are both tall shortstops and we both hit with power. I’ve always modeled my game after him.

SA: What areas of your game do you feel you’ve improved the most over the course of your senior season in high school?

JG: I think I definitely worked on becoming more of a complete hitter. I know there was a lot of questions about my hitting after the summer, but I feel like I answered a lot of those. That was probably my biggest thing. I also worked a lot on my defense as well at shortstop.

SA: Do you see yourself as a shortstop in the long-term?

JG: Yes, I do. I’ve grown up playing shortstop and I’m confident in my ability to stay there. But if the team that drafts me feels like it’s best for their club for me to move to third base or wherever, I’m going to do that and I’m going to give it my all.

SA: Last year you drew some national attention by winning the Junior Home Run Derby at Citi Field and then the home run derby in the Under Armour All America Game. Can you talk a little bit about that experience and what it was like for you?

JG: I mean, to this day, it still feels like a dream. From being around all the best players in the game and having them tell me how nervous they were for me, to 50,000 people screaming your name — it can’t get too much better than that. Like I said, it still gives me the chills just thinking about it.

[Laughing] Hopefully I can get back to one pretty soon! That’d be pretty cool. But yeah, it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life and something that I’ll never forget.

SA: In the video footage from that day, you can see a lot of guys — Mike Trout, Torii Hunter — a lot of big name players reacting to your home runs. Did you get a chance to talk to any of those guys while you were out there?

JG: Yeah, actually I talked to a lot of them, and they were messing around with me a little bit — well, Big Papi was messing around with me a lot. But just to be around those guys — you think about it and you think they’re robots or something seeing them on TV all the time, but to actually be up close to them and for them to be genuinely happy for me — that part was definitely cool. They gave me all kinds of pointers that I’ll definitely never forget.

SA: What’s the best piece of advice that you received out there?

JG: Defintely Torii Hunter told me — he kind of pointed to the stands and he told me, ’All that’s cool and stuff,’ but then he pointed back to the field and said, ’You see those white lines right there? Everything between those is what you need to work on, what you need to take care of. Make sure you get your work done on the field and play as hard as you can.’

SA: You’re used to being the best player on a team or one of the best players on a team. A certain amount of leadership comes along with that. Do you consider yourself to be a vocal leader or are you more of a “lead by example” and let your play do the talking type of guy?

JG: You know, I think I’m a mixture of both. If I need to say something, I’ll definitely say it, but I try to lead by example as well. I’m lucky to be on a team that has a couple of seniors be there since we were all sophomores. They’ve helped a lot, but I like to try to do a mixture of both.

SA: You’re a central California guy. You didn’t really have any shortage of options for teams to cheer for when you were growing up. Was there one that you followed more closely than the others?

JG: Yeah. Definitely the Dodgers. I’ve been a Dodgers fan since I was little. My dad (1982 Dodgers first-round pick Henry Gatewood) helped me out a little bit with that since he played for them, but I followed the Dodgers for awhile.

SA: Have you had a chance to follow the career of Ryan Cook at all? He came out of your high school in Clovis as well.

JG: Yeah, actually when I first transferred, they heard I was committed to USC and they talked about Ryan Cook. I had no clue he was from Clovis, so when he was doing his thing up there, it was pretty cool to watch him play. He’d come back in the offseason and play catch right on our field, so it was really cool having a big leaguer out there.

Other entries in this year’s series include prep shortstops Michael Chavis and Nick Gordon, Louisville closer Nick Burdi and University of San Francisco center fielder Bradley Zimmer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Draft Prospect Q&A: Michael Chavis

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

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.

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