Speaker 1: An exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talking.
Speaker 2: Well, the Dodgers have a lot of talented players in
Speaker 2: Big League camp this year, and Zach Erhart is one
Speaker 2: of them. I always try to fight myself from calling
Speaker 2: you a lot of different last name, Zach, but congratulations
Speaker 2: on being here.
Speaker 3: Thank you.
Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. Yeah, but Erhart can be a
Speaker 1: little tricky. Some people just spell it quite a bit.
Speaker 1: I know it's different, but.
Speaker 3: It is what it is.
Speaker 2: You've You've and James Tibbs have been attached since you
Speaker 2: got here to Big League camp and obviously in the
Speaker 2: same trade to the Dodgers. What's it like to be
Speaker 2: traded number one but also have a guy that you
Speaker 2: were with in Boston and come with you to LA
Speaker 2: getting traded It.
Speaker 1: Was an emotional process, just because I don't know if
Speaker 1: everybody knows the whole story.
Speaker 3: I was actually with my brother.
Speaker 1: In Portland with the Red Sox and me and him
Speaker 1: got to play together, which was awesome, But trade happened,
Speaker 1: so that was tough. But it's really nice having somebody
Speaker 1: to go through it with you that you can kind
Speaker 1: of lean on and meet and him have definitely supported
Speaker 1: each other through the whole process, and it's really cool
Speaker 1: me and have gotten really close and been able to
Speaker 1: enjoy this whole process together.
Speaker 2: What's it been like to be introduced to a new
Speaker 2: organization and they.
Speaker 3: Allow you guys to be yourselves.
Speaker 1: Yes, the Dodgers are definitely big on it, just embracing
Speaker 1: your strengths and who you are. And I really appreciate that,
Speaker 1: just because I'm known to be kind of just a
Speaker 1: gritty ball player, and like I just I'm not the
Speaker 1: most talented, or I wouldn't say I'm not talented, but
Speaker 1: not always the fastest, it got the most pop, But
Speaker 1: like I'm known to play the game.
Speaker 3: Hard, and that's what they love about me, which I
Speaker 3: really appreciate.
Speaker 2: The first Spring game this year, you certainly did what
Speaker 2: you just described. You beat out an infield hit and
Speaker 2: there was a ball in the dirt that you were
Speaker 2: able to take an extra base on. Is that what
Speaker 2: your identity is as a player.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I would definitely say it is.
Speaker 1: It's just always been kind of my nature just to
Speaker 1: play play the game hard and play the game right,
Speaker 1: and that's kind of what I've grown up on and
Speaker 1: that's how I've always treated it.
Speaker 3: That's how I've always played. What did the Dodgers tell you?
Speaker 2: What did the Dodgers love about Zach Earhart to make
Speaker 2: them say we want this guy to be part of
Speaker 2: the organization.
Speaker 3: Well, I'm not really sure you play.
Speaker 1: Might have to ask some guys higher up, but I'm
Speaker 1: hoping it's just because, like kind of what we talked about,
Speaker 1: they see the kind of player I am and how
Speaker 1: I approach the game, and I guess I just really
Speaker 1: appreciate it, and to.
Speaker 2: Get the opportunity in big league camp obviously is a
Speaker 2: big validation.
Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely, it really shows that they really value me
Speaker 1: and who I am and they want me around these guys,
Speaker 1: which means a lot.
Speaker 2: Yeah, no doubt. Zach Gerhard is our guest before first pitch. Now,
Speaker 2: I read a story that world champion Dodger Kevin Kiermeier
Speaker 2: and you worked out together during the offseason. How did
Speaker 2: that connection come together?
Speaker 3: Yes, that was awesome.
Speaker 1: The agent that represents me actually represented Kevin during his
Speaker 1: career and so he got on linked us together and
Speaker 1: kier Maier he's awesome, just an awesome guy. He's always
Speaker 1: looking to help other guys, other players become the best
Speaker 1: versions of themself, especially I mean, considering the amazing outfielder
Speaker 1: he was, it's kind of a great guy to learn from,
Speaker 1: and he is all about just sharing that knowledge and
Speaker 1: information and it was really eye opening and it was
Speaker 1: an awesome experience.
Speaker 2: What's some of the things that he taught you that
Speaker 2: you take with you to the field every day.
Speaker 1: Just his big thing is to treat practice like the game,
Speaker 1: to always go game speed, not to just lollygag through
Speaker 1: the drills. To treat it all like game speed. Work
Speaker 1: through it so your body knows what to do when
Speaker 1: it is time to go game speed. Because if you're
Speaker 1: kind of treating practice, taking it nice and easy and
Speaker 1: slow too much.
Speaker 3: I mean, there's a time and place for that.
Speaker 1: But if you're doing that all the time, then when
Speaker 1: it comes game time, your body has to speed up.
Speaker 3: It doesn't really know what to do.
Speaker 1: So he's always taught me that stuff, and he addressed
Speaker 1: like a lot of little things that have helped me
Speaker 1: along the way.
Speaker 2: Tough to look at Kermeer. Those eyes they'll suck you in,
Speaker 2: no kidding, Yeah.
Speaker 3: Those eyes are something.
Speaker 1: He's as good looking guy and he's so it wasn't
Speaker 1: hard to pay attention Zach.
Speaker 2: Great to introduce you to Dodger fans. The way you
Speaker 2: play certainly has left an impression on all of us,
Speaker 2: and we look forward to seeing you at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 3: Thank you, I really appreciate it.