WEBVTT - Zach Ehrhard (3-1-26) 

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<v Speaker 1>An exclusive interview with David Bassey for Dodger Talking.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, the Dodgers have a lot of talented players in

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<v Speaker 2>Big League camp this year, and Zach Erhart is one

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<v Speaker 2>of them. I always try to fight myself from calling

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<v Speaker 2>you a lot of different last name, Zach, but congratulations

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<v Speaker 2>on being here.

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<v Speaker 3>Thank you.

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<v Speaker 1>I really appreciate it. Yeah, but Erhart can be a

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<v Speaker 1>little tricky. Some people just spell it quite a bit.

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<v Speaker 1>I know it's different, but.

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<v Speaker 3>It is what it is.

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<v Speaker 2>You've You've and James Tibbs have been attached since you

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<v Speaker 2>got here to Big League camp and obviously in the

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<v Speaker 2>same trade to the Dodgers. What's it like to be

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<v Speaker 2>traded number one but also have a guy that you

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<v Speaker 2>were with in Boston and come with you to LA

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<v Speaker 2>getting traded It.

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<v Speaker 1>Was an emotional process, just because I don't know if

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<v Speaker 1>everybody knows the whole story.

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<v Speaker 3>I was actually with my brother.

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<v Speaker 1>In Portland with the Red Sox and me and him

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<v Speaker 1>got to play together, which was awesome, But trade happened,

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<v Speaker 1>so that was tough. But it's really nice having somebody

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<v Speaker 1>to go through it with you that you can kind

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<v Speaker 1>of lean on and meet and him have definitely supported

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<v Speaker 1>each other through the whole process, and it's really cool

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<v Speaker 1>me and have gotten really close and been able to

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<v Speaker 1>enjoy this whole process together.

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<v Speaker 2>What's it been like to be introduced to a new

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<v Speaker 2>organization and they.

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<v Speaker 3>Allow you guys to be yourselves.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, the Dodgers are definitely big on it, just embracing

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<v Speaker 1>your strengths and who you are. And I really appreciate that,

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<v Speaker 1>just because I'm known to be kind of just a

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<v Speaker 1>gritty ball player, and like I just I'm not the

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<v Speaker 1>most talented, or I wouldn't say I'm not talented, but

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<v Speaker 1>not always the fastest, it got the most pop, But

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<v Speaker 1>like I'm known to play the game.

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<v Speaker 3>Hard, and that's what they love about me, which I

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<v Speaker 3>really appreciate.

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<v Speaker 2>The first Spring game this year, you certainly did what

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<v Speaker 2>you just described. You beat out an infield hit and

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<v Speaker 2>there was a ball in the dirt that you were

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<v Speaker 2>able to take an extra base on. Is that what

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<v Speaker 2>your identity is as a player.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I would definitely say it is.

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<v Speaker 1>It's just always been kind of my nature just to

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<v Speaker 1>play play the game hard and play the game right,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's kind of what I've grown up on and

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<v Speaker 1>that's how I've always treated it.

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<v Speaker 3>That's how I've always played. What did the Dodgers tell you?

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<v Speaker 2>What did the Dodgers love about Zach Earhart to make

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<v Speaker 2>them say we want this guy to be part of

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<v Speaker 2>the organization.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I'm not really sure you play.

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<v Speaker 1>Might have to ask some guys higher up, but I'm

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<v Speaker 1>hoping it's just because, like kind of what we talked about,

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<v Speaker 1>they see the kind of player I am and how

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<v Speaker 1>I approach the game, and I guess I just really

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<v Speaker 1>appreciate it, and to.

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<v Speaker 2>Get the opportunity in big league camp obviously is a

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<v Speaker 2>big validation.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, absolutely, it really shows that they really value me

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<v Speaker 1>and who I am and they want me around these guys,

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<v Speaker 1>which means a lot.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, no doubt. Zach Gerhard is our guest before first pitch. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>I read a story that world champion Dodger Kevin Kiermeier

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<v Speaker 2>and you worked out together during the offseason. How did

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<v Speaker 2>that connection come together?

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<v Speaker 3>Yes, that was awesome.

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<v Speaker 1>The agent that represents me actually represented Kevin during his

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<v Speaker 1>career and so he got on linked us together and

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<v Speaker 1>kier Maier he's awesome, just an awesome guy. He's always

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<v Speaker 1>looking to help other guys, other players become the best

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<v Speaker 1>versions of themself, especially I mean, considering the amazing outfielder

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<v Speaker 1>he was, it's kind of a great guy to learn from,

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<v Speaker 1>and he is all about just sharing that knowledge and

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<v Speaker 1>information and it was really eye opening and it was

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<v Speaker 1>an awesome experience.

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<v Speaker 2>What's some of the things that he taught you that

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<v Speaker 2>you take with you to the field every day.

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<v Speaker 1>Just his big thing is to treat practice like the game,

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<v Speaker 1>to always go game speed, not to just lollygag through

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<v Speaker 1>the drills. To treat it all like game speed. Work

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<v Speaker 1>through it so your body knows what to do when

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<v Speaker 1>it is time to go game speed. Because if you're

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<v Speaker 1>kind of treating practice, taking it nice and easy and

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<v Speaker 1>slow too much.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, there's a time and place for that.

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<v Speaker 1>But if you're doing that all the time, then when

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<v Speaker 1>it comes game time, your body has to speed up.

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<v Speaker 3>It doesn't really know what to do.

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<v Speaker 1>So he's always taught me that stuff, and he addressed

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<v Speaker 1>like a lot of little things that have helped me

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<v Speaker 1>along the way.

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<v Speaker 2>Tough to look at Kermeer. Those eyes they'll suck you in,

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<v Speaker 2>no kidding, Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>Those eyes are something.

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<v Speaker 1>He's as good looking guy and he's so it wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>hard to pay attention Zach.

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<v Speaker 2>Great to introduce you to Dodger fans. The way you

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<v Speaker 2>play certainly has left an impression on all of us,

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<v Speaker 2>and we look forward to seeing you at Dodger Stadium.

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<v Speaker 3>Thank you, I really appreciate it.