1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Xtion Earning post game show with 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Bill Laska'm I to have my guests on one of 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: the young pitchers in spring training trying to get back 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: on track. Let's welcome in Will Bounder. Will, how are 5 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: you today? 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 2: Wonderful, another beautiful morning here the complex. It's been awesome, 7 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: So I have no complaints at all. 8 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: Well, I think the biggest question is health. You know, 9 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: we've had a lot of expectations from you over the 10 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: past few years, and the back issues and the shoulder 11 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: issues are gone. How healthy and how do you feel? 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: Put it a much. 13 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: I feel great. I mean this is the best that 14 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 2: I felt, especially coming into you know, spring training. This 15 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 2: is the most prepared and ready I think I've ever been. 16 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: You know, you've had a couple opportunities on the mound, 17 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: a couple of things have got good, couple of things 18 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: of a ball thrown in the center field on a 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: little anxiety more or less. But you come back and 20 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: you get a groundball double play. How did you just 21 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: calm yourself down at that time? 22 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's just kind of realizing that, you know, 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 2: that's just part of it. You know, it's it's just 24 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: kind of keep on doing what I was doing, because 25 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: you know, before that, I know I was throwing a 26 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: lot of strikes. Both pitches were working well, so I 27 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: just you know, obviously the that PfP didn't didn't quite 28 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 2: go as well as I'd hoped. But uh, but no, 29 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: I just I just kind of put my head back 30 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 2: down and and and kept doing what I was doing. 31 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,559 Speaker 1: That has to make you feel good about just settling down. 32 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: You know, the heartbeat starts racing, anxiety gets going. Both 33 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: of us are pictures that it happens to all of us. 34 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: But at the same time, you did the right thing. 35 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,199 Speaker 1: You just calmed down, You got back in the zone. 36 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 1: As I said, you got a nice groundball double play. 37 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: What was the pitches working for you that day? 38 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: Uh, fastball and slider we're working really well. The slider's 39 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: been uh kind of a new newer pitch or I 40 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: guess it's different than my old slider. So it's it's harder, 41 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: and it's a little bit more, uh a little bit 42 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: more or up and down. Then it is side to side, 43 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: so it plays a little better off my fastball. 44 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: Well, you've been in spring training a couple of years. 45 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: Arizona is really tough. When it comes to breaking ball's 46 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: humidity is in. The ball just doesn't spin sometimes, Right, 47 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: How do you overcome that? 48 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: I think just kind of not putting too too much 49 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: thought in it and just I think just not worrying 50 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: about it because knowing that, you know, when you get 51 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 2: in the season, things will start to click a. 52 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: Little bit more. 53 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: But you know, so far, I haven't had any major 54 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: problems with that where it's it's too drastic of a change. 55 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: Before she heard the Externing postgame show, Will Bednar, Let's 56 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 1: go back in time Mars, Pennsylvania. You grew up there. 57 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: You had an older brother named Dave. But one of 58 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: the cool things you got to play for your dad. 59 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: And that's something that we all remember about playing for 60 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: your dad as a coach. How was that for you? 61 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: It was good? I mean he was, uh, he was 62 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 2: always on me from the time that I could play baseball. 63 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: He was He was definitely on me more than everyone else. 64 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: But no, you know, I wouldn't trade it for the world. 65 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: You know, I definitely wouldn't be where I am without 66 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: you know, him, you know, being there and pushing me 67 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 2: like he did. 68 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: Well. The other thing too, Will, he got to play 69 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: Andy is your dad's name. And uh, he did play 70 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 1: some college baseball and you know he he ended up 71 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: coaching you. Of course he was always in your brother's 72 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: year too. When you have your dad that knows so 73 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: much about baseball, and the conversation around the dining table 74 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: between you, your brother and your dad has to be 75 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: a lot of baseball. 76 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: Uh, it's I think it's good and bad because you know, 77 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: I mean, he he loves baseball more than anyone I know. 78 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: And it's it's funny because you know, sometimes you know, 79 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 2: when we get done at the field, it's it's the 80 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: last thing we want to talk about, and that's the 81 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: biggest thing he wants to talk about. But now, I mean, 82 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: he he loves the game. You know, he loves coming 83 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: to spring training and watching U games, practices everything. And 84 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: even when we went to see Dave in spring training 85 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: when he was at the padres, he'd want to go 86 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: to the field and just watch practice and you know, 87 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 2: young teenage meetings like dad, what are we doing? Like? 88 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: But but now. 89 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 2: It's it's definitely good having someone who loves the game 90 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: so much. He's so close to me. Yeah, he's awesome. 91 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,119 Speaker 1: Well, let's talk about your brother. Dave, an older brother, 92 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: yours a guiding hand, as your dad once said, somebody 93 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: that you can reflect on some of the goods, some 94 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: of the bad. He's older. Of course, he's pitching for 95 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the best relievers in the game. 96 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: A lot of conversation you would have with your brother. 97 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: What does he kind of tell you at certain times? 98 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 2: I mean, his his biggest thing has been to stay steady, 99 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: not get too high with the highs or too low 100 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: with the lows. And and he's been you know, the 101 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: embodiment of that, like through throughout his career. He's he's 102 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: been really good, obviously, and then there's been times that 103 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: he hasn't been so good, and he's been the same guy, 104 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 2: and he's been consistent, he gets his work done, and 105 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: so he's just been just an awesome role model for 106 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: how to go about your business, how to carry yourself. 107 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: And I've been able to pick his brain and get 108 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: a lot from him. 109 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of good things that you 110 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: can talk to him about a lot of the mental 111 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 1: side of the game that he's gone ups and downs 112 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: on and he's trying to just more or less teach you. Hey, 113 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: you just said it balanced. Let's keep it cool. Let's 114 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: just bet on one level you can strike out ten. 115 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: But the next day you got to look at the 116 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: next start. You know, what are the some of the 117 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: things that he kind of drives into you about the 118 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: pitching part of the game. 119 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: The biggest thing is is kind of just the the 120 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 2: confidence part, knowing you belong and knowing you know the 121 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 2: stuff's there. It's just it's all about just competing, you know, 122 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: and you know, it's the competition and the work ethic. 123 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: And then the other big thing that he's been big 124 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 2: on is kind of helped me develop a routine, like 125 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 2: a daily routine with prep work, catch play and even 126 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: some routine for getting ready to go into the game. 127 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: Boy, that's good, good advice right there from big brother. 128 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: I was reading when you went to high school. Yeah, 129 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: one of the first years you were you were a 130 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: catcher and you were behind the plate before you went 131 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: on the mound. You only had pitched fifteen innings that year, 132 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: but primarily a catcher. Why putting that gear on was 133 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,239 Speaker 1: so important for you in high school? 134 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: I mean, growing up I loved catching, and then you know, 135 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: as I started getting older, started throwing a little better 136 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: off the mound. It was kind of like a getting 137 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: away from getting away from catching. And you know, this 138 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: pitching thing's pretty cool. But yeah, no, I kind of 139 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: I did the unconventional thing. I was kind of like 140 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: mostly a pitcher only from my sophomore year on a 141 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: little bit of first base. But I just I love pitching. 142 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: I didn't really I didn't really want to play anywhere else. 143 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: Well, we talked about your dad being your high school coach. Well, 144 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: your junior year, I think he was proud of you. 145 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: You went eight to oh of a point six y 146 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: four e run average, one hundred and twenty strikeouts in 147 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: sixty six innings. What clicked your junior year that all 148 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: of a sudden, this consistency just popped in. 149 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: I think, I mean the biggest thing was I started 150 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: throwing a little harder and that that always helps against 151 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: high school bats, sure, And I think it was just 152 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: you know, attacking both sides of the plate and that 153 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: was kind of a time when I kind of threw, 154 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 2: you know, a little bit of everything, but the fastballs 155 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,559 Speaker 2: is what, you know, beat high school bats a lot. 156 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: Well, out of high school, you went to Mississippi State, 157 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: ended up going to the College World Series. When you 158 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: reflect on Mississippi State, what were some of the easy 159 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: parts of that and what were some of the hard parts? 160 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: What part of the baseball was really a difficult part 161 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: where you said, man, these guys can hit. 162 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 2: I think just getting to throw in the sec where 163 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: you know everyone's really good was It was definitely a big, 164 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: a big, a big adjustment, you know, coming from from 165 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 2: high school and then you know we had some some 166 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 2: big time bats on our own team, so you know, 167 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: intersquads were always very competitive. There's definitely definitely an adjustment. 168 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: The key is, I think you went out and competed 169 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: because you pitched extremely well in Mississippi State. You got 170 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: drafted number one by the San Francisco Giants. At that 171 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: time time of your career, you I know, Dave was 172 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: already happy for you to be a part of the 173 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: Giants organization, being picked number one in the draft, and 174 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: your primily was probably saying, hey, it's time to put 175 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: the uniform on and compete at the professional level. How 176 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: exciting was that for you? 177 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: Oh, I mean it was. It was unbelievable. I still 178 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 2: kind of get goosebumps thinking about it. But but just 179 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: be able to be picked by you know, such a 180 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: you know, storied Franchi the Giants story franchise obviously, so 181 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 2: just that and then you know, that day was specially 182 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: we had a lot of family around, and uh, I 183 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: think Dave had just gotten back from some trips, so 184 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: he was able to be there. 185 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: He was a little bit late. 186 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: He was flying on the highway to get home to 187 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: help celebrate. 188 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: No, I mean it was. 189 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:56,599 Speaker 2: It was so exciting to go to the Giants and 190 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 2: and I just specual day. 191 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: Well. Bednar joined me on the exting postgame show for 192 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: a few more minutes. Of course, a couple of injuries 193 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: have sidelined you in the past years. You're healthy now. 194 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: The mental part of injuries is the worst part. I 195 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: was a pitcher as well as you are. It's sometimes 196 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: you're just sidelined. Sometimes you want to compete and just can't. 197 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: What did you do through those times? 198 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 2: Oh man? The having to grind through that was obviously 199 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: not easy, you know, and being in Arizona when it's 200 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 2: one hundred and ten degrees isn't isn't very fun. But 201 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 2: you know, I think just trying to stick it out 202 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 2: and realizing it will get better, even though sometimes it 203 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 2: certainly seemed like it wasn't. But you know, the biggest 204 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: thing that that you know, Dave and my my family 205 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 2: was trying to hammer home is that you know it 206 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 2: will get better and eventually it did well well. 207 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: Expectations for twenty twenty six as a starter or a 208 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: reliever staying healthy one thing, velocity getting the velossity back up. 209 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: As you talked about your slider, consistent to keep going 210 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: on in the mound and putting zeros on the board. 211 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: In your mind, what do you think expectations are going 212 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: to do for you in this year? 213 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: Expect It's hard to to say exactly what's going to happen, 214 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 2: but I mean, in my heart, you know I I 215 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 2: would like to make an impact at the big league level, 216 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 2: and you know I'm doing everything I can every day 217 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 2: to try to get better and you know, prove that 218 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 2: that I can help out at the big league level. 219 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 2: So you know, whenever that may be, you know I 220 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 2: I've been trying to prepare to be ready whenever. 221 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: Well will. I want to thank you for your time today. 222 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: I want to wish you all the best in spring 223 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: training and good luck in the upcoming season. I can't 224 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: wait to see you compete at the big league level. 225 00:11:57,679 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: But thank you again today. 226 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: Thank you. 227 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: That was Will Bednar and the externing postgame show. More 228 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: coming up right here on K and BR, The Sports 229 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: Leader