1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 1: What's up, Mets fans, Welcome back to another exclusive interview 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: on the Mets Uff podcast. As you can see sitting 3 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: with us, we got code I sang a pitcher for 4 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: the Mets, first time double guest as a player on 5 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: the podcast. So you've now spent a bunch of time 6 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: in New York, been playing really well. How do you 7 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: feel the. 8 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 2: Seasons been going for you. 9 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 3: Obviously we're on the road half the time, so we're 10 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 3: not able to enjoy New York as much, but it's 11 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 3: definitely been a busy year. 12 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 4: When we talk to you back when you've signed with 13 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 4: the team in the winter, you were very confident and 14 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 4: you talked about how excited you were the pitch, and 15 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 4: you've exceeded all the expectations we've everyone's had for you. 16 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 4: And then some where that confidence come from and with 17 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 4: you attribute your success as a rookie too. 18 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: I think this year it's highlighted. 19 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 3: If I can pitch the way that I want to, 20 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 3: I can get these hitters out, and it's just been 21 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 3: trying to figure out what I need to do to 22 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 3: get to that point. So it's been a really big 23 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 3: learning experience for me this year. 24 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: Since the month of May you've been exceptional. Was there 25 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: any adjustment or something that cli that made you take 26 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: that next step. 27 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 3: Forward in the preparation part being confident and I felt 28 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 3: ready to be on the mound. Towards the may on, 29 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 3: I felt more confident being on the mountain and it 30 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 3: felt well prepared, So I think that was a big deal. 31 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 4: We've noticed that you've thrown many more cols has the 32 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 4: season's gone on, especially in the last two months or so. 33 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 4: What made that adjustment happen? And then how do you 34 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 4: feel about the results the pitch has gotten so far. 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 3: It really depends on each hitter and reach situation, but 36 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 3: this year it's been a really useful pitch for me 37 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 3: on a pitch that's worked really well. It depends on 38 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 3: post catching as well, but they like to call it 39 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 3: and it's been a big confidence boost to have that pitch. 40 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 3: But at the same time, I know that I've been 41 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: using it a lot, so I need to make sure 42 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 3: I'm not using the fastball a lot less, but keeping 43 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 3: a good balance with the pitch. 44 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: Speaking of pitching, obviously got to talk about the ghost fork. 45 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: It's the nastiest pitch in baseball. It lives up to 46 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: all the hype from the you know, preseason we signed you. 47 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: Has anybody reached out to try to learn how to 48 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: throw that pitch? 49 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, here and there some players would come up to 50 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 3: me and ask me how to throw it. But I 51 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 3: think at the same time, a lot of players are 52 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 3: still hesitant on the idea of gripping the ball differently 53 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 3: and in between their fingers. 54 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: So some differences. 55 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 4: But all this great play got you to the All 56 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 4: Star Game earlier this summer. What was that experience like 57 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 4: being surrounded by some of the best players in Major 58 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 4: League Baseball? 59 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 2: It was a great experience for me. 60 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 3: I know that I'm surrounded by a bunch of superstars 61 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: on the Mets, but saying being with superstars on other 62 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 3: teams that I've watched ever since I was in Japan, 63 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 3: it was a really cool experience. And moving forward, I 64 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 3: would like to be a player that gets picked on 65 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 3: the first ballot and be able to pitch in the 66 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 3: game at some point too. 67 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: Now that you've had a few months under your belt 68 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: with the baseball season Major League Baseball, what would you 69 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: say the biggest difference is between the game here and 70 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: in Japan. 71 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 3: The biggest difference so far has been in Japan, the 72 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 3: starting pitcher that doesn't pitch that day, they're not allowed 73 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: to be in the dugout while it's here, we're obviously 74 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 3: in the dugout or cheering for the team. 75 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 2: So it's a big difference and a big adjustment stuff 76 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: like that. 77 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 4: Is that something you like more being more engaged with 78 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 4: teammates on a daily basis or did you or was 79 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 4: the other way? 80 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 3: Do you think better physically if I get to go 81 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 3: home and rest, obviously it's a little bit easier, But 82 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 3: on the mental side, being engaged with the team and 83 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,239 Speaker 3: being there at all times, it really puts me in 84 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 3: the game, really invested in the team. 85 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: So I think they're both good in their own ways. 86 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: You've become an instant fan favorite. Did you ever think 87 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: when you first signed like that they would be that quickly? 88 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:31,679 Speaker 5: Yeah? 89 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, pretty initially. 90 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 3: With so many other superstars and so many other great 91 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 3: pitchers on the team, I didn't think I would get 92 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 3: this kind of attention. 93 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: I thought I'd be kind of in the shadows. 94 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 3: But the team was very welcoming, the fans were very welcoming, 95 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 3: and I think that atmosphere and environment really helped ship 96 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 3: his career so far. 97 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 4: Between the All Star Game, the team or teams you 98 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 4: face when you've been on the road. Have you been 99 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 4: starstruck by any players that you've met in the major leagues? 100 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, like everybody. 101 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: Taking it off the field now, just like you said, 102 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: you're spending half the season away from New York. But 103 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: how's it been living in New York City? 104 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: Obviously I even went in New York. 105 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 3: I only go from my home back to the stadium, 106 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 3: back home to the stadium. So the initial thought is 107 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 3: there are so many cars here. 108 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 4: Take it off the field a little further. Talking, last 109 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 4: time we talked to you said you were a big 110 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 4: fan of anime and manga. What would you say would 111 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 4: be your four favorite anime shows of all time? 112 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 3: There are so many that are circling through my mind 113 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 3: right now. I don't know if I could even we 114 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 3: could wrap this up with him. 115 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: Today, I saw on your Twitter you made a post 116 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: about a specific anime, Ace of the Diamond, I believe, 117 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: and you posted a story, but like, couldn't really get 118 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: the full details of it. 119 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 2: Could you maybe share what was going on? 120 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: It's a maya about a baseball player, a kid going 121 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: into high school, a really strong baseball high school and 122 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 3: learning what they need to do to develop and. 123 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 2: Get to get better. 124 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 3: And it actually came out when I was in middle 125 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 3: school high school, so around the same time, and I've 126 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 3: been reading. 127 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: It ever since, so it's something close to my I. 128 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 4: We found a story that when that show was very 129 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 4: popular when you were middle school, highchool, that you would 130 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 4: hit a batther and then you had said a quote 131 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 4: about the show out loud, like in the game. 132 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: Is that true? 133 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 4: And if it is, can you embellish on that story? 134 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: Maybe a little bit. 135 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 3: It's just a little excerpt of the show where they 136 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 3: hit a hit her and instead of saying I'm sorry, 137 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 3: they just kind of they make it in a joking way. 138 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: And I hit a hitter and I didn't plan it 139 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 3: out or anything, but I accidentally hit somebody and that 140 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: just kind of came. 141 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: Out of me. 142 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: And that's how much I read it, and that's how 143 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 3: much I love the show. 144 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: I remember the last time we spoke, you said One 145 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: Piece was one of your favorite anime and there's a 146 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: live action version coming out on Netflix or do you. 147 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: Know about this? Are you excited for it? I did 148 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 2: know about that, but actually I. 149 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 3: Read it as through the manga more than watching it 150 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 3: on anime, so thinking it as a visual is very 151 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 3: new to me. So I don't know much about it 152 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 3: about the Netflix show, but excited. 153 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 4: We're a lot of really cool gloves this year, a 154 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 4: lot of customized cool gloves, especially the one that had 155 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 4: to go fork on it a few months ago. This 156 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 4: inspired you to have so many different kind of gloves 157 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 4: in your first year. 158 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: In the league. 159 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 3: It's not something I actually requested or asked for the 160 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 3: glove companies that the guy there thought it'd be fun 161 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 3: way to brand it a little bit, and they made 162 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 3: the gloves for me and it's stuck on. 163 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: So it's cool when. 164 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: You're not playing baseball and you're at home relaxed, And 165 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: what do you like to do to kind of just 166 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: unwind and spend your free time doing reading manga? 167 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 2: Kind of a guess. 168 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 4: Last question, Code, I thank you. We want to ask 169 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 4: Hero a few questions before we get out here really quick. 170 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 4: What's all Hero, how's it been having this job this 171 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 4: year and like having this inclusion like a professional baseball team. 172 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not my first year, so it's not entirely 173 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 3: new to me, but being with a great organization, the 174 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 3: Matt's great being with such a superstar player sitting next 175 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: to me and superstars all around me, it's super cool. 176 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 2: Coda, how's he been copy day? 177 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: You? 178 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 2: I know, support I know, I know. 179 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 5: Given he's been very supportive. 180 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 3: We're talking, you know, he's been very supportive, and I 181 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 3: think the success of this year. 182 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 2: Is partly due to him as well. That's really nice. 183 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 4: Well, Cod, I thank you so much to want to 184 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 4: take any more of your time, but appreciate you coming 185 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 4: on talking to us and keep on keep on crushing it. 186 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: Thank you.