WEBVTT - Episode 394 - Bench Bantr ft. Derek Curiel

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<v Speaker 1>Joining us now on bench Banter is Pirate's first round

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<v Speaker 1>draft pick, Derek Curry Out.

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<v Speaker 2>Derek, welcome to the show man.

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

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<v Speaker 1>How's the weekend been so far? Probably a whirl win,

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of moving pieces. But what's the first experience

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<v Speaker 1>with Pittsburgh?

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<v Speaker 3>Like, it's been great. The atmosphere has been great. Been

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<v Speaker 3>here for a couple of games, pretty cool to see

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<v Speaker 3>how everyone showed up, but for that Cub series and

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<v Speaker 3>you know they got a big one tonight, So excited

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<v Speaker 3>to watch some good baseball. Derek, Welcome to Pittsburgh.

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<v Speaker 4>Man. What was it like hearing your name called pick

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<v Speaker 4>number five? And also did you know the Pirates had

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<v Speaker 4>any interest in you?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, dream come true, something I've me and my family

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<v Speaker 3>I've worked for for many years. And I mean that's

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<v Speaker 3>why we do it. You know, they're the commissioner. I'll

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<v Speaker 3>call your name. And then now there's a new, new,

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<v Speaker 3>new mountain of climb to make it here. So it's

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<v Speaker 3>been great and we're just.

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<v Speaker 2>Very happy looking back on it.

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<v Speaker 1>I've read some stuff and we've heard you talk over

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<v Speaker 1>the past couple of days about taking two hundred swings

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<v Speaker 1>a day and trying to emulate that game after Pete rose,

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<v Speaker 1>going back to all the days that you work with

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<v Speaker 1>your dad or your brother. What's it like now reflecting

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<v Speaker 1>looking out to the skyline, taking deep on the field,

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<v Speaker 1>what's that moment like.

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<v Speaker 3>It's been great. It's been great. I mean since I

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<v Speaker 3>was a little kid, been taking a ton of swings

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<v Speaker 3>in my backyard. As I grown up, learned more about myself,

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<v Speaker 3>learn sometimes you gotta pull it back, Sometimes you gotta

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<v Speaker 3>kind of show and go. Sometimes you gotta do what

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<v Speaker 3>the game calls for. So I've been learning that and

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<v Speaker 3>to be around these pro guys. It's been pretty cool

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<v Speaker 3>because everyone has different routines. Some guys like to take

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of swings, some guys like to take it minimal.

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<v Speaker 3>But it's great. And then now I get to see

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<v Speaker 3>the skyline, it's been beautiful.

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<v Speaker 4>A couple of years ago, you were one of the

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<v Speaker 4>highest rated high school players in the country.

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<v Speaker 3>You chose to go to LSU.

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<v Speaker 4>How difficult was that decision and also what did you

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<v Speaker 4>learn the most at your time with your time at LSU.

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<v Speaker 3>Wasn't difficult at all. I mean I kind of knew

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<v Speaker 3>I wasn't gonna go where I wanted to. I was

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<v Speaker 3>a pretty pretty highly tired guy throughout my high school career.

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<v Speaker 3>Senior year when I counted didn't perform great, I knew

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<v Speaker 3>there was some things that still needed to develop, my body,

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<v Speaker 3>change a couple of things in my swing. I trusted

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<v Speaker 3>coach Johnson, I saw the Dylan Cruise path and Paul Schemes.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, they had a great team, so made it

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<v Speaker 3>easy for my decision to go over there and trust

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<v Speaker 3>the coaches. And then when I got there, made some

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<v Speaker 3>adjustments and kind of hit the ground running from there.

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<v Speaker 3>Gave my body time to develop. So just in God's timing.

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<v Speaker 1>You think that was essential for your development and also

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<v Speaker 1>just experiencing that winning culture. Obviously, get a national championship

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<v Speaker 1>under your belt, get that experience. Do you think that

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<v Speaker 1>helped propel you to the next level?

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely being around winners. I mean my first year, I

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<v Speaker 3>have Kid Anderson, Anthony I and San Jared Jones like

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<v Speaker 3>guys on my team who helped elevate my game. And

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<v Speaker 3>I learned a lot within two months of fall ball

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<v Speaker 3>and kind of hit the ground running from there and

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<v Speaker 3>earned my spot in the team. And I was happy

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<v Speaker 3>I was able to do what I what I did

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<v Speaker 3>for LSU and there forever a part of me.

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<v Speaker 4>You got to pick one part of your game that

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<v Speaker 4>you think improved the most at LSU. Which part of

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<v Speaker 4>your game do you think that is?

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<v Speaker 3>Honestly my preparation, I feel like I have a better

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<v Speaker 3>routine now. In high school being Southern California, well it

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<v Speaker 3>was always great, Like it was just straight baseball for

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<v Speaker 3>me all the time, kind of just roll the balls

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<v Speaker 3>out and go compete, which is a good mentality to have,

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<v Speaker 3>but you gotta know why doing it and what gets

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<v Speaker 3>you going because a lot of games, you know, back

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<v Speaker 3>to back to back, So learned a great routine through

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<v Speaker 3>the coaches, hitting, warming up my arm, warming up my body.

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<v Speaker 3>And I mean I played every single game ls You

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<v Speaker 3>didn't miss miss one game. So I think it's a

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<v Speaker 3>testament to how hard I worked in the weight room,

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<v Speaker 3>taking care of my body, the stuff I eat, Like

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<v Speaker 3>I learned a lot.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot mentally.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean that's tolling as well, between school and baseball

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<v Speaker 1>and everything that you just mentioned. What's the mental approach?

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously baseball is the hardest game out there. You're going

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<v Speaker 1>to go through slumps, difficult times. How do you keep

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<v Speaker 1>yourself even keeled.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, just keeping the outside noise outside noise, and the

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<v Speaker 3>focusing on what's important and to me, it's my family,

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<v Speaker 3>my faith and this this is all I want to do.

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<v Speaker 3>This is all I ever wanted to do. So I'm

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<v Speaker 3>not taking that for granted. And I'm I'm eliminating, eliminating

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<v Speaker 3>the outside noise, outside distractions. Uh, I'm fully focused on

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<v Speaker 3>what I want to do and where I want to be.

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<v Speaker 4>Jrek, you already have a relationship with Connor Griffin from

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<v Speaker 4>the Team US. Say what's it like seeing his quick

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<v Speaker 4>transition to Pro Bowl and also joining the organization that

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<v Speaker 4>he's a part of.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I've said a lot of times. I mean if

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<v Speaker 3>you told me he was going to do this back

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<v Speaker 3>when we were in high school in the USA team together,

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<v Speaker 3>I would have one hundred percent believed you. I mean,

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<v Speaker 3>he's a freaking know, freak athlete, freak human being, comes

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<v Speaker 3>from a great family and he is a great head

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<v Speaker 3>on his shoulder. So to be friends with him and

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<v Speaker 3>then teammates previously and now teammates again means a lot.

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<v Speaker 3>He's taught me a lot these past couple of days

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<v Speaker 3>and just telling me how much he loves the people

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<v Speaker 3>here and loves this city and the Bruins something up

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<v Speaker 3>pretty special here in Pittsburgh, So I'm excited.

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<v Speaker 1>What's it like just getting to know some of the

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<v Speaker 1>guys in the clubhouse right off the bat this week

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<v Speaker 1>and talking to the front office and getting that experience

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<v Speaker 1>just being around PNC Park.

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<v Speaker 3>I love how focused these guys are. Like it's honestly,

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<v Speaker 3>it's attracted to me, you know, like I want to

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<v Speaker 3>be around these guys. This is all they care about,

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<v Speaker 3>literally everything in there, just talking baseball, how they can

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<v Speaker 3>get better. The coaches just I was in their hitters meeting,

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<v Speaker 3>just very detail oriented and it's just super cool to

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<v Speaker 3>see how guys go about their business. And I can't

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<v Speaker 3>wait to be up here and Iron Starbrom's Iron. So

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<v Speaker 3>these guys are gonna get me better.

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<v Speaker 4>Derek, You've been a lot of for your outfield defense

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<v Speaker 4>of playing up the middle. What part of your defensive

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<v Speaker 4>game do you take pride in the most?

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<v Speaker 3>Just going out there and hawking one down for my team,

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<v Speaker 3>for my pitcher, saving some runs. You know. I love

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<v Speaker 3>making the diving plays, but also the routine, the routine ones.

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<v Speaker 3>I love reading the ball off the bat, and just

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<v Speaker 3>getting to help the team in any way I can.

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<v Speaker 1>You just mentioned being in the hitters meeting. Obviously, LSU

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<v Speaker 1>sec ball is very competitive nowadays.

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<v Speaker 2>You guys have a lot of resources.

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<v Speaker 1>Available, analytics and also just having a feel for the game.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you a guy that dives deep into the video

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<v Speaker 1>proach and analytics every single game every single at that

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<v Speaker 1>orre you more of a field guy, go with the

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<v Speaker 1>flow of the game.

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<v Speaker 2>We're both.

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<v Speaker 3>I feel like I'm a good mix of both. Pregame,

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<v Speaker 3>definitely want to consume as much information as I can

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<v Speaker 3>about the opposing picture because I feel very confident in

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<v Speaker 3>my plan. So now I just want to know what

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<v Speaker 3>he's trying to do to me, and then as soon

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<v Speaker 3>as it's between the lines, then I'm not thinking about

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<v Speaker 3>any of that. I mean, it's time to compete, but

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<v Speaker 3>before the game, is just good to know those little

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<v Speaker 3>things just to keep in the back of your mind,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, So just filtering it in the way I

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<v Speaker 3>want to do it, and some other guys do it

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<v Speaker 3>differently and it works for everyone else. So pretty cool.

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<v Speaker 5>Jack.

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<v Speaker 3>You're gonna be heading down to the Florida here soon.

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<v Speaker 4>What are some of your initial goals heading into your

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<v Speaker 4>first summer of pro ball, learn.

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<v Speaker 3>As much as I possibly can. I'm gonna I'm gonna

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<v Speaker 3>be around professionals, professional coaches, so to just learn from everyone.

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<v Speaker 3>They're obviously there for a reason. The organization trust them,

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<v Speaker 3>and I trust the organizations. So I mean, if those

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<v Speaker 3>guys are there, they have a lot of accountability and

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<v Speaker 3>they're obviously have done their job great. So just learning.

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<v Speaker 2>Have they mapped out a plan for you?

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<v Speaker 1>Obviously you're going down to the complex soon, but has

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<v Speaker 1>there been any talk about what games you're gonna play

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<v Speaker 1>in or what the.

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<v Speaker 2>Strategy is moving forward for at least this year.

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<v Speaker 3>I haven't heard anything yet. I mean, I don't want

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<v Speaker 3>to play, want to play. I've been kind of on

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<v Speaker 3>the sideline for two months. Our season ended pretty early

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<v Speaker 3>this year, sadly, So I mean, I've just been waiting

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<v Speaker 3>for the drafts and haven't played in two months. My

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<v Speaker 3>body feels fresh. I'm ready excited to go. So whoever

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<v Speaker 3>they choose to send me, I'm excited.

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<v Speaker 4>We all have role models, players that we look up.

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<v Speaker 3>Towing up. Who's someone that you looked up?

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<v Speaker 4>Duru had a lot of impact on your game as

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<v Speaker 4>a young player.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean there's two. I mean, growing up sounds

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<v Speaker 3>a baby. My Dad's always instilled in me, like the

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<v Speaker 3>Pete Rose mentality and how he went about the game.

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<v Speaker 3>That's my dad's favorite favorite player. We have a Pete

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<v Speaker 3>Rose jersey with number fourteen reds, but it says Curry

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<v Speaker 3>l all the top in the back, so he signed

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<v Speaker 3>it for my dad and all that stuff. So I've

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<v Speaker 3>always watched his videos, but more recently Christian Yelich. I

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<v Speaker 3>really like him. He's a southern California guy, obviously got

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<v Speaker 3>drafted to Miami. He used to go to his camps

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<v Speaker 3>growing up at west Lake High School. So he's been

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<v Speaker 3>really cool to watch and I like him laying my

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<v Speaker 3>game after him.

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<v Speaker 1>I was gonna say the swing's a little bit similar

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<v Speaker 1>in terms of like the hand placement. Is that something

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<v Speaker 1>that's noticeable for you or that was intentional?

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<v Speaker 3>For sure? Yeah, I kind of like how he moves

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<v Speaker 3>in the box. It's pretty calm but also pretty violent.

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<v Speaker 3>He's obviously kind of a lenkier guy like me, and

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, I love the way he plays a game.

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<v Speaker 3>He's MVP one couple of gold gloves. He could really

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<v Speaker 3>swing it so great.

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<v Speaker 1>Dude, talking about the swing mechanics, like your hands keep

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<v Speaker 1>him a little bit out in front of your face, right,

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<v Speaker 1>and then the load it's not much of like an

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<v Speaker 1>extensive load, but when your leg goes up you get

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<v Speaker 1>into that slot pretty nicely when everything gets in motion.

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<v Speaker 1>Talk us through like your approach and the mechanics and

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<v Speaker 1>how you got to where you're at today.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, for me, mainly, my leg lift is just it's

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<v Speaker 3>just a timing thing that's not really to generate power

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<v Speaker 3>like some guys will kind of coil into it. For me,

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<v Speaker 3>I'm just lifting my leg off the ground because it

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<v Speaker 3>helps me get my foot down on time. And I

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<v Speaker 3>honestly don't even try to lift my leg like it

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<v Speaker 3>kind of just happens naturally. And then I'm just focused

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<v Speaker 3>on hitting the ball, like I feel like I've been

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<v Speaker 3>really blessed that my body kind of works for me.

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<v Speaker 3>But yeah, just it's more of a timing mechanism.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, so when that leg gets up, it feels like

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<v Speaker 1>your hips already kind of precoiled a piny bit. Is

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<v Speaker 1>that help you generate that power since that you know,

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<v Speaker 1>like I mentioned, your arms aren't going like that far back,

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<v Speaker 1>it really gets into that slot quickly. So is that

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<v Speaker 1>where the power is coming from in terms of the

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<v Speaker 1>core and the legs.

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely, I always like to say, I mean from the

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<v Speaker 3>ground up. So I like to make sure my feet

0:08:54.960 --> 0:08:57.280
<v Speaker 3>are where they're supposed to be, then my hips are

0:08:57.280 --> 0:08:58.920
<v Speaker 3>where they supposed to be, and the kind of have

0:08:59.000 --> 0:09:01.600
<v Speaker 3>my hands in that slot because from there, as soon

0:09:01.600 --> 0:09:03.240
<v Speaker 3>as my foots down, I couldn't fire at any moment,

0:09:03.360 --> 0:09:05.160
<v Speaker 3>kind of like you said. So that's kind of the

0:09:05.200 --> 0:09:07.040
<v Speaker 3>reason I did that because in high school I was

0:09:07.080 --> 0:09:10.199
<v Speaker 3>more here, more horizontal rather than vertical, and kind of

0:09:10.240 --> 0:09:12.800
<v Speaker 3>couldn't get to inside pitches. But now with my hands

0:09:12.800 --> 0:09:14.880
<v Speaker 3>being out here, I have this space. I don't need

0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:17.080
<v Speaker 3>to create it with the load or my hands. So

0:09:17.160 --> 0:09:19.000
<v Speaker 3>the space is already there, and as soon as I land,

0:09:19.200 --> 0:09:20.320
<v Speaker 3>I can swing at anytime.

0:09:20.920 --> 0:09:23.440
<v Speaker 4>Derek, you're known to have excellent bat to ball skills.

0:09:23.480 --> 0:09:25.240
<v Speaker 4>What is something in you're swinging? What is a key

0:09:25.280 --> 0:09:27.559
<v Speaker 4>to you get to making contact so consistently?

0:09:28.559 --> 0:09:30.840
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, just getting my pitch and not the pitcher's pitch.

0:09:31.160 --> 0:09:33.679
<v Speaker 3>Coach Johnson instilled that at us at LSU, like make

0:09:33.720 --> 0:09:36.000
<v Speaker 3>sure he throws three really good pitches to get you out.

0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:38.720
<v Speaker 3>So just making sure I'm getting my pitch, and I'm

0:09:38.800 --> 0:09:42.200
<v Speaker 3>very comfortable with him with two strikes. So the more

0:09:42.240 --> 0:09:44.439
<v Speaker 3>pitches I see, honestly, the better and I get to

0:09:44.480 --> 0:09:47.160
<v Speaker 3>kind of see as all arsenal. So just make sure

0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:49.240
<v Speaker 3>I'm getting my pitch and I trust myself and all counts.

0:09:49.320 --> 0:09:52.440
<v Speaker 2>Is it thinking middle away and then reacting in absolutely?

0:09:52.520 --> 0:09:55.160
<v Speaker 3>Yeah. I like to hit the ball hard and load

0:09:55.160 --> 0:09:57.080
<v Speaker 3>through the middle of the field. I like to let

0:09:57.160 --> 0:10:00.000
<v Speaker 3>the fastball get deep, but then obviously when it's inside

0:10:00.120 --> 0:10:02.280
<v Speaker 3>you can kind of just react to it. So for me,

0:10:02.679 --> 0:10:04.280
<v Speaker 3>just to make sure I'm not rolling over on balls

0:10:04.360 --> 0:10:06.600
<v Speaker 3>or flaring balls. Kind of want to stay low and

0:10:06.720 --> 0:10:08.160
<v Speaker 3>hard through the middle of the field, let the ball

0:10:08.200 --> 0:10:11.559
<v Speaker 3>travel deeply, and then anything in especially soft like you

0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:12.439
<v Speaker 3>can react, you know.

0:10:13.080 --> 0:10:14.640
<v Speaker 4>Derek, last question for me, I feel like we can

0:10:14.640 --> 0:10:17.320
<v Speaker 4>talk hitting all day here. For Pirates fans that are

0:10:17.320 --> 0:10:18.640
<v Speaker 4>just getting to know you, what type of player are

0:10:18.600 --> 0:10:19.600
<v Speaker 4>they getting with Derek Curryell.

0:10:20.160 --> 0:10:23.040
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, hard nose player, player who loves the game and

0:10:23.160 --> 0:10:25.400
<v Speaker 3>loves to win. I've been a lot of I've been

0:10:25.440 --> 0:10:26.959
<v Speaker 3>a part of a lot of winning cultures, and I'm

0:10:26.960 --> 0:10:30.040
<v Speaker 3>excited to do that here in Pittsburgh. Too. Fully focused

0:10:30.040 --> 0:10:33.040
<v Speaker 3>on developing and eventually winning a World Series here. So

0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:36.800
<v Speaker 3>I'm excited and play the game hard. I'll bun, I'll

0:10:36.840 --> 0:10:40.320
<v Speaker 3>drag Bond, hit and run whatever the team needs, you know,

0:10:40.640 --> 0:10:42.959
<v Speaker 3>take the extra base, divn't play anything.

0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:45.200
<v Speaker 1>Pirates fans that want to know you a little bit

0:10:45.240 --> 0:10:48.200
<v Speaker 1>more than baseball. What's the walkout songs over the past

0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:50.240
<v Speaker 1>couple of years and what are some of the hobbies off.

0:10:50.080 --> 0:10:52.360
<v Speaker 2>The field that keep you occupied it outside of baseball.

0:10:52.720 --> 0:10:55.800
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, my walkout song my years at lsu as God

0:10:55.880 --> 0:11:00.520
<v Speaker 3>is by Kanye West. Love that song. Just kind of peaceful,

0:11:00.679 --> 0:11:02.800
<v Speaker 3>peaceful walking up to the play and knowing why I'm

0:11:02.800 --> 0:11:07.199
<v Speaker 3>doing it. Just a good reminder and then ass the field.

0:11:07.200 --> 0:11:09.440
<v Speaker 3>I mean, like I said, I'm really focused on baseball

0:11:09.480 --> 0:11:14.480
<v Speaker 3>and my family. Uh. I like relationships rather than doing things.

0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:16.680
<v Speaker 3>So for me, it's a lot of quality time spent

0:11:16.760 --> 0:11:19.920
<v Speaker 3>with my family rather than doing certain things. But we

0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:21.679
<v Speaker 3>have three dogs too, so most of my time is

0:11:21.760 --> 0:11:23.680
<v Speaker 3>spent with them. I'm sure you guys will get to

0:11:23.679 --> 0:11:27.920
<v Speaker 3>know Bo. Yeah, he's pretty famous around Baton Rouge, so yeah,

0:11:27.960 --> 0:11:30.520
<v Speaker 3>I mean that's kind of me. Dog is Bo Golden

0:11:30.559 --> 0:11:33.120
<v Speaker 3>t Yeah, two Golden and one Labordoddle.

0:11:33.280 --> 0:11:33.959
<v Speaker 2>I love that. Man.

0:11:34.000 --> 0:11:37.400
<v Speaker 1>Well, hey, congratulations, enjoy the moment, but we're excited to

0:11:37.440 --> 0:11:38.200
<v Speaker 1>see you in Pittsburgh.

0:11:38.200 --> 0:11:39.400
<v Speaker 2>Man, so that's a lot.

0:11:39.440 --> 0:11:42.400
<v Speaker 5>Thank you all best seats as the parents getting Let

0:11:42.440 --> 0:11:44.400
<v Speaker 5>me run the base. Yeah, my time is like my

0:11:44.480 --> 0:11:47.280
<v Speaker 5>money because I can't afford to waste. Oh whyee? Is

0:11:47.320 --> 0:11:50.280
<v Speaker 5>alloyer my date to my dates? Or the stick by

0:11:50.280 --> 0:11:51.120
<v Speaker 5>the plate City