1 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: You know, in my case, I feel like a lot 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: of these things I tell myself are true. But there 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: are times where you're you know, you're nervous, you're anxious 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: and go down. Things are gonna go but you're like, 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: you're gonna tear this up. Man. These guys can't teach you. 6 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: You know. You keep telling yourself that, and you started 7 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: to believe it, and it's one of those things that 8 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: it really gets your mind right and gets you prepared 9 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: for for what you're gonna do when you go out 10 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: and compete. This is the Reformed Sports Project, a podcast 11 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: about restoring healthy balance and perspective in all areas of 12 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: sports through education and advocacy. Hi, this is Nick Bonacoort 13 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: from the Reformed Sports Podcast. Today, I'm speaking with Walker Jenkins, 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: one of the best high school baseball players in the country, 15 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: a tope MLB draft prospect and a University of North 16 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: Carolina commit, Walker is currently completing his senior year of 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: high school. Named North Carolina is Gatorade Player of the 18 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: Year as a junior. Walker and I discuss how he 19 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: has learned to handle outside pressure at such a young age, 20 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: the importance of positive self talk, and why competitive mindset 21 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: impacts performance both on and off the field. I am 22 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: really really fired up. I always have awesome guests, but 23 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: this dude is um man. I'm just I'm super excited 24 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: for you and for those of you in the baseball 25 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: community who follow the Major League draft file, college baseball 26 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: recruiting and just are in tune to the studs out 27 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: there that are putting in work. This guy is certainly 28 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: one of them. I'm very fortunate to live like thirty 29 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: five minutes from him. I've kind of heard stories about 30 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: this dude since he was like ten. Is projected to 31 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: be drafted in this coming year's draft three anywhere between 32 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: first overall pick to the tenth pick, anywhere in between. 33 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: I don't know who the heck knows, but he's upwards 34 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: of the top rank. Perfect game in the class of 35 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: three is an absolute stuff from South Brunswick High School 36 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: Walker Jenkins. Walker, thanks so much for hopping on, buddy. 37 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: Of course, yes sir, yes, sir. Well listen, you got 38 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: all the accolades. Anyone on here can google you and 39 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: find everything they want to about your baseball prowess and 40 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: all the skill setting. All that what I love, and 41 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: I want to direct people towards it, and many people 42 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: might have saw this. It was this past summer. Um 43 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: there was a viral tweet. I think you know what 44 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. Walker, There was a video of you. Now, 45 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: if I'm not mistaken, I'll shut up here in a minute. 46 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: Your team just lost in the state finals. A matter 47 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: of fact, my older my oldest son was at that game. 48 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: He was there watching and texting me like, man, this 49 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 1: guy Walker Jakes. It's crazy. It was the best of 50 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: three series and here you are, you lost probably one 51 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: of the toughest games your life, one of the biggest 52 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: prospects in the country, in the world, and you're sitting 53 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: there by yourself cleaning out the dugout and it was 54 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: caught on video. You're picking up trash, Like what was 55 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: that meditation? Like, how do you take that moment to 56 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: still do those little things? Well, yeah, you said it 57 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: for me, So you know, it was a tough loss. 58 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: That was I know, I meant a lot to me 59 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: and I grew up with a lot of those guys 60 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: I was playing with, and it meant a lot to 61 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: us as a team, just to our our account, and 62 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 1: so you know, that was one of those things you're 63 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: kind of just sat back after the game and soaked 64 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: it all in. Um. But you know, I was getting 65 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: ready to leave and and saw some trash laying around 66 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: and not always been been taught to respect the game 67 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: and and respect the dugout and respect the people that 68 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: are following you and their respect the team that's coming 69 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: in and they'll got after you. So UM, you know, 70 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: I feel like that's something I would do, whether it 71 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: got caught on camera or not. So, UM, I just 72 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: picked up some of the trash and and UM, I 73 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: don't know that's I guess I was fortunate enough for 74 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: it to get caught on video. UM. It is nice 75 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: to be recognized for things like that sometimes. But you know, 76 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: it was just a tough situation. I was like, I 77 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: was trying to do the right thing, sir, I gotta 78 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: tell you I. UM. And for those of you don't know, 79 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: Walkers committed to the University of North Carolina. If I'm 80 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: not mistake of walker and all kind of want to 81 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: get into that here in a little bit. But Scott Forbes, 82 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: who's the baseball coach in North Carolina. A lot of 83 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: listeners may know Scott Forbes, and I go way back. 84 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: He was one of my coaches twenty plus years ago. Um, 85 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: you know, and I let him know I'm interviewing you, 86 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: and he can't speak high enough about your character. People 87 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: who talk about Walker Jenkins in this area, you know, 88 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: heck of a baseball player. But the kids all character 89 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: all the time. Tell me about what was like growing 90 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: up for you? You know, where does that come from? 91 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: Are you getting those lessons instilled at home? How did 92 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: character become such an important thing for you? Well, you know, 93 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: I think it was just being raised by my parents. 94 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: They were extremely good role models and I feel like 95 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: raised me the right way. You know. It's just it's 96 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: one of those things that goes back to how they 97 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: were raised as well. You know, their their beliefs, what 98 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: they the way they thought I should be raised, and 99 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: they set the bar extremely high. And that's only I'm 100 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: extremely grateful for now because I feel like about them, 101 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be the man or kid or I am today. 102 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: And it's one of those things that I feel like 103 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: has has helped me a lot in life, and I 104 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: think is gonna prove to be extremely beneficial, and not 105 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: only just it's like it's the right way to be. 106 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: And so I think my parents have played the biggest 107 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: role in that part, sir. So when you were a 108 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: little kid, little walker Jenkins running around, you know, you're 109 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: you're playing the tournament or whatever, and you're eating hot dogs, 110 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: you're with your buddies, you're throwing it, you're cutting up 111 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,239 Speaker 1: like a lot of kids do. Because you were probably 112 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: get three hundred foot bombs when you were eleven. Was 113 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: it like a walker could run a muck or was 114 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: it like it doesn't matter how good you are in 115 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: the baseball field, you're gonna be held accountable for being 116 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: a young man as well. No, it's I'm promise you 117 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: baseball didn't matter, sir. I uh, you know I was. 118 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: I was a tough kid growing up. Um, like I 119 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: fool a lot of people now, But I've always been 120 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: extremely competitive and extremely hardheaded, and um, the hardheaded as 121 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,679 Speaker 1: I think came first. And that's one of those things 122 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: my parents kind of had to had to teach me 123 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: a lot of hard learned lessons. But you know, I 124 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: think I earned every single one of them. But like 125 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: I said, that goes back to them getting me where 126 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: I am today. You know, without them, I think I'd 127 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 1: be a totally different person. I've listened to a couple 128 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: of the other interviews, and I know you played for 129 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,679 Speaker 1: you know, you started playing, if I'm not mistaken, travel 130 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: ball when you were at eight years old? Was it 131 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: all baseball year around? Did you ever want to play 132 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: in the other sports you know as well? I mean 133 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: baseball was with my with definitely my first love, sir. So. 134 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: I mean when I was a I started playing travel 135 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: ball and for the most part it was year around. 136 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: You know, you'd have four months where you weren't playing 137 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: any baseball or doing anything, um. But for that age group, 138 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: it was it was year round, sir. But that my 139 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 1: parents always gave me the choice. You know, I wanted 140 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: to do that because I love the game um. And 141 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: then going to the other sports, I always played a 142 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: ton of other sports. I played soccer, basketball, um, I swam, 143 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: played football, um. So, I did a lot of other things. 144 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: My parents always it was, it was never up to them. 145 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: They never forced me to do anything. They always gave 146 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: me the option to do whatever I wanted. And you know, 147 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: I played all the other sports and it was decent 148 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: at them. But you know, I always had the desire 149 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: and want to work at baseball, unlike with all the 150 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: other sports. So it was just and you it was 151 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: just something that you felt, you know, everything else kind 152 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: of felt like I'm gonna, you know, have fun playing 153 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 1: these other things, but you just felt intrinsically motivated to 154 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: do something extra in baseball and that that that just 155 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: came from within. Yes, sir, I just think that was 156 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: you know, like I said, I just enjoyed baseball more. 157 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: I think I just from the start loved it more 158 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: than everything else and enjoyed doing it more. And you know, 159 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: as competitive as I am, Um, I wanted to be 160 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: better than everybody else. So I think that drove me 161 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: to work and maybe you want to work harder. And 162 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: because I loved it so much, like I go out 163 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: and practice now and it's just it's what I look 164 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: forward to when I get up in the morning. Um. So, 165 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: I think that's something that's that's always been there in me. 166 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: And I know, like, um, if I'm not mistaken, you're 167 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: an extremely good student as well, like a four or 168 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: five g p A never got to be in high school? 169 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: Or is that is that the case? Yes, sir? So 170 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: is that that competitive? You just want to win in 171 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: the classroom as well? Well, Yeah, I've always been extremely 172 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: competitive in the classroom as well, and it's it's one 173 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: of those things going back to just the way my 174 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: parents raised me. Um, it was always academics before sports. 175 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: As as far as I've come in baseball, it's still 176 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: academics before sports, you know. Um. Like I said, I was, 177 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: I was an extremely hard headed kid growing up, and 178 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: my parents would take my toys away or punish me 179 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: and put me in time out, and sometimes they'd have 180 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: a hard time getting that to work. So what they'd 181 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: have to do is be like, well, you're not going 182 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: to practice baseball until you can play your school work. 183 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: So it was one of those things that still instilled 184 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: to me at a young age that you know, the 185 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: school work is going to be extremely important in this household. 186 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's number one before everything. Um. So 187 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: I think that's just carried on throughout my whole life, 188 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: and it's turned into one of those things that you know, 189 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: my parents are gonna have to tell me to do 190 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: my school work or to get things done that I understand. 191 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: It's it's my responsibility and an expectation of my family. 192 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: So that's just something that's you know, obviously my parents 193 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 1: helped guy me and help with the classes and what 194 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: to take. But the grade wise and the effort is 195 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: something that now I can always put in. You know, 196 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: if i've my if I made a B and that 197 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: was my best effort, my parents wouldn't be upset. But 198 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,079 Speaker 1: they know what my capabilities are and what I can do, 199 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: so they always expected the most out of me. Um 200 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: along with myself. You know, I feel like I shouldn't 201 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: have made it be in any of those classes. Um, 202 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: So there you go. And you know I always wanted 203 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: to be the best at everything, and that went for 204 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: school as well. Like you were saying, those of you 205 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: might not know Walker big summer this past summer, right, 206 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: I mean, here you are gearing up for you know, 207 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: major League draft, senior year, high school, UM, potentially you know, 208 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: depending on what your decision will be and draft all 209 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: that stuff. But you know, so this past summer you 210 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: got injured. You know you you couldn't play. So here 211 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: you are sideline. You know you're on Team USA and 212 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: you can wear the red, white and blue. So and 213 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: I would love to get into this. How was it 214 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 1: dealing with that adversity and was that the first time 215 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: that you've ever felt that type of struggle. UM. You know, 216 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: I think the adversity has taught me a lot of lessons. It's, um, 217 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: it's extremely frustrating, but it's it's something that you used 218 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: to learn to overcome because it's gonna come in a 219 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: lot of different forms, whether it's failure, problems outside of baseball, 220 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: or something like injury that affects you, um and playing 221 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: your sport, and it's it's just something that it's there's 222 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: nothing I could do about it. And like I said, 223 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: it was extremely frustrating, and you know, you always wonder why, 224 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: like why does this have to happen? But you know, 225 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: I think it makes me better. You know, I learned 226 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: to deal with the fact that, you know, this happened, 227 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: but then I looked to to what can made be better. 228 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: So when that happens, you know, I start working on 229 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: other things. I try to start working out while I 230 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: have a break, getting my body healthy, um, just doing 231 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: top hand drills, UM like similar things like that that 232 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: allow me, even when I'm not on the field, to 233 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: still better myself. And like I said, it's frustrating because 234 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: I enjoy it and I love playing baseball. And that's 235 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: you know, after the end of the school year, the 236 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: summer baseball circuits what I looked forward to. So you know, 237 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: it's extremely frustrating, but that that's that was all part 238 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: of my plan. Obviously if I chose it to be 239 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:52,599 Speaker 1: a certain way, this is not how I would have 240 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: written it up. But you know, you can't change it. 241 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: So I always I always trying to look at the 242 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: positive side of things and how to find a good 243 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: outcome from from what's happening. You know, clearly you're either 244 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: wise beyond your years. You have great parents who or 245 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: a combination of both. You have great coaches, you have 246 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: people that are I'm sure and you're helping you. But 247 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: like your answer there is extremely wise and mature because 248 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, you hit the nail 249 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: and that you can't control what injury is gonna happen. 250 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: You can't control you know, when a pictures out there 251 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: just shoving it and like no one can have a 252 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: clue that there's nothing you can do. But I just 253 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: gotta go up there and compete. You know, I'm sure 254 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: there was a little bit of a period we're just 255 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: quite frankly piste off. But then after fighting through that, 256 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: was it like okay, Like how do you get your mind. 257 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're seventeen eighteen years old at 258 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: that age to be able to lock in and turn 259 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: that negative into a positive. You know, It's it's one 260 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: of those things. It's like, like you said, it's it's frustrating. 261 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: You're like, god, man, you know, it's just it's supposed 262 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: to be the biggest summer of my life so far, 263 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: and like I supposed to go out there and ball 264 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: out and just everything fall into place, and you know, 265 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: that kind of messed up the whole ladder and and events, 266 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: and so it was one of those things, like you said, 267 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: frustrated and angry. But it's like, all right, you know, 268 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: I'm getting back from us, and I know when I 269 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 1: come back, I'm gonna be better. And it's one of 270 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: those things, you know, I feel like, um, I'm a 271 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: confident person, but I'm not conky. And when it comes 272 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: to the mental side of things, you know, I picked 273 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people's brains, a lot of big league guys, 274 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: a lot of coaches. You know, I want to learn 275 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: what can allow me to be successful in the game. 276 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: And one of the things that you know, Michael Codar, 277 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: he was a silver slogan winner and played for like 278 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: fifteen years in the big leagues. Now, I talked to 279 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: him a lot. One of the things, you know, he 280 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: told me is almost talking yourself up. You know, it's 281 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: kind of weird, and it it almost feels kind of 282 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: weird when you started. You know, I kind of sit down, 283 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: you know, I just I would say things to myself 284 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: like this guy's not being you know, or you know, 285 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: i'd go back count back from a hunter and say 286 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: something like that. And when I step up in the box, 287 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: you know, I do my routine and I touched both 288 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: sides of the plate. This thing I picked up from 289 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: actually pleasure baits. You know, he had a player he 290 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: played with. He was like, this picture better not throwing 291 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: over this plate. I'm absolutely smoking this ball. And so 292 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: that's the kind of mindset you have to go up 293 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: with it, and you have to have confidence in yourself. 294 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: And you know, coming back from that injury, um, I 295 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: had him again. The ReBs had to doing that stuff. 296 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: So I was kind of You're a little nervous, you're 297 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: facing some really good arms, but and I still try 298 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: to keep that same mindset. Um And then heading into 299 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: the fall, I was just so excited, and so it 300 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: was not only did I feel confident in myself, but 301 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: I was feeling healthy. So it was you know, that 302 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 1: mindset I think has helped me be successful. Lot, Sir, 303 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,079 Speaker 1: shout out Fletcher Bates rock solid here in Wilmington, North Carolina, 304 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 1: cost the athletics. Um good dude. Knowing him a long time, 305 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: um Trot Nixon told me a quote. We were talking 306 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: ball one time and he's like, man, I didn't come 307 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: up with this. In fact, he gave the shout out 308 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: to Steve Springer. Um Trot said to me, like, of 309 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: hitting is how you feel walking up to the plate. 310 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: To me, I think about that, like you can apply 311 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: that to so many places, like I'm gonna attack my 312 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: day as a father, as a husband, as a worker, 313 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: in my profession, whatever it is. If my mind is right, 314 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: When did you start incorporating that mental size. That's something 315 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: that you've kind of been taught because I know you listen, 316 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: you've had to have had some crowds around. You know, 317 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: for a while, you had scouts at your games, Like 318 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: how do you deal with that pressure that's been coming 319 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: at you now for for several years at a young age. 320 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: You know, I feel like I really started to do 321 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: things like that the summer. You know, it's like it's 322 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: always been confident in myself and my ability to play. 323 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: But you know, when you really talk to yourself like that, 324 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: like I said, like you feel weird when you start 325 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: doing it. You're like, I almost feel like I'm a 326 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: psycho doing this. But it's one of those things. If 327 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: you tell yourself one thing enough, you start to believe it. 328 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: And you know, in my case, I feel like a 329 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: lot of the things I tell myself are true. But 330 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: there are times where you're you know, you're nervous, you're 331 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: anxious and do now. Things are gonna go, but you're like, 332 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna tear this up. Man, These guys can't teach you. 333 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: You know. You keep telling yourself that and you start 334 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: to believe it, and it's one of those things that 335 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: it really gets your mind right and gets you prepared 336 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: for for what you're gonna do when you go out 337 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: and compete. When we come back, Walker and I discussed 338 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: his perspective on travel baseball and the college recruiting process. 339 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back. Where we left off, Walker and I were 340 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: about to talk about travel ball and the importance of 341 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: mindset and self confidence. Let's face it, the pay to 342 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: play model, right, the travel sports model, A lot of 343 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: people will say in many ways, it's a money grab, right, 344 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: your travel over the country, you know, the recruiting thing. 345 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: You know, commit real early. Obviously you're the elite of 346 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: the elite of the elite, so you're in a different 347 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: But how much do you think that travel Ball helped you? 348 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: Or maybe do you think there's anything that could be 349 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: changed to make the model more advantageous to the players 350 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: of the parents, or do you feel like the way 351 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: it is now, the way it's been, or the way 352 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: it was when you came up or have been working 353 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: through it, do you feel like it's it's really a 354 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: good system for kids to get exposure and fair for 355 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: cost and such. Well, you know, I think the travel 356 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: Ball was a great experience of me. I think it 357 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: worked out really well. Um, but I I you know, 358 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: I loved baseball, so at a young age, I didn't care, 359 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: and even as is getting older, you know, I started 360 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: to care, but I still just wanted to play ball. 361 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: But I feel like if you're not getting in the 362 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: right tournaments where people are watching and you don't really 363 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: enjoy it, as much and you just want to get recruited, 364 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: and I don't think it's that advantageous. I think going 365 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: to a college camp where you could be war one 366 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: on one with a coach or they're really you know, 367 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: looking at these players and evaluating, I think that can 368 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: be more beneficial sometimes than you're going out and play it. Now. Obviously, 369 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: you go to a camp like that and and the 370 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: coach is like, hey, man, I really like you want 371 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: to stay in contact, I want to see some film. 372 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: You know, you need to play, and you know, I 373 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: feel like playing in good competition tournaments and playing travel 374 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: ball definitely helps the recruiting process. But you know, I 375 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: started talking to coach Forbes and Carolina by going to 376 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: a Carolina hitting camp. Um, that's that's how it all 377 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: started for me. And you know, obviously I was a 378 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: fourteen year old kid, and that's young, and they don't 379 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: start recruiting normally until at least freshman year in high school. 380 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: Carolina recruits later than a lot of schools. But um, 381 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: you know, the the travel ball process definitely helps. But 382 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: I think for younger guys that are kind of going 383 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: through it and want to get recruited the most beneficial 384 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: thing could be going to a camp in front of 385 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: those those guys, the evaluators, and showing them there the 386 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: way they can really watch them to see what they 387 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: can do more. Because you know, sometimes you're gonna have 388 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: bad games, you know, and if that's the only game 389 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: that they come and watch, just kind of you know, 390 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: that's tough luck. And typically when you're a ball player, 391 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: they can see that. But sometimes you know, you just 392 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: have a rough day and you just don't look up. 393 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: But when you go and take BP or you take 394 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: some shag or take groundballs, they can see it. You know, 395 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: they can watch, they can evaluate, and they understand, you know, 396 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: if you're a good ball player or not. UM. So 397 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: I definitely think his advantageous in some ways. UM. Growing up, 398 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: if people whether they don't have the time or the money, 399 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: you know, eight through twelve, there's really not a need 400 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: for travel ball. I did it because I loved it. 401 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: You know, my parents we were in a situation where 402 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: they were able to provide that for me. Um. But 403 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: you know, if you just need to play in the 404 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: rect league. You know, I had a blasteming match. You know, 405 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: you're you're not going to commit to a college when 406 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: you're ten years old. You know what I'm saying, that's 407 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: just it's unrealistic. Um. But I say, once you get 408 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: around eighth grade year, um to start doing maybe some 409 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: some travel events or some camps or some stuff like 410 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 1: that and started getting a little bit more exposure. And 411 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: I think that that would be the best advice I 412 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: could give. But you know, if your kid loves it 413 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: and you're able to do it, you know, that's that's 414 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: what I plan on doing my kids in the future, 415 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 1: whether it's baseball or another sport. Um. So that's you know, 416 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: like I said, I definitely think travel ball benefited me, 417 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: but without the camps. You know, I think that that 418 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: was the first thing that put me onto a lot 419 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: of different schools, Carolina and NC State both. So so 420 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: tell me that's man, we just talked. I want to 421 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: do a little bit of something different here with you, 422 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,360 Speaker 1: a little little Q and a. UM, what if something 423 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 1: that might keep you up at night. I'm sure if 424 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: you're stepping in the batch box, is finding that many 425 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: pictures out there that are gonna make it nervous. What 426 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: is something that maybe uh get a little shookn up. 427 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: We see, that's that's the funny things. So I almost 428 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: feel more are more confident or comfortable in the summer circuit. 429 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: You know, you're playing with these extremely good players and 430 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: extremely good arms and pictures. But these guys understand that 431 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: baseball is a sport where you fail when you're out there. 432 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: All of us are really good, You're facing really good competition. 433 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: We understand how it works. You know. In high high 434 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: school ball, I almost feel a little bit more pressure 435 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: and get a little more nervous because you have people 436 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: come out there and want you to go to your 437 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: school or go to another school, and they're like, Wow, 438 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: this dude's first in the country or second the country. 439 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: You're committed to Carolina. They're like, oh my gosh, he's 440 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 1: she should hit a home run here. When people don't 441 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,360 Speaker 1: they don't understand, you know, baseball is a game of failure, 442 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: and so that's the one thing I you know, I 443 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 1: have to understand that. You know, I don't plan on failing, 444 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 1: but it's gonna happen. And that's what I'm saying. I 445 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: have to do a good job and I'm gonna try 446 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: my best this high school season to accept that failure 447 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 1: when it happens, and to not let things get to me. 448 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: Um to just go out and be myself and and 449 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: trust myself and play like I do and there will 450 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: be no problems at all. But sometimes thinking about that 451 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: it gives me, you know, a little wound up and 452 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: gives me a little anxious like I'm ready to go, 453 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 1: like I want to get out there and play. But 454 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: you know, that's one thing that people don't understand sometimes. 455 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: What is playing high school baseball and South Bronzo representing 456 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: being there with your boys? What does that mean to you? 457 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: It's It's been a ton to me, sir. You know, 458 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: there are a lot of rumors for some reason, I 459 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 1: went around that I was going to transfer out this 460 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 1: year go to a different school. Um, but that's not 461 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: the case at all. You know, I feel like I'm 462 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: a very loyal person. I grew up in this area. 463 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: I want to I want to finish it out here, 464 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: and you know, I love all my buddies and my 465 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: friends growing up. They mean they mean the world to me. Um. 466 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: Without their support and just pushing for me to get 467 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: to where I want to be, you know, I may 468 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 1: not be where I am today. So not only do 469 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: I want to stay in South and wear that Jersey, 470 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: But I want to be playing by a lot of 471 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: those guys. What would be your advice and some kids 472 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: out there who want to be the best baseball players 473 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: or best athletes they can be to work hard. I 474 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: feel like, um, that's one thing when when I was younger, 475 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,239 Speaker 1: obviously I didn't have the best mechanics, I wasn't like 476 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 1: I did have a perfect swing. Still don't have a 477 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: perfect swing, but I feel like I I outworked everybody. 478 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: That's something that you know, you can control. You can't 479 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:13,479 Speaker 1: control if you go on the baseball field and hit 480 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: a ball as hard as you can and gets caught. 481 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 1: But one thing you can't control is if you outwork 482 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: the person besides you, you know, or the person in 483 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: front of you, were behind you. You know. One thing 484 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 1: I've always taken a lot of pride in is is 485 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: going out and trying to outwork everybody. I think that's 486 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: been a big factor and where I've got in the day, 487 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: so uh for a lot of the younger kids that 488 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: that strive to be where I am, and I want 489 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: to be a successful whether it's just athletes, baseball player 490 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 1: or any other sport, I think you have to work 491 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: hard and you have to have the mindset where you're 492 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: going out there and out working everybody else. You know, 493 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: you can be good and you can be successful working 494 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 1: out once a week, practicing two or three times a week, 495 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: but I mean, I feel like you really need to 496 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: work on it and and work on at five, six, seven, 497 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: even every day a week. You know, I get out 498 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: there and I'm hitting every day. You know, we're account 499 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: five times a week and run and do a lot 500 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: of different things, and I'm genuinely thinking, like I don't 501 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: want anyone to catch me, you know, I want to 502 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: pass everybody else. So that's something that I think has 503 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: has been a very big factor in where I've gone 504 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: the day. Man, I wish you nothing but the best 505 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: of luck. Everything that everyone has told me about your 506 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: humility and your professionalism and wise beyond your years was 507 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 1: spot amen. I wish you nothing but the best. Hope 508 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: everyone that listens go follow Walker Jenkins. Student's gonna be 509 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: an absolute phenomen We'll see him in the show soon. 510 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: And uh, man, I wish you no but the best. Man. 511 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: Thanks again for coming out and sharing. Thank you so much. 512 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. That's Walker Jenkins, one of the 513 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: top prospects for the three Major League Baseball Draft and 514 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: a current UNC Chapel Hill commit. Thanks for listening to 515 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: the Reform Sports Project podcast. I'm Nick Bonicourt and our 516 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,239 Speaker 1: goal is to restore a healthy balance and perspective in 517 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: all areas of sports through education and advocacy. For updates, 518 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or check 519 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:01,719 Speaker 1: out our website. It by searching for the Reform Sports 520 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: Project