1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Fish Fights podcast, and we have a really special guest today. 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: I kind of say that every time, but this time 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: I really mean it. I'm joined by the Marlins sixty 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: ninth overall pick of the draft, Will Banfield, already the 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: top catching prospect in the Marlins organization. Well, thanks for joining. 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 2: Me, Hey, thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: So let's go through your accomplishments first and foremost, because 8 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: I want people to know, I mean, how impressive of 9 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: a pick the Marlins got here. You were the Guenette 10 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: County Player of the Year out in Georgia. You played 11 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: for Team USA, you played in the Perfect Game All 12 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: American Game, you played an under Armour All American Game, 13 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: and you were the Perfect Game defensive player of the year. 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: You led Brookwood High School in hits doubles in RBIs. 15 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: What do you think led to you having so much success? 16 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: And what do these accolades mean to you? 17 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: Oh? You know they mean everything. 18 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 3: Really, I just I've been blessed with the opportunity to 19 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 3: play this game of baseball and play. 20 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: In a game that you love. 21 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 3: For really, your job right now is really just unbelievable, 22 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 3: because you know, there's a lot of people that wish 23 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 3: that they had, I guess the chance, and I'm just 24 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 3: trying to like take it and run with it and 25 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 3: do everything that I'm able to do. And God has 26 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 3: blessed myself with great ability, I guess thus far. So 27 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 3: I just got to keep working and grinding and all that. 28 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 3: So I'll just like keep at it and you know, 29 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 3: just like keep striving for more and more. 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: Well, you really have taken it and run because here 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: you are eighteen years old. I mean you were just 32 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: graduating high school a couple months ago. Now you've signed 33 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: a contract just under two million dollars, and like I 34 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: said earlier, you're the top catching prospect in the Marlins organization. 35 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: You've already had your pro debut. Has this all been 36 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: a blur for you? Like, have you been able to 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: take it in at all? 38 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: You know, it has been a blur. 39 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 3: It's crazy because you know, like every little kid's dream 40 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 3: is to play professional baseball and really to essentially get drafted, 41 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 3: and you know that kind of happened for me a 42 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 3: month ago. It was a blurry, you know, I mean, 43 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 3: it was just crazy how everything happened. And I'm just 44 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 3: blessed to be in the shoes that I am in 45 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 3: right now, and really just like that step of being drafted. 46 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 3: It gets me even more excited and makes me even 47 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 3: want to work even harder, to just like continue to 48 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 3: get better and continue to work harder, because you know, 49 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: you got to go through this like minor league part 50 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 3: of I guess the stage of your professional career, and 51 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 3: you know, trying to just get out of the minor 52 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 3: leagues and make it up to the big stage. 53 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 2: Really what it's all about. 54 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And we'll talk about the high school stage a 55 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: little bit too. Brookwood High School it's where you played, 56 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: you know, all four years correct, yes, sir, So your 57 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: high school loves you, as I can tell from Twitter. 58 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: And the second I announced that you would be on 59 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 1: our show, I had Brookwood alumni, had Brookwood students, Brookwood coaches, 60 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: Brookwood baseball accounts all over liking, following and showing you 61 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: so much love, which is amazing to see. How much 62 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 1: did your high school mean to you? And how much 63 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: do you think that that baseball program in the school 64 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: in general played a part in where you are today? 65 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 3: You know, they mean everything to me. I was brought 66 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 3: up in a really good community. Everybody were behind me, 67 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 3: and have my bag, whether it be playing baseball or 68 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: during school or whatever, like just any part of my life. 69 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 3: And just I had a lot of really really good 70 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 3: coaches and friends and like family friends that really just 71 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 3: like stuck with me through it all, and I couldn't 72 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 3: do anything to thank them enough for that. And I 73 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 3: don't think i'd be here today if I were if 74 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 3: I wasn't around like the right people for my community. 75 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: And another person I see very active in supporting you 76 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: on Twitter is your sister, and Marlins fans have kind 77 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: of gotten a hold of her and have been really 78 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,839 Speaker 1: excited by the stuff that she's been sharing. How close 79 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: are you with her and how much has she helped 80 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: you through all of this, especially at this most exciting 81 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: point of your life? 82 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 3: Probably Oh yeah, I mean she's awesome. She used to 83 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 3: play softball back in the day and she usually comes 84 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: all my games. So it's really just awesome to have 85 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 3: a sister. And also I have a brother as well 86 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 3: that just like support me and everything that I do, 87 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: and her like tweeting and all that kind of stuff 88 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 3: is pretty awesome because I get to see, I guess 89 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 3: all the pictures that were taken of me and stuff 90 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 3: like that that I haven't seen yet, so then she 91 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 3: puts them up there and I get to see him 92 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 3: really for the first time as well. But you know, 93 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 3: just I mean my whole family, just my mom is 94 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,679 Speaker 3: my rock and everything to me, and really there's nobody 95 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 3: else in my life that has done more than that woman. 96 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: And really, I. 97 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: Just I can't do anything to thank her enough for 98 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 3: doing everything she's done for me, because I definitely wouldn't 99 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 3: be here today without what my mom has done. And 100 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 3: also again with my sister and brother, they have just 101 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: done everything for me really, just like sticking with me 102 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 3: and all my ups and downs of baseball, whether it 103 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 3: be going through a slump or just really just I 104 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: mean just going through school wise I was struggling in 105 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 3: a class or something like that. 106 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 2: They've really all been there for me, and. 107 00:04:58,440 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: That's awesome to hear. And you know, there'll be the 108 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: every step of the way, hopefully all the way to 109 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: the big leagues. And talking about that in professional baseball, 110 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: take us through draft night a little bit. I mean, 111 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,119 Speaker 1: you were kind of all over the place in mock drafts. 112 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: It's really hard to know what's going on, and especially 113 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: when you're just the player and did you have any 114 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: idea where you would be selected? And how did you 115 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: handle the anxiety of waiting for your name to be called? 116 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 2: Oh? 117 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it was an unbelievable night. Again, like 118 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 3: I said before, it was just like it was a 119 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 3: night that every kid like dreams of and waits for. So, 120 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 3: you know, draft night, we're just sitting around, just chilling, 121 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 3: waiting for a call, waiting to see what happens. I 122 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 3: really didn't have a clear shot of where I was 123 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 3: gonna go, or where. 124 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 2: I was going to go, or what was gonna happen. 125 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 3: It was just all like what kind of went down 126 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 3: I guess before, And you know, just sitting there with 127 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 3: my mom by my side, and also with my high 128 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 3: school coach and then my brother and my sister, and 129 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 3: then we had a lot of other like family friends 130 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 3: and friends of mine as well that came to the 131 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 3: house to support me as well. But just sitting there 132 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 3: going through and then getting the call from the Marlins 133 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 3: and having them wanting to select me is just the 134 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 3: most humbling like experience of my life because a team like, 135 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 3: I guess one of me, you know what I'm saying 136 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 3: that much, So just having like them having faith. 137 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 2: In me was unbelievable. 138 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 3: So really just we made it happen right there on 139 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 3: the phone and then got picked out the sixty Nights 140 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 3: selection and we just kind of went with it from there. 141 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 3: And so now I'm down here in Jupiter trying to 142 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 3: get my pro career started. 143 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: So when I announced that I was gonna have you 144 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: on the show, I mentioned that you were the sixty 145 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: ninth overall pick, and before I even got any questions, 146 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: I had a lot of responses saying like nice, and 147 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: you know with the six and how many jokes have 148 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: you gotten with that? And do you almost wish you 149 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: were picked one pick later if it was to the 150 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: same team. 151 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 2: Dude, I'm just I'm just glad to be picked, you 152 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: know what I'm saying. 153 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 3: I mean, it's where we like all the jokes are funny, 154 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 3: all that kind of stuff, you know. I mean, it's 155 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 3: really just like humor is just like seeing everything on 156 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 3: Twitter and it's just it's fun to like read through 157 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 3: them and just laugh at it and everything like that. 158 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 3: So I mean, no, I mean I was selected in 159 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 3: a great spot and I want to take it back 160 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:08,239 Speaker 3: for the world. 161 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: So well, that's a great answer. And also, I mean 162 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: That's a great attitude to have, because Twitter can be 163 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: brutal out there sometimes. If you can take it with 164 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: a grain of salt, I mean, it could be your 165 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: best friend of your worst enemy. I'm glad you're just 166 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: enjoying it so far. And I mean, I can tell 167 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: you so far, the fans above you, and I'm sure 168 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,679 Speaker 1: they always will. But every once in a while, Twitter 169 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: can be a little bit brutal. I've I've I've witnessed 170 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: it myself just as a journalist. 171 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 3: But uh, you just got to learn to like let 172 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 3: it go through it and everything like that, Just look 173 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 3: past it and just keep rolling with your life though. 174 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: And I'm sure that's something the Marlins will start talking 175 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: to you more about as time goes. Oh yeah, but uh, 176 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: speaking of the Marlins in the organization and that call 177 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: you got, I'm not sure who spoke to you on 178 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: the phone, but we myself included in you. I'm sure 179 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: you grew up watching Derek Jeter. How did it feel 180 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: to be drafted by a guy you grew up watching 181 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: and grew up almost running the Major League Baseball in 182 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: terms of being one of the best players that we've 183 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: seen in our generation. 184 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's crazy to think that, like Derek 185 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 3: Jeter is my boss now, Like he's the big man, 186 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 3: you know what I'm saying, Like everything goes by him 187 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 3: or runs through him. So it's pretty sweet to know that. 188 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 3: It was kind of cool because I think, like a 189 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: week before drafting, I obviously I don't know where I'm 190 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: gonna go and everything like that, and I bought a 191 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 3: pair of Jeter's shoes, some Jordan Eleven's, and it's pretty 192 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,559 Speaker 3: sweet that a week later I got drafted by. 193 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 2: The Marlins and he's not my boss, So. 194 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 3: Pretty cool to throw those on and be like, I'm 195 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 3: wearing my boss's shoes right now, you know. 196 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 2: So I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah. 197 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 3: Just the whole aspect of just having Derek Jeter as 198 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 3: my boss is pretty sweet and not something that everybody 199 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 3: could say. 200 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: So I'm I'm just really humbled for that. 201 00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: And I mean, a future Hall of Famer, one of 202 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 1: the all time great, said, you know what, Will Banfield's 203 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: got to be our third pick in this draft. And 204 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:05,959 Speaker 1: I mean that's something, like you said, no one can 205 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: ever take away from you. 206 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, I mean it's crazy just to know 207 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 3: that I guess he wanted me at that third pick 208 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 3: and wanted me as a first catching prospect in the draft. 209 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 3: And it's pretty cool and humbling to know that he 210 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 3: wanted me, I guess that much for me to come 211 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 3: down here and start in their organization and start my 212 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 3: pro career off for. 213 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: Him, absolutely, And can you talk to us a little 214 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: bit about your college recruiting process? So you were committed 215 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: to Vanderbilt. I'm sure you had plenty of other offers. 216 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: What made you decide Vanderbilt? 217 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 3: You know, just the people, I guess in general, and 218 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 3: the coaches were unbelievable, and the facilities were top of 219 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 3: the line, and it was in a really cool city 220 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 3: as well, in Nashville, Tennessee. 221 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 2: And really just my first time visiting Vanderbilt, I. 222 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 3: Kind of stepped on the campus and I knew that, 223 00:09:58,200 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 3: I mean, this was a school for me. 224 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: Coach Corbyn was unbelievable. 225 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 3: And one thing I really liked about him is that 226 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 3: once you were in like the program, the college program 227 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 3: with him, he kind of taught you to be more 228 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 3: than just a baseball player rather than just be a 229 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: baseball player on the field. And he kind of topt 230 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 3: players or show players or guided players to be I 231 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 3: guess gentlemen and actually a real man off the field 232 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 3: as well as well as being the best play baseball 233 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 3: player that can be on the field. So I mean, 234 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,479 Speaker 3: really just the whole aspect of the coaches, the atmosphere, 235 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 3: and the people at Vanderbilt and in Nashville. 236 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: So and some people may argue with me about this, 237 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: but I almost categorized Vanderbilt as a baseball school. I mean, 238 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: basketball is up and down. Football is pretty much just down. 239 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: So you decided to, you know, skip out on three 240 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: or four years of playing baseball in SEC competition on 241 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: a main stage in college baseball. How set were you 242 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: on going there? And how difficult was the decision? Toultimately 243 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: signed with the Marlins. 244 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 2: You know, it was difficult. 245 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 3: I'm just I guess skipping out on that education and 246 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 3: having to I guess like miss out on like the 247 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 3: college life or whatever. But you know, at the end 248 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 3: of the day, baseball is my life. That's really all 249 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 3: I've known. So signing with the Marlins, you know, I'd 250 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 3: kind of like no brainer once everything that came together, 251 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 3: because really just all my life, I've been wanted to 252 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 3: play pro baseball and Winter World Series. So really just 253 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 3: signing that contract was the first step to a bigger 254 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 3: goal of mine, and you know, I mean it it 255 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 3: was hard, just like to say, no, I guess the 256 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 3: Vanderbilt and go different route. But you know, I'm blessed 257 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 3: with everything that they gave me and the scholarship that 258 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 3: they gave me and the opportunity to play at such 259 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 3: a high, elite and high level school such as Vanderbilt 260 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 3: and going to I guess the academic school like that 261 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 3: in a baseball school is pretty sweet. But you know, 262 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 3: like I said, in baseball is my life and that's 263 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 3: all I've really know. So sign of that contract was, 264 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 3: I mean the best day of my life because I 265 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 3: really completed that first step of my ultimate goal. 266 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: And are there any prospects that you already know in 267 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,719 Speaker 1: the Marlin system or that you had any familiarity with? 268 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, I have. 269 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, Connor Scott we've met a couple of times in 270 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 3: the fall in the summer this past summer. 271 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: Awesome. And how how has that been playing with Connor 272 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,719 Speaker 1: Scott and some other players in your draft class? O? 273 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: Sarah Johnson just played with the Golf Coast League as 274 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: well with you and Dalton or Dalton Pompeii, Tristan Pompey. Sorry, 275 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: and how has that been playing with the players in 276 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: your draft class on your team? 277 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 3: You know, it's pretty sweet. Connor Scott is my roommate. Actually, 278 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 3: we're staying up at the Marriott and he's my roommate. 279 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 3: So it's pretty cool to have I guess, a first 280 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 3: rounder with me as well, and a kid that's going 281 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 3: through the same stuff as me through the locker room 282 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 3: and through the organization. So we're two high school is 283 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 3: going through it together and really we ultimately have the 284 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 3: same goal as well. So it's pretty cool to have 285 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 3: I guess, somebody that you've known a little bit before 286 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 3: come in be your roommate and going through the same 287 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 3: thing that you are in the organization. And also with 288 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 3: like Osiris, I played with him a little bit as well, 289 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,559 Speaker 3: so it's also pretty sweet to have another high school 290 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 3: kid like him to come in here and just go 291 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 3: through it as well. 292 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,079 Speaker 2: And it's cool. 293 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 3: Because we're kind of all like playing up the middle. 294 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 3: Connor's the center fielder and then Osirius is the shortstop 295 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 3: and I'm the catcher, so it's pretty cool. Just look 296 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 3: straight up and then that's that's your boys that got 297 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 3: drafted with you. So, and then Tristan Pope as well. 298 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 3: He's a pretty sweet dude too, plays really well. I 299 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 3: mean he can hit really well too. So just going 300 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 3: in the locker room and meeting him for the first 301 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 3: time was pretty sweet because he's a really awesome guy. 302 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 3: And really just everybody in the More Marlins organization have 303 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 3: been really welcoming and we're just looking forward to keep 304 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 3: getting this thing going. 305 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: So and Tristan, if you listen, I'm sorry for calling 306 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: you your brother. I'll get used to that. It's it's 307 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 1: Tristan Pompey Dalton Pompei played for the Blue Jays. That's 308 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: my mistakes. I'm just going to put that out there. 309 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: But he seems like a fun guy on social media 310 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: as well, and I'm sure he's a fun guy to 311 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: play with. And it seems like a really fun draft 312 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: class and a lot to be excited about. 313 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I mean, it's really just exciting just to 314 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 3: go through it. And there is a lot of like 315 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: different types of guys here in his school because we're 316 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 3: all coming together as one, and we're all kind of 317 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 3: just merging as one and all of our personalities coming together. 318 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 3: So it's cool to see how we'll all play out 319 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 3: on the field whilst we're all out there playing. 320 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: And another guy that I was wondering if you had 321 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: a familiarity with in the Marlin system Braxton Garrett. He's 322 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: from Alabama, but he did play for the East Cobb Astros, 323 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: which is based out of Georgia. I know you played 324 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: for Team Elite if I'm not mistaken, but he is. 325 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: He did play in Georgia. I faced him a few 326 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: years back, and I used to think I was a 327 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: pretty decent ballplayer. He struck me out paying a ninety 328 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: four on the inside corner, and I realized, Okay, maybe 329 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: I'm better off on the other side of defense. When 330 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: did you realize that, hey, I can make a career 331 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: out of this thing, And when did you realize that 332 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: you had a future in baseball? 333 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: You know, just you mentioning Braxton Garrett. 334 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 3: I actually played with him on my travel team when 335 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 3: I grew up, when I was sixteen years old at 336 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 3: the East Coy Bash show. 337 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: So it was kind of cool. 338 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 3: It was kind of like a little flashback because once 339 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 3: I got down here to Jupiter, I walked in the 340 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 3: clubhouse and everything I saw him and it was kind 341 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 3: of like a little reunion, you know what I'm saying. 342 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 3: So he kind of like saw me, I saw him, 343 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 3: and we like dapped each other up, and it was 344 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 3: pretty cool that we started out at the same place. 345 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 3: He was just a couple of years older, and we're 346 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 3: coming at the same place right now and now on 347 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 3: the same organization. But really, back to your question, just 348 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 3: when I knew, I guess that this could be, I guess, 349 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 3: a career or something that I could try to play 350 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 3: for a long time or as my job, I'd say, 351 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 3: really just like when I was fourteen, just starting like 352 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 3: I guess, really like just traveling everywhere and starting to 353 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 3: get like college look and everything like that, and just 354 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 3: knowing that I'm playing up with older kids, so they 355 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 3: had big pro scouts come out and see them as well, 356 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 3: Like I played with Braxton Garrett, like I said, and 357 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 3: Will Benson who got drafted that same year as well. 358 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 3: So once I started playing up a little bit and 359 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: having those scouts come in the games and also the 360 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 3: college scouts, I kind of knew that I could try 361 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 3: to do this, I guess as a job or as 362 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 3: a career, And it was kind of cool to like 363 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 3: see them go through it as well, and like try 364 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: to envision myself going through it a couple of years 365 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 3: after them. 366 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: So quite funny you mentioned Will Benson. He was also 367 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: on that East cob Astros team when I faced him, 368 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: and he ran all the way over to our side 369 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: of the field when he was warming up and was 370 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: throwing foul pol to foul pole. I don't know if 371 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: it was to intimidate us or just to warm up 372 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: or anything like that. Do you have any sort of 373 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: pregame things to get you ready? I know I watched 374 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: a Perfect Game video where you talked about what you 375 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: do behind the plate to get your hands ready and 376 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: get yourself ready to receive the ball. What else do 377 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: you do before the game to get ready? 378 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 3: I'd really just say, like listen to music, play my 379 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 3: music on my headphones, and just get like into the 380 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,360 Speaker 3: game in my own mind right before the game starts, 381 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 3: and just like kind of run through the situations that 382 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 3: I hope will play out when the game starts. But 383 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 3: really just I mean listening to music, nothing too much, 384 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 3: just trying to keep everything simple before the game, just 385 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 3: to keep my mind cool and not stress or anything 386 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 3: like that, and just like stay chilled before the game. 387 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: And you mentioned playing when you were fourteen years old, 388 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: was about roughly when you realize you can make a 389 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: career out of this thing. When did you start specializing 390 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: a catcher and when did you realize that that was 391 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: your position? 392 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I started specializing the catcher really the end 393 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 3: of my thirteen I guess season thirteen season, so really 394 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 3: my fourteen season, and my coach gave me a bag 395 00:17:58,320 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 3: one day and was like, we need a catcher. Do 396 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 3: you want to catch? And I saw a bag with 397 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 3: more gear and more equipment, so I was like, sure, 398 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 3: ill cass if I get another bag and more stuff. 399 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 3: So that's kind of how I got a rolling. I 400 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 3: was always like a shortstop third basement and also pitched, 401 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 3: so just I guess transitioning from that into a catcher 402 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 3: was tough at first, I guess for that, I guess 403 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 3: for how young I was just like switching from I 404 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 3: guess the middle of the field corner of the infield 405 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 3: and then going behind the plate. So but after I 406 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 3: mean I got accustomed to it that first year, then 407 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 3: I kind of like ran with it as well and 408 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 3: just found out that this is my position and I'm 409 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 3: gonna keep like getting better at it and keep doing 410 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 3: what I can to like get to know all my 411 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 3: pitchers and everything like that. So it's really turned out 412 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 3: to a position that I love most on the field, 413 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 3: and I just love like the aspect or the whole 414 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 3: aspect of catching as well. 415 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 2: Well. 416 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: You've developed into a pretty don good catcher. I mean 417 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: MLB refer to you as a potential Gold Glove catcher. 418 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: I mean what does that mean to you? And and 419 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: how does it feel to have already so soon have 420 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: these high expectations and how do you how do you 421 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: handle those? 422 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: You know, it's really humbling. 423 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,439 Speaker 3: God again has blessed me with the abilities that he 424 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 3: has set me with, and I'm going to keep doing 425 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 3: everything I can do to glorify his name and just 426 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 3: keep playing hard and working hard. And you know, again 427 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 3: it's it's just humbling to know that I'm even like 428 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 3: being like considered as a Gold Glover or one day 429 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 3: just be a Gloat Gold Glove finalist. So I mean, 430 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna keep working hard and day in and 431 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 3: day I'll do everything I can to get better and 432 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 3: better at my position and being a better person, better 433 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 3: teammate and just a better like man at the end 434 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 3: of the day. 435 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: So, so you mentioned get working harder and harder to 436 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: get better at your position. Is there anything specifically you've 437 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: been working on since you got to pro ball behind 438 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: the plate and any any sort of part of catching 439 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: that you want to fine tune, you know, really. 440 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 3: Just the whole aspect, just like the little things, making 441 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 3: sure the backup throws and all that kind of stuff. 442 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,719 Speaker 3: Just making sure that I'll polish all the little stuff 443 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 3: and then really just like going through it and getting 444 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 3: more reps, catching more and more pitchers. So really, I guess, 445 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 3: just like like I said, the whole aspect, just making 446 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 3: sure that I find tune every little thing that I 447 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 3: can that a good catcher needs, and really just going 448 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 3: through that and then mixing just going from seven innings 449 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 3: to nine innings, just withstanding that nine inning game rather 450 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 3: than that seven inning high school game. 451 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 2: So really it's not too much of a difference. 452 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 3: It's just a little hotter down here in Florida and 453 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 3: then just two innings longer, so it's not too much. 454 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, I actually before you came on, I mentioned 455 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,680 Speaker 1: I was like, how is the heat in that gear? 456 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: Because I grew up in South Florida, trust me, I 457 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: know how brutal it can mean. I don't even have 458 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,040 Speaker 1: gear on. I mean, it's another ten degrees or so. 459 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: And of course the answer you give me is I'm 460 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: just happy to be out there. But I think that 461 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 1: really describes your attitude towards the game. And since you've 462 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: gotten to the Gulf Coast League, I mean, with the 463 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 1: hiring a Gary denbo in the Marlins front office, there's 464 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: been more of a emphasis on player development. Has there 465 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: any Has there been any sort of thing, any emphasis 466 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: from the professional coaches since you've gotten there on an 467 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: attitude or any certain things that you should do. Are 468 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: they kind of just letting you go? 469 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 3: I mean they they kind of lead as they guide 470 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 3: us to be the best player that we can be. 471 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 3: They're trying to do everything that they can bring us 472 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 3: up and make us a better player at position, at 473 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 3: our position and get us better in general. So you know, 474 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 3: they're just they're guiding us to be the best player, 475 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 3: like I said, And you know, it's cool to come 476 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 3: in here from being at like I guess a high 477 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 3: school and coming in here and seeing these like MLB 478 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 3: minds and guys who have played in the league and 479 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 3: who have coached in the league and everything like that, 480 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 3: and see their aspects on every part of the game. 481 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 3: And it's cool to like just like pick their ear 482 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 3: a little bit and just know what they're thinking at 483 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 3: times compared to what other people are thinking. 484 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 2: So it's cool to go in there. 485 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 3: And learn from I guess, the best of the best, 486 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 3: and from coaches that have done this for a while 487 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 3: or players that just got out of it who I've 488 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 3: played for a while and been through the same experiences 489 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 3: that hopefully I'll be going through as well. 490 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: Well, you mentioned learning from the best of the best. 491 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: You got a pretty good catcher up in the bigs 492 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: for the Marlins name j Trio Mute. What do you think. 493 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: How much does it mean to you that you could 494 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: potentially be learning from one of the best catchers in 495 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: the game. 496 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 3: Oh, I mean, it's pretty sweet just knowing that I 497 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 3: have a lot to work like towards too, and just 498 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 3: maybe even one day just like meeting somebody of that 499 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 3: caliber and just like picking the ear, like I said, 500 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 3: and seeing what they're thinking at all times behind the 501 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 3: plate compared to what other people who are thinking. 502 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 2: Like I said, So, I mean, it's pretty. 503 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 3: Sweet that I mean that could happen one day, and 504 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 3: I hope. So I just got to keep keep working 505 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 3: hard and trying to make it through up through these 506 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,640 Speaker 3: mirning leagues and hopefully make it up to the big 507 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 3: stage one day and then get to meet somebody like 508 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 3: that and pick the ear, like I said, and just 509 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,679 Speaker 3: like just talk to them and see what difference they 510 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 3: have in catching rather than I have in catching, and 511 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 3: maybe even like merge some of those to make me 512 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 3: a better player or a better person as well. 513 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: And I think everyone can tell by now this deep 514 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: into the interview that you're a pretty humble guy. But 515 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: you have to recognize that there's some distinguishing factors that 516 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: got you to this point. What do you think are 517 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: those distinguishing factors that make you so good behind the 518 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: plane and make you such a good hitter, What separates 519 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: you from the rest of the bunch. 520 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 3: I think it's just my heart, my love for the game. 521 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 3: And I mean, like I said, this has been my life, 522 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 3: my whole life. I really just like straight away from 523 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 3: like having a summer and everything just going out on 524 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 3: like travel ball trips and going out to different states 525 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 3: to play baseball to get seen and everything like that. 526 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 3: So I'd say, just my heart and then the way 527 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 3: I play the game and how hard I work, because 528 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 3: to me, I'm the hardest worker there is in a clubhouse, 529 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 3: or on a team or anywhere really, because I really 530 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 3: take pride in playing this game. And like I said, 531 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 3: I've been given the opportunity to play this game, So 532 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 3: why not just go out there and do the best 533 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 3: that I can and get better at it each day 534 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 3: and just work as hard as I can to be 535 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 3: the best me on the field. 536 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:32,199 Speaker 1: And going back to your accolades and some of the 537 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: experiences you had, you got to play for Team USA, 538 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: like I said, you played in the Perfect Game All 539 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: American Game, you played in the Under Armour All American Game. 540 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: What was your favorite experience out of those opportunities. 541 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 3: You know, it was really humbling to be in those 542 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 3: situations at the Perfect Game All American Game under armour 543 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 3: and to play for Team USA. But you know, it's 544 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 3: pretty sweet to play for Team USA and have USA 545 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 3: across your chest and know that you're playing for your country. 546 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 2: And it was pretty cool because we. 547 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 3: Went nine to zh and we brought the gold back 548 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 3: back to the US and just having that gold medal 549 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 3: around our next and knowing that we did this for 550 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 3: our country, and we went out there and we played 551 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 3: the best that we can for our country and for 552 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 3: the people back home. So it was pretty sweet to 553 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 3: go out there and just like, I guess, play for 554 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 3: everybody back in the US and playing against kids from 555 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 3: different countries and knowing that they're playing for the same 556 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 3: reason as well. And it was pretty cool that we 557 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:28,239 Speaker 3: were able to go nine to zero and win the 558 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 3: tournament and bring it back to the US. 559 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: So, and you mentioned going nine to zero absolutely dominating 560 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: that tournament. How what was it like playing with so 561 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: many guys that you know that you could probably be 562 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 1: seeing in pro balling in the future. Who is your 563 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: closest friend out of that bunch? 564 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 3: I mean, it was pretty sweet, just like play with 565 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 3: all that great competition and with the whole pitching staff 566 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 3: that we had and all the position players, And it's 567 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 3: pretty cool to go through this draft or this past 568 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 3: draft this past month and see all the guys that 569 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 3: you played with get drafted as well. And I really 570 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 3: I'm not sure if I could pick one. All the 571 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 3: guys were great, but I mean, Bryce Terrain was my 572 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 3: roommate and we kind of hit it off pretty well, 573 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 3: And I mean it was pretty cool to go through 574 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 3: with him as well. And also like Kumar Rocker and 575 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 3: Ethan Hankins, they live like thirty minutes away from me, 576 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 3: So it's pretty cool to have those boys, like my 577 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 3: teammates that I play with and travel ball with Team Elite, 578 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 3: go through it as well and go to a different 579 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 3: country and play for. 580 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 2: Our country, and we're all boys back home. 581 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 3: So it's pretty cool to go out there and see 582 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 3: them while I'm on the field or they're all on 583 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 3: the field pitching, and know that we're all doing this 584 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 3: for one cause. 585 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 2: And we'll bring it back to the hometown. 586 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 1: Well, Kumar Rocker is a guy that was also committed 587 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: to Vanderbilt. He will be attending Vanderbilt. Did he give 588 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: you a hard time at all for skipping out and 589 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: decided to sign with the Marlins or was he just 590 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: proud of you and happy for you? 591 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 2: You know a little bit of both. 592 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 3: It was kind of bittersweet a little bit, because you know, 593 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 3: we always wanted to play together, but we knew what 594 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 3: was coming up and that we were both going to 595 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 3: be considered to be drafted, whether it be drafted in 596 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 3: the right spot or going to Vanderbilt, so obviously went 597 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,239 Speaker 3: in a different direction. But I mean a little bit 598 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 3: of both. Like I said again, it was kind of 599 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 3: kind of a little bit like me wishing I could 600 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 3: catch him again and him wishing he could throw to 601 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 3: me again. So really just both ways. But in the end, 602 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 3: I know that he's going to be just fine at Vanderbilt. 603 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 3: And I mean he's gonna get better in these next 604 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 3: three years, and he's gonna come out better than ever 605 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 3: in the next three years and then show everybody what 606 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 3: he's got as well. 607 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: Hey, and you never know, Marlins can always use some 608 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: pitching and down the road, I would not be upset 609 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,439 Speaker 1: with picking Kumar Rocker because I know I agree wholeheartedly 610 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: with you. I think he's going to develop into one 611 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: heck of a pitcher over at Vanderbilt. Is they always 612 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: do a great job developing their players. And I'm sure 613 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: that's something that really attracted you. 614 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, for sure. 615 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 3: Really just I mean that would be pretty split in 616 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 3: three years that happened, or if anymore my boys got drafted, 617 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 3: especially to the Marlins. So we can have a little reunite, 618 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 3: Sash and just like dap each other up and know 619 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,199 Speaker 3: that we're in the same organization now that we're finally 620 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 3: playing with each other again. 621 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 1: Well, that would be amazing. And one thing I like 622 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: to ask players because I think it kind of explains 623 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,439 Speaker 1: a lot about the way they approach the game, what's 624 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: your favorite statistic? 625 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 2: I have to say, I guess just the RBIs. 626 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 3: I think that's a pretty good statistic because whether it 627 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 3: be a sack fly or you're not trying to do 628 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 3: too much. You're not trying to be just a you 629 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 3: person on the team, and you're not trying to just 630 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 3: try to hit a home run all the time. You're 631 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 3: always just trying to like do a situation, whether it 632 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 3: be hit a ground ball to the right side to 633 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 3: get somebody in from third, or hit a sack fly 634 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 3: to get somebody in, or whether it be in a 635 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 3: clutch situation and you get a double or get a 636 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 3: big hit and you score a couple of runs and 637 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 3: you get those RBIs. So I think RBIs can really 638 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 3: tell a lot about a person or a player just 639 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 3: by the way that they play the game, if they 640 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 3: play it right, or if they play it for themselves, 641 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 3: or if they're completed situations that they need to do 642 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 3: at the right time, So I think that's a pretty 643 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 3: cool stat. 644 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: I was wondering if you were going to say cott 645 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: stealing because you did go three for three in your 646 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: debut throwing runners out. How was that experience And do 647 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 1: you think they were trying to test the new guy 648 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:25,239 Speaker 1: a little bit? 649 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 2: Uh? 650 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it was pretty sweet to go out there. 651 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 3: I think it was my first three innings catching of 652 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 3: my debut. Each inning the first inning somebody try to 653 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 3: steal the second inning and third inning, so it's pretty 654 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 3: cool to run out there and film one of God 655 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 3: a little bit. 656 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 2: And I mean, I love when people try. 657 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 3: To steal on me because I love having little action 658 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 3: and trying to throw it down a second and catch them. 659 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 3: And I mean, it was pretty cool to go out 660 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 3: there my first pro game and throw three people out. 661 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 3: And it's pretty awesome too that you have really good 662 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 3: arms on the mound that can get you the ball 663 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 3: every time at a pretty good velocity, you know what 664 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 3: I'm saying. So having them throw like a fastball up 665 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 3: or whether it be a slider outside and I still 666 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 3: have good footwork, it was pretty sweet to go out 667 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 3: there and I throw three guys out of my first 668 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 3: bro career per game. 669 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: Well, you meant you meant you mentioned the footwork. You 670 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: pop a one seven four, which is the highest I've seen. 671 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you've gotten measured. I didn't even 672 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 1: better time. I wouldn't be surprised. What do you think 673 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: makes your pop time so impressive? And what is the 674 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: keys to when you know you're quick to throwing a 675 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: runner out? 676 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 2: Uh? You know, I think it's just my arm strength 677 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 2: and also, just like I said, my footwork. 678 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 3: And once you work, I guess hard enough and you 679 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 3: take a certain number of reps and it kind of 680 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 3: like gets in your mind as muscle memory. So really 681 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 3: just like know where my feet have to go at 682 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 3: all times, and knowing that if I do batch the 683 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 3: ball up a little bit, or if it is like 684 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 3: a slider change up a little slower pitch and they 685 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 3: have a good jump, I know that I can try 686 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 3: to rely on my arm and still have good feet 687 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 3: work to get it there if they have a good job. 688 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 3: But whether it be they're already halfway there and I'm 689 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 3: just now getting the ball, I know that I can 690 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 3: still stay in line. I though a goold throw down 691 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 3: a second and have a chance to get them and. 692 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: Those are all the keys to being successful catching. I 693 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,280 Speaker 1: think that's what makes JT. Realmuto so good. And I've 694 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: seen some comparisons made between you two, even before you 695 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: were selected by the Marlins in terms of an athletic 696 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: catcher with a about the same build behind the plate, 697 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: and it's a pretty good company to be compared to. JT. 698 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: Also talking about what you were talking about with in 699 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,959 Speaker 1: high school with how you handle situations driving in runs. 700 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: You made it to the final four in your state tournament, 701 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: if I'm not mistaken, Is. 702 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 2: That correct, Yes, sir, Yeah, a final four, and so. 703 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: A lot of I was looking back and you came 704 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: up clutch in a lot of situations. How do you 705 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:49,880 Speaker 1: handle that clutch situation? Is there a certain mentality or 706 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: approach you have at the plate, and how do you 707 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: handle the pressure in those situations? 708 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 3: You know, I'll try to just flow my mind down 709 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 3: and think that I'm up there for a reason, and 710 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 3: I'm the best player at that time to be up 711 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 3: at that whether it be me or my boy that's 712 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 3: hitting behind me at the four hole, or whether it 713 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 3: be the kid in front of me or the nine 714 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 3: hole hitter. I know that I'm always gonna have faith 715 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 3: with them. So I really just have faith in myself 716 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 3: and whether if I make the big here or I 717 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 3: get the big here, or. 718 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 2: If not, I know that everything happens for a reason. 719 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 3: So really, just going up there, I'll just try to 720 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 3: slow my mind down and I try to see every 721 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 3: pitch and make sure that I'm just I have the 722 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 3: right approach. I'm not trying to do too much, and 723 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 3: I'm just trying to get a base, not to put 724 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 3: it on the next man. 725 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: And I mean, you hit over four hundred, you'd hit 726 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 1: seven home runs. I think I saw over thirty maybe 727 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: forty RBIs how did you handle being pitched around a 728 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:44,719 Speaker 1: little bit? And I know that's something you might not 729 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: have to deal with as much in pro ball, but 730 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 1: as you climb in the ranks and continue to make 731 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 1: a name for yourself, that might be something that might 732 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: be reintroduced back into your life. And how did you 733 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 1: handle being pitched around? And how was what was your 734 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: approach like at the plate? And how do you think 735 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: that'll change into pro ball with your approach? 736 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 3: You know, I mean it did suck at times getting 737 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 3: pitched around. So I mean you go up there and 738 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 3: you get in there, I'd get intentionally walked I think 739 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 3: like three or four times one game, and you know, 740 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 3: I mean it's really just respect though, So. 741 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 2: I mean I'd rather be walked. 742 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 3: Like that than just be thrown down the middle, I 743 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 3: guess because I have respect. I guess what my name 744 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 3: and how I've hit before, so it's I guess it's 745 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 3: humbling to be intentionally wald but you know, at the 746 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 3: same time, it's kind of kind of suck to be 747 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 3: pitched around and throwing a bunch off speed and everything, 748 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 3: but that's all part of the game, you know, So 749 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 3: really just I guess going through that facing pictures that 750 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 3: were trying to throw around me and everything. 751 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 2: I mean, like I said, it's part of the game. 752 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 2: So I'm just going up there just. 753 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 3: Trying to have the same approach every time, just trying 754 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 3: to get on base anyway I can. 755 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: And that's pretty much all you can do. But I 756 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 1: think the one positive a pro ball is you see 757 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 1: these guys trying to steal on you steal on the 758 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: eighteen year old young guy, and you showed them they 759 00:33:57,880 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: can't do that, and I think they're gonna go right 760 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 1: after you use it. You might have to teach them 761 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: a lesson pretty quickly that they can't do that either. 762 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, just just try to like make the transition 763 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 3: from going from high school pitching to this pro ball pitching, 764 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 3: and hopefully soon we'll get click and we'll get the 765 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 3: transition really nice, and hopefully we'll get I guess a 766 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,880 Speaker 3: pretty good start going to my head and career as 767 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:21,759 Speaker 3: well well. 768 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 1: As we're about to wind down now. I'm glad you 769 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,720 Speaker 1: brought that up. What has been the biggest difference between 770 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:29,320 Speaker 1: high school pitching and pro ball, other than the obvious 771 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,759 Speaker 1: being velocity, but the top level high school pitching you 772 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,760 Speaker 1: faced her, even if it was in those USA games 773 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,799 Speaker 1: and in those Perfect Game All American games, is it 774 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: just the ability to throw multiple pitches for a striker? 775 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: What's the big determining factor and the difference between the 776 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 1: pro ball pitching you've seen so far and the elite 777 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 1: high school pitching you saw. 778 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 2: You know, I think it's pitchability. 779 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 3: A lot of high schoolers or high school pitching, it 780 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 3: wasn't obviously like what I'm seeing now, I guess in 781 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 3: pro ball, so it was like the eighty mile per 782 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,800 Speaker 3: hours maybe in the seventies, and then. 783 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 2: A ca you get that like ninety mile power arm. 784 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 3: But really I'd say the pitch ability to be able 785 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 3: to know what pitches to throw and what situation and 786 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 3: uh what I guess, like what speeds to throw as well, 787 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,280 Speaker 3: and whether you throw a fastball, curveball, slider. 788 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 2: Change up, sink or anything like that. 789 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 3: So really I think again like pitchability and knowing how 790 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 3: to pitch the hitters and not just throwing a fastball 791 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 3: down the middle or on the outside corner, but knowing 792 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 3: how to throw the ball inside and throwing all your 793 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 3: off speed pitches for strikes as well. 794 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 1: And you mentioned pitch ability, A lot of that comes 795 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 1: from the catcher and the pitches that he decides to call. 796 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,239 Speaker 1: How have you developed your ability to call a game 797 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 1: and how do you study and improve upon that ability? 798 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 2: Uh? 799 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,120 Speaker 3: You know, I've I've always really called my game my 800 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 3: whole life, whether it be I guess at high school 801 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 3: at some point or just going through travel ball, I 802 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:52,759 Speaker 3: called my own game. So really just having I guess 803 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:55,960 Speaker 3: the background or just like calling my own game kind 804 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:58,600 Speaker 3: of helped me, I guess to now call my own 805 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 3: game and pro ball. And you know, you can always 806 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:05,520 Speaker 3: get better at your position at the whole aspect of 807 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 3: the game of baseball. So I'm just gonna keep studying 808 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 3: up and knowing how to attack hitters at what points 809 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 3: and what pictures to throw when I need to. 810 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 1: And that's Will Banfield. Everyone. I wish I could keep 811 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 1: you longer. I mean, I could just keep churning out 812 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:23,600 Speaker 1: these questions, answer every question perfectly. It's hard to believe 813 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 1: you're eighteen years old. I mean, you're answering these questions 814 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 1: with the poise of a thirty five year old, fifteen 815 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:31,360 Speaker 1: year vet in the league. And I can till you 816 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:32,920 Speaker 1: have a bright future ahead of you. You have the 817 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:34,880 Speaker 1: right mentality, and I can promise you we're all going 818 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: to be rooting for you. 819 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you very much, and we're just getting started 820 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 3: and I can't wait to go through my pro career 821 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:43,719 Speaker 3: and keep getting better day in and day out. So 822 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 3: I really appreciate it, and thank you very much for 823 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:46,520 Speaker 3: having me. 824 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 1: And real quick before we go, tell all the fans 825 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,319 Speaker 1: where they could follow you. On Twitter, you. 826 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:57,000 Speaker 3: Can follow me at Will Banfield on Twitter and on 827 00:36:57,040 --> 00:37:00,399 Speaker 3: Instagram you can just type in Will Bam Phil. I'm 828 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:03,840 Speaker 3: not really sure what the exact name is for the 829 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:05,360 Speaker 3: underscores and everything like that. 830 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: But I should have prepared you for that. I'm sorry. 831 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:14,200 Speaker 1: It's all ready anyway. Will Banfield shouldn't be hard to 832 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:16,320 Speaker 1: find him. Still haven't gotten the blue check, but I 833 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,239 Speaker 1: think it's coming soon. But thank you so much for 834 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,799 Speaker 1: joining us. Well, really excited to keep following you. 835 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:23,120 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you very much, and thank you again for 836 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 3: having me, and I'll look forward to getting started and 837 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 3: going through this pro career. 838 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: Thanks well