#35, RHP
Coach Birkbeck came down and saw me in Georgia, I think that
was the first time he saw me, back when Stricklin was here. He was the one that kind of put the foot
forward and got me on the road to Kent, as did my high school pitching coach
because he went here and he played for Coach Birkbeck. He knows what a great coach he is and what he
can do with pitchers.
Every other school that I looked at didn’t have
everything. They had some things, but
not the full package, and Kent State did and that’s why I chose it.
You were drafted in
the 21st round this past June.
What was that experience like?
I was currently graduating from high school. My dad had my phone and I guess everyone knew
before I did. I was walking out of
graduation and everyone kept saying congratulations. I thought they were just congratulating me on
graduating, but they didn’t say anything to anyone else behind me or in front
of me, so I didn’t really know what was going on. Then they told me 21st round and I
still didn’t know what they were talking about.
Finally when I got out to see my parents they told me that I was drafted
by the Diamondbacks in the 21st round and I put two-and-two
together.
Everyone was congratulating me and it was unbelievable. Then I called the Diamondbacks and talked to
them and they said they drafted me and that we would negotiate the money and
stuff a little bit later, and to embrace the moment and congratulations. That was probably the best thing that ever
happened to me in baseball so far was getting drafted.
What swayed your
decision to come to college and to not go pro?
I talked to a lot of people.
I talked to guys who went straight out of high school and guys who went
to school. I think for me it was just
that my body wasn’t ready. I think that
mentally I was ready, but not physically.
I was only 150lbs, not able to go through a professional season, which
is more intensive than a college season.
Everyone said the college experience is something you need and it will
allow you to get bigger, better and stronger.
That, along with Coach Birkbeck, I knew he would get me ready to go
better than the 21st round.
How did you think
fall ball went?
Fall ball was great.
I think I did okay. I think I
could have done better but I showed well.
The coaches said I showed well and I might have a fight for a starting
position on the weekend, which is pretty cool as a freshman. That just gives me more incentive to work
harder. Overall as a team I think we
looked really good. The swings got
better as we progressed through the fall.
Seeing the pitchers live every day helped them get their timing down and
shake the rust off from the summer and get back in to things. I think we’re a real factor in Omaha this
year.
What is the biggest
thing you think you bring to this team?
I would say intensity.
I’ll give it my all every time.
I’m never going to take a day off.
I’m just trying to make the guys around me better along with
myself. If I can help in anyway, if
that’s in the bullpen, starting, cheering, anything, I’ll be glad to do it.
What’s the one area
you want to work on the most this winter?
Putting weight on. I
need to get bigger. I already put 11lbs
on so hopefully I’ll keep that up. Just
getting stronger so my body doesn’t hurt as easily and I can withstand a little
bit more. Strengthening my arm and just
working with Coach Birkbeck on pitching in general.
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