BURG Sports Network

 

 

 

 

 

1. Who was your role model growing up?

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A:  My parents.  They taught me what it meant to work hard towards my dreams and to never give up.  They always put my goals and dreams ahead of their own and there was nothing they wouldn't do to help put me in the best position they could in order for me to achieve success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Who was your favorite baseball player and why?

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A : Derek Jeter.  Shortstop was my first love and he was the best there was for a time.  I always looked up to him and tried to model my game after him.  He is a true professional on and off the field.

 

3. When did you know you wanted to be a professional baseball player?

 

A : I wanted to be a professional baseball player ever since I was a little kid.  It was always a dream of mine, but the idea of it didn't start to become a possible reality until my sophomore year of college when I began getting some interest from scouts as a shortstop.

 

4. What was it like to play for Coach Cassidy at Broad Run High School?

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A : I loved playing for Coach Cassidy.  He is a true leader of men and helped shape the work ethic that I always tried to bring to the game. He always put his players first.  There was a time in high school where I wasn't sure if there would be an opportunity for me to go on to play in college, but coach Cassidy continued to reach out to schools up and down the coast at every level to try and help me find a team.

He always had my back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. What was your favorite game (you played in) during you’re your high school career at Broad Run? What was it like playing on your Senior 

Day at Broad Run?

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A: I can't recall one game that was my favorite from my time at Broad Run.  I really enjoyed my Senior year when I got to hit in the leadoff spot which was a lot of fun. 

 

6. What was it like when you decided to commit to play college baseball at Saint  Peter’s University?

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A : Playing college baseball was always a dream of mine.  I did not get much interest from colleges in high school so when Saint Peters offered

me a scholarship I felt very fortunate that they would take a chance on me.  I accepted a few hours later and the rest is history.

 

7. What was it like playing in your first college game and what was your favorite game (you played in) in college?

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A : My first college game was at Longwood University.  I found out a few days before that I was going to be the starting Shortstop on opening

day my freshman year.  My parents were able to make it down for the series which was special and I think I held my own on the field!  It is

hard to choose just one game as "the favorite".  There were a lot of meaningful times, but maybe the day that I broke the All-Time hits record.  My parents were in attendance there as well and it was pretty special being able to share that moment with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. What was it like when you got drafted by the New York Yankees in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB Draft?

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A : A dream come true.  A chance to play professionally in the New York Yankees organization-It doesn't get much better than that.

 

9. What was it like playing in the minor leagues for the first part of your pro-baseball career with the Gulf Coast Yankees and the Staten Island Yankees?

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A : The Gulf Coast Yankees were the first team that I played on as a professional. It was a fun time, but the Gulf Coast League is tough.  You spend all morning training and then have games at noon every day in the Florida heat.  Staten Island was a really cool place to play.  Their stadium is one of the best in minor league baseball.  You can see the New York City skyline out past centerfield.

 

10. As you moved up the ladder going from Single A to Double A and Triple A what was it like playing for the Trenton Thunder and the Scranton/Wilkes- Barre RailRiders?  

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A : very level there is an adjustment period.  The Trenton Thunder are one of the more well known minor league affilates in baseball so it was exciting getting to wear that uniform.  Playing with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders was the most fun I've had playing baseball.  I was playing really well on a really good team (we won the championship that year).  Playing in AAA is a cool experience because most rosters are made up

of a lot of guys who have big league experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. We see a lot of former players come to minor league games...was there a former Yankee that helped you or inspired you while you were playing in the minors at the time?

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A : I was fortunate playing in the New York Yankees system to meet a lot of all-time greats even before making it to New York myself- Derek Jeter, Andy Pettite, and Mariano Rivera to name a few.  When I first met Derek Jeter I was as star struck as you could be.  He was trying to make conversation, but I was just in awe.  I couldn't help it-he was my childhood idol!

 

12.  What was it like being invited to your first MLB Spring Training?

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A : I was actually never invited to Major League spring training with the Yankees.  In 2016 they invited me over to be in the bullpen for a few games.  I finally got into a game towards the end of spring training and threw really well getting the save against the Blue Jays. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. What was it like when you got called up to the Major Leagues?

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A : he first 6 weeks of the season I had been throwing well for Scranton.  There was a game in New York where they had to use a lot of relievers because the starter that night struggled.  After our game I went back to my apartment and had just ordered Dominos pizza when I got the call from our manager in AAA.  He said "You're going to the Big Apple".  Ill never forget that call the rest of my life.  I immediately called my parents who happened to be in town for my game in Scranton.  When you work for so many years and after coming back from three elbow surgeries-it was special.

 

14. What was it like to make your Major League Debut against the Arizona Diamondback’s on the road and have your first career strike out against the Diamondback’s All Star First Baseman Paul Goldschmidt?

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A : My major league debut did not go exactly as planned, but it was an experience I will never forget.  The whole inning was like an out of body experience which is maybe why I was so wild! Of course, striking out Paul Goldschmidt is pretty cool for your first career strikeout.  You don't really think about it in the moment, but looking back it's a pretty cool thing to be able to say that.  He is a great player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15. What was it like to pitch in Yankee Stadium for the first time, and wear the legendary Yankee pinstripes? Did you visit Monument Park

before you first game?

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A : Pitching in Yankee Stadium was great.  It was the highlight of my baseball career.  Getting to put the pinstripes on is what you dream of as a kid.  I can't really put it into words what it meant to be able to put them on.  I didn't make it out to monument park before my first game. There was too much going on to have the time to do that! 

 

16. When you got called up to the majors was there a teammate who took you under their wing during your rookie season?

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Brett Gardner always went out of his way to make me feel included.  As the new guy sometimes it was intimidating talking with some of the veteran guys.  Dellin Betances also was always very helpful and looked out for me as well.

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17. What was it like to have Joe Girardi as your manager, and what was it like to have teammates with names like C.C Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Carlos Beltran that you saw on TV growing up but then having them as team mates?

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A : I grew up watching all of these guys, including Joe Girardi, play.  To be a part of the team competing with them was awesome.

 

18.  What was your favorite part about being a New York Yankee?

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A : It is too hard to pick one thing.  Getting to call Yankee Stadium my home for a time is definitely one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19. What was it like to be part of the Chicago Cubs and take part in their spring training?

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A : I was claimed off waivers by the Cubs on the morning of Game 7 the day they won the world series.  The Yankees will always be number one in my heart, but for the Cubs to believe in me and pick me up that morning before the biggest game in their franchises history was exciting.

 

20. What advice do you have for freshman that want to play baseball at Broad Run, or at Saint Peters University?

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A : Set your goals high and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.  Work hard, but always remember to have fun. 

 

21. What was it like to be named to the Saint Peters Athletics Hall of Fame?

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A : Getting inducted into the Saint Peters Hall of Fame was an honor.  There was a time that I wasn't sure that anyone would give me the

chance to play college baseball.  I believe that hard work and a love for the game helped me reach some of the milestones that I did while

at Saint Peters.