Chuck Wasserstrom | MLB Trade Rumors

Kyle Lewis (Mercer University) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 21, 2016 at 10:33am CDT

MLBTR continues its Draft Prospect Q&A series in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11; we’ve already spoken with Oklahoma’s Alec Hansen and Louisville’s Corey Ray.

Centerfielder Kyle Lewis is doing everything he can to put himself and Mercer University on the baseball map. The 6’4”, 210-pound junior has scouts flocking to Macon, GA, to watch the Southern Conference star play – and was named to the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List this week.

Undrafted out of high school, the Snellville, GA, product burst onto the scene during the summer of 2014 by earning Great Lakes League Player of the Year honors. Last year, he nearly won the Southern Conference Triple Crown (batting .367 with 17 homers and 56 RBI) before putting together a stellar summer in the Cape Cod League.

Lewis entered the 2016 season ranking as the No. 8 overall prospect for the draft according to both MLB.com and Baseball America. Last week, ESPN.com’s Keith Law listed him as the seventh-best prospect for the draft, calling him “an athletic centerfielder with real power in his wrists. That’s a rarity in the draft for a position player who projects to stay up the middle.”

Lewis began this week ranking in the national Top 5 in homers, total bases, RBI, slugging percentage, walks, on-base percentage, runs scored and batting average. He took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR:

Chuck Wasserstrom: Let’s start out by talking about Mercer – which isn’t exactly a baseball hotbed. You have the chance to become the first 1st-round pick in school history. Is that important to you?

Kyle Lewis: “Yes it is. It would be something exciting to say that I came from a small school and accomplish that type of thing. I take a lot of pride in being able to represent my school and be one of the faces for the school. So that would be something definitely exciting for me.”

Can you tell me a little bit about your baseball background? You went undrafted out of high school. Is it safe to say you played other sports growing up?

“I played baseball, but I played a lot more basketball. That was kind of my big thing – playing basketball coming up. I played baseball as well during the season, but I never played any summer baseball or anything like that until going into my senior year of high school. That year, I played my first year of full travel baseball – and I was able to have some success in that. So going into my senior year, I started picking up training and things like that in order to start working on my skills and be able to pursue a college scholarship and potentially get drafted.”

What types of things were you doing during the summer instead of playing travel baseball?

“I played basketball in the summer time. So I had to make a choice which one I wanted to play in college. After talking to some people around the baseball world, they told me if I was to practice more year-round and hone in on my skills, that I’d be able to be a pretty good player. That’s when I decided to commit to it.”

You had decisions to make in high school between pursuing paths in either basketball or baseball. How serious were you about going the basketball route in college?

“We had received interest calls in basketball. The Naval Academy was one of the bigger ones who wanted me to play for them. I did some workouts for mid-major schools. But after the season I went ahead and told my basketball coach to cancel those. At that point, I wanted to concentrate on baseball.”

So now you’ve decided you were going to play baseball in college. What other schools were showing you interest?

“Furman … Georgia State … Kennesaw State … Savannah State … and the University of Miami came on kind of late.”

It sounds like mostly schools closer to home.

“It was just a lot of local schools. By the time I got on the scene, most schools were already working on their next class and were done with my class. So it was tough to get interest from the major schools unless I would pursue a walk-on spot. But I wanted the scholarship, so I settled for the mid-major.”

Nothing wrong with that. You had your opportunity and ran with it.

“I tried to go where I’d be able to play and be able to get on the field and be a priority guy. That’s the biggest thing as far as picking a college. Where are you going to be able to learn and be able to pick up on stuff? Where are you going to be able to play? And I felt like Mercer presented a good opportunity for that as well as being able to potentially make regionals and play on a national stage.”

Your freshman year, you went through the typical first-year growing pains. Then things kind of exploded for you last year – and you never looked back. What happened?

“Going into my freshman year, I had to learn to sit on the bench and watch. I never had to do that before. A lot of that stuff was a mental challenge for me. I had to figure out how to learn and how to observe games from the sideline. I had to figure out what to do when my number was called. I got a lot of pinch-hit opportunities and a lot of pinch-running opportunities. Towards the end of the year, I started to figure it out – and I was able to start the last ten games. Going into that summer, I had a lot of momentum – and I was able to carry that momentum into the summer. I played in the Great Lakes League after my freshman year, and I was able to do really well up there. And I got called up to the Cape Cod League to play in the playoffs. That just gave me the confidence that I needed going into my sophomore year – when you saw the explosion.”

I’d have to think that sitting and watching as a freshman helped you learn the game, although I’m guessing you hated it at the time.

“(Laughing) Yeah, yeah, yeah. I definitely hated it. But from talking to people and talking to my family, they just said I should just see what guys ahead of you are doing that you’re not doing. Or what are they doing as far as preparation and extra work and things like that. And I was fortunate to watch a lineup full of seniors, so I was able to look up to guys who were 23 years old and had been through it. And they had made it to regionals. I was able to pick up on their tendencies and see what they do, and I was able to apply it to my own game.”

Growing up in Georgia, were you a big Braves fan?

“Yes I was – back when they had Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones.”

Those were your guys?

“Those were definitely my guys.”

Anybody growing up that you tried to model yourself after?

“The biggest person in high school that I watched was Adam Jones. I started watching him my junior year … just sit there watching YouTube videos of him. Then I’d try to embody myself after that as much as I could. I like the way he plays. I like the way he carries himself.”

Is he someone you want to be compared to?

“I think it’s kind of comparable as far as an athletic centerfielder with a smooth swing. I wouldn’t say that I try to be exactly like him, because I want to be my own person. But I can say that would be a nice comparison to have.”

I’ve also seen you called a right-handed version of Jason Heyward.

“I can see that. I like to take pride in my defense as well, and I think it’s overlooked sometimes. But I definitely take pride in my defense.”

[Continue reading after the break for more.]

Photo courtesy of Mercer University.

I know it’s hard to project, but where do you see yourself a few years down the line both position-wise and in the batting order?

“I see myself in centerfield and batting 3-4-5 in the order – maybe 2, if needed. But definitely somewhere in the middle of the order. I see myself as a game changer.”

I want to go back to your sophomore year, when things started clicking. What changed for you, other than now having some experience?

“For me, it was all becoming a student of the game. I started to understand how to influence counts. Understand when to look for certain pitches. Before that, I was just up there swinging and trying to let my athleticism work. Being able to expect what pitches were coming on certain counts, and what pitchers were trying to do to you based on your last couple at-bats. And being able to make adjustments pitch-to-pitch.”

Then you went to Cape Cod, you were now using a wood bat, and the momentum continued. Baseballs must have been looking like grapefruits to you – and nothing changed. Does that sound about right?

“Yeah. Wood bats are bats. You swing them the same way. I was fortunate to get some good quality wood from some of my teammates, which helped. I don’t try to think that there’s a difference between a wood and a metal bat. You just have to swing it and find the barrel.”

I know the draft is a couple months away – and you’ve never been through the draft process before – but is it hard not to think about the draft?

“I think it’s something you definitely think about. It’s not a secret or anything. It’s something you discuss. Every game, I just try to get locked into the moment and locked into the task at hand – which is to try to do as good as I can each day. At the end of the day, nothing is solidified. Nothing is set in stone. So I’m going out there every day and perform to the best of my abilities and try to help my team win games. If we win games, we get to play longer. That’s how I try and look at it. But it’s definitely something I think about – but you can’t let it overwhelm you.”

You sound really grounded, and you’re definitely driven. Was there a point where you decided ‘I want to be a high-round draft pick?”

“Absolutely. Once I went up to the Great Lakes League and got the Player of the Year there, I started to feel like I could really be something special. At that point, I really started to believe in myself. I really started to hone in on figuring out what the best guys are doing from a work standpoint. I started to look up what major league players were doing in their (batting practice) routines. I needed to start to embody that and pick up on that type of stuff. At that point, that’s where I started to see my work ethic go up.”

Confidence is good, isn’t it!

“Yes it is. Confidence is a big thing.”

If you are indeed a first-round draft pick, how exciting is it going to be to receive that phone call?

“I honestly can’t even imagine the feeling. But if I’m fortunate enough for that to happen, my family will be right there with me. And everybody who has been there from the beginning will be there. We’ll all be there celebrating … You always want to be a first-round pick. That’s definitely the dream. You never know how things go, but that’s definitely what I’m shooting for.”

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Photo courtesy of Mercer Athletics.

Chuck Wasserstrom spent 25 years in the Chicago Cubs’ front office – 16 in Media Relations and nine in Baseball Operations. Now a freelance writer, his behind-the-scenes stories of his time in a big league front office can be found on www.chuckblogerstrom.com.

Matt Klentak Discusses Dartmouth College: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 20, 2016 at 10:48am CDT

MLBTR continues a series of interviews with top baseball executives about their college years. We’ll ask about why those chose their school, memorable moments, their favorite professor, important connections made, college learnings they still use today, etc.

We’ve already spoken to Reds GM Dick Williams and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer. Next up in our question-and-answer series is Philadelphia Phillies Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak – a graduate of Dartmouth College.

* * * * *

Matt, thanks for talking to MLBTR. You earned an economics degree from Dartmouth College in 2002. Why did you choose Dartmouth?

“There were a few things about Dartmouth that jumped out right away. No. 1, just walking around campus – it’s one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. On top of that, it obviously had a very strong academic reputation. And Coach (Bob) Whalen did an excellent job recruiting me and selling me on their baseball program. So it was really a combination of the three factors – the campus and the community environment, the academics, and the baseball program.”

What other schools were you considering?

“I looked at a few different schools. I initially looked at some schools down south with top baseball programs, but I ultimately realized I wasn’t going to play much there. I might have been able to go there and make the team, but I wasn’t going to see a lot of action on the field. Once I realized that, I started to shift my focus to programs in the northeast where I might be able to play more regularly. I looked at a variety of the schools in the northeast, but ultimately settled on Dartmouth.”

Being in an Ivy League school, academics definitely took precedence over athletics. What was it like playing in that type of an environment – where it was school first?

“My dad always talked to me about the fact that baseball wasn’t – by itself – going to open up doors for me. It was going to be a combination of baseball and academics. He said it to encourage me to take school seriously back in junior high and high school. It turned out that he was right. Ultimately, my success at Dartmouth was a combination of baseball and academics. Managing the Dartmouth workload and playing Division I baseball – that was a challenge. It really forced the student-athletes to be disciplined and to prioritize their time management. The academic demands required a great deal of studying and homework. And the baseball program had its own demands. But I think that the student-athletes learned about the importance of time management.”

Thinking back to your freshman campaign, what do you remember about your first year on campus?

“It was exciting. It was the first time I was living away from home, and everything was new. Meeting lots of new people. Learning about what it takes to play baseball at the Division I level. Learning how to manage academics and baseball at the same time. Everything was new. Everything was exciting. And there were challenges you were facing for the first time in your life that you never experienced living at home. Ultimately, it can be very satisfying when you find you achieved some success.”

You earned your degree in economics, and that has suited you well in baseball. If you had to choose all over again, would that have been your major – or would you have gone another route?

“I think I would have chosen economics. I think any major is going to teach a student to think critically and to improve their writing skills. There were a lot of majors that would have interested me. I think economics was the right balance for me of objective thinking and mathematics. It was the right balance for my interests and my skill set.”

What important connections did you make at Dartmouth that helped you as moved forward into a baseball career?

“First and foremost, I’m still to this day very close to my college coach, Bob Whalen – and I stay in touch with him. Whenever I can, I get out to see the Dartmouth baseball team play. While I was there, I was teammates with Bryn Alderson – who works for the Mets. His father is Sandy Alderson. I had a chance to get to know the Alderson family, and they have been helpful to me in my baseball career. I met Jim Beattie while I was there; at the time, he was a general manager. As importantly as anything, I became friends – and in many cases, best friends – with my teammates, who I’m still in touch with to this day. A number of them work in the baseball industry.”

Any players on opposing teams that you came across that went on to become important connections for you?

“There’s a nice group of baseball executives that played in the Ivy League at the same time. I’m not trying to just name GMs, but there’s (Colorado GM) Jeff Bridich, who played at Harvard. (Cleveland GM) Mike Chernoff played at Princeton. (Oakland GM) David Forst was at Harvard. (Boston GM) Mike Hazen was at Princeton. (Oakland assistant GM) Dan Kantrovitz was at Brown. And (MLB senior VP) Peter Woodfork was at Harvard as well. That’s a pretty good group.”

***Read more after the break …

Were there lessons you learned in college that you still utilize today?

“Learning how to think critically … learning how to problem solve … time management skills … and learning how to write. That’s a skill that I developed both in college and in my job with the Commissioner’s Office right after that.”

What were your most memorable experiences that you can share?

“Both my sophomore and junior year, we won the Red Rolfe Division. The 2000 team – that was the first time that Dartmouth had won the division, and that was pretty exciting. And then to follow that up in 2001, we forced a one-game playoff against Brown – and then beat Brown to advance to the championship series. Those were two pretty exciting years for us.”

You spent three seasons as Dartmouth’s starting shortstop. Were you always a shortstop or did you also play other positions?

“Back when I was in high school, I had to decide whether I wanted to be a pitcher or focus more on playing every day. Ultimately, I decided to focus on playing shortstop so I could be on the field more frequently. It was a good decision. I was never the most talented player on the field, but I enjoyed getting out there and doing whatever I could to help the team win on a daily basis.”

Do you ever miss being on the field?

“I miss it all the time. If I could still play, I would absolutely still be playing.”

Final question. What advice do you give to high school and college students who want to work in a Major League front office some day?

“Really focus on the college experience. There’s a lot that can be learned outside of the classroom and off the baseball field. All those things that you learn in college can really help you on a baseball field and in life. I typically encourage people to enjoy and make the most of their college experience. They can focus on the next phase of their career once their college experience is over.”

* * * * *

Alec Hansen (Oklahoma) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 19, 2016 at 9:18am CDT

MLBTR continues its Draft Prospect Q&A series, which gives readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11.

University of Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Alec Hansen hasn’t played up to his potential in 2016, but remains an intriguing prospect. At the beginning of the spring, he was rated third on MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Watch and No. 9 on Baseball America’s Top 100 in March. But ESPN’s Keith Law recently wrote that “Hansen was a potential 1-1 guy (top draft pick) going into the school year, missed fall ball with a forearm injury, lost his rotation spot after a dismal start to the season and now could slip out of the first round.”

Hansen says he’s healthy – and that his junior year struggles could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. He’s still going through the growing pains of pitching – as he’s still getting bigger. Despite an uneven season, teams are interested in pitchers who stand 6-foot-8 and can throw 99 MPH. He took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR earlier this week and was honest about his 2016 campaign – after a little family talk:

Chuck Wasserstrom: I’m going to start out by throwing some names at you. Nick Hansen swam at Iowa State and later coached at Wisconsin. Debbie Hansen swam at Wisconsin. Eric Hansen swam at Iowa State and later coached at the University of Arizona. Brooke Hansen is a freshman swimmer at Texas. Obviously, if Dad, Mom, Uncle and Sister have all done it, then it’s a family business. How did you miss out on that?

Alec Hansen: “I was a big-time swimmer growing up, and when I got to middle school I was playing other travel sports, too. I started liking the other sports better. I played baseball. I played basketball. I played football. Swimming was one of those sports where it’s the same thing every day. It was monotonous. So by the time I was in middle school I just was more interested in football, basketball and baseball.”

Back in 2013, you were selected by the Rockies in the 25th round of the draft, but you’re the son of a pair of one-time Division I athletes. Was there ever really a chance you would have turned pro, or did Mom and Dad sort of make it a slam dunk that you would be going to college?

“With them both being college athletes, they got to experience it. That’s what they wanted for me – to experience going to college and being part of a team. That’s why they wanted me to go to college. That’s an experience that lasts a lifetime, and you learn a lot from it. I’m really glad that I went to college after high school. Especially OU. I love OU.”

Did you really give much consideration about signing out of high school?

“I talked to my parents about it. We came up with an amount of money that – if I got that offer – that I should take it and play professionally. It would have been worth it if I got that much money. If I didn’t that offer, I would go to school. I didn’t get the amount of money that I was asking for, so I went to school. Now that I went to school, I see why they wanted me to go to college. Now that I look back at it, I should have asked for even more money, because you can’t put a dollar amount on the experience and the people you meet in college.”

Why did you pick Oklahoma?

“Of all the choices I had, the one that stood out to me was Oklahoma. It was a school that I always liked and wanted to go to growing up. Things just fell into place and worked out. Once I came out and visited OU, I made my decision pretty quickly.”

Turning to 2016 … obviously, this hasn’t been the easiest year for you.

“Not everything is always perfect. I’m not a person who gets too up or down about anything in life. Yes, it’s been frustrating. But it hasn’t changed who I am. I still work hard. I know this is all a process, and I’m still going to get a lot of opportunities to develop. My overall goal is not to be a first-round draft pick … it’s to make it to the big leagues.”

Can you talk about this year, and how much you’ll be able to grow off it?

“I think this is just something a lot of guys go through at any level. I know it happens at the professional level. You have expectations, but you’re not performing. It just becomes a battle – and you have to learn to overcome it. Maybe this could be a blessing in disguise. It could be a good thing for me. I haven’t pitched a lot now, so I’ll be able to go out and throw a lot this summer.”

I’d like to talk about your game a little bit. The scouting report is a plus fastball sitting 94-97 and touching 99, plus slider, above average curveball, makings of average changeup. How accurate would you call that report?

“I’d call that accurate. I’ve always thrown hard. My off-speed has always been pretty good. It’s just a matter of putting it all together. I think the more opportunities and experience I get to pitch in game settings, then it will all fall into place.”

[Continue reading after the break for more.]

Photo courtesy of OU Athletics Communications.

You’re 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, and you can reach 99 MPH. How uncomfortable do you want batters to be in the box when they face you?

“I think part of my problem sometimes is that I’m my own biggest competitor. Sometimes, I get so caught up in competing against myself … I don’t worry too much about the batter. I know if I could do what I’m capable of doing, then their chances aren’t very good.”

You have to step back and just play pitch-and-catch. Just throw the ball to the glove.

“Yeah.”

A person I’ve seen you compared to in some stories is Jon Gray of the Rockies. Do you agree with that?

“I’ve never really seen him pitch, but I’ve heard the comparisons. Everyone says we both throw hard and both have a hard slider, so I guess I’d be comparable. Another one I’ve heard is Lucas Giolito with the Nationals. I’ve watched him pitch. I feel like I look more like him.”

Have there been particular pitchers you’d like to model yourself after?

“I really like watching Matt Harvey pitch. It’s kind of hard not to like watching him pitch. I like his demeanor during the game. How he is on and off the field. I like his style.”

How would you describe his style?

“I feel like he’s a little Hollywood, but not too much – if that makes sense.”

How much does his success drive you?

“He was in the same position I’m in not too long ago. It just shows you that it’s possible if you put your mind to it.”

Have you been looking ahead at all to this year’s draft, or have you been trying not to worry about it right now?

“I think I did prior to the start of the season and a little bit during the season. But now, I’m kind of just trying to worry about the team. Just having fun with the team … trying to win as many games as we can … doing whatever I can to help the team out. I’m not worried about the draft right now. Whatever happens happens. I can’t really do anything about it other than do as good as I can.”

You said you’re back throwing. Everything feel good?

“Yes. I threw (Tuesday) and I felt great. And I threw great, too, so hopefully I’ll get more chances to get back on the mound.”

Arm’s good? Head’s good?

“Yes. All good.”

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Jed Hoyer Discusses Wesleyan University: MLBTR College Series

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 18, 2016 at 2:02pm CDT

MLBTR continues a series where we interview top baseball executives about their college years. We’ll ask about why those chose their school, memorable moments, their favorite professor, important connections made, college learnings they still use today, and more.

We’ve already spoken to Reds GM Dick Williams, and next up in our question-and-answer series is Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President and General Manager Jed Hoyer – a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT).

* * * * *

Hi Jed, thanks for taking the time to speak with MLBTR. You have a little different path than some others, as you were an athlete, pitcher AND pitching coach at Wesleyan University. What led you to Wesleyan?

“The over-arching goal of my college search was to combine three factors – great academics, the ability to continue playing baseball, and a campus environment that would broaden my limited horizons. I looked at a lot of different schools and the best combination of those factors was Wesleyan. In hindsight, I was less intense and strategic about that decision than I would have been later in life. I simply had a great feel for the school, loved my interactions with the baseball coach (Pete Kostacopoulos), and could picture myself on campus. I had a wonderful four years at Wesleyan and will always be thankful that my instincts were right.”

When you look back at your Wesleyan days, what special moments can you share?

“My favorite moments from Wesleyan come from our baseball team my sophomore year. We advanced to the (Division III) College World Series and ended up losing in the national title game to Jarrod Washburn (Wisconsin-Oshkosh). Despite the disappointment of losing at the end, it was an incredible experience. We were already a close-knit group, but the intensity of the postseason that year only brought us all closer.”

I’m going to get to some student-athlete questions, starting with the academic side. But first, can you tell me about your immediate post-graduate career? I know you initially stayed in school, so to speak.

“My first job after college, I worked as an assistant director of admissions at Kenyon College (Gambier, OH). I also was an assistant baseball coach. I left Kenyon after a year and returned to Wesleyan in a similar capacity. I was really fortunate that my bosses at both schools allowed me the time away from the office to coach. At the time, I simply did it because I wanted to stay on the field. In hindsight, it was an invaluable experience for me to learn about the game from a different angle. I had never thought about how to teach fundamentals or how to motivate players prior to coaching. The three years I spent coaching has benefited me in ways I never would have imagined at the time.”

What was your college major?

“American History.”

I didn’t know that! Have you been able to apply your major to baseball?

“I loved being a history major. I loved the professors I had. I really enjoyed the reading material. Even today, if I get a chance to sit down and read a book, I’m going to grab a biography or something about a historical period. But I will say if I knew I’d be where I’m sitting right now, I certainly would have angled myself more towards economics or something more quantitative. I do think that’s important when you start your life after college to know that every move you make doesn’t have to be planned so specifically. I was kind of referencing that before in regards to coaching. I coached baseball because I loved being out there, and I wanted to stay involved with the game. It gave me an awesome perspective on the game that I never had. I worked for a couple consulting firms later on, and that really helped me learn how to build business models and advanced my quantitative skills. I think every job I’ve had has provided me with different skills or knowledge that I can use every day in baseball.”

You might have a different perspective on this question as a former admissions official and former coach. What advice do you give high school and college students who want to work in a front office someday?

“I always tell aspiring baseball people the same thing – get involved in baseball in every way you possibly can. For me, it was playing until I wasn’t good enough to play anymore and then coaching. Baseball was my athletic love, and now I’m fortunate enough to be able to come to work every day and apply that. Ultimately, when I come into work, my entire day is spent dealing with baseball in various forms – whether it’s contractual, whether it’s rules, whether it’s player evaluation. Sports science … analytic stuff … whatever it might be, it’s all baseball all day. If you don’t absolutely love baseball, this is never going to work for you.”

Were there lessons you learned at Wesleyan that you utilize today as part of this day-to-day routine?

“I think the two things that come to mind right away are – No. 1, there’s nothing better than team sports. The camaraderie that’s built among a group of people fighting for a common goal is really something special. I know I experienced that playing in college. I don’t think that’s any different when you’re getting paid to play in the big leagues. Creating a great culture in the clubhouse, getting everyone pulling in the same direction, there’s no doubt that the teams that do that best have a big advantage. The second thing, on a more academic level, is that lifelong learning is something that’s exceptionally important. The most impressive thing about Wesleyan to me was that there was this eclectic group of intellectually curious 19-22 year olds– and those were the type of people I wanted to be around on a day-to-day basis. The school was filled with people that are constantly learning, always curious, and consistently pushing the boundaries. Those are the type of people I wanted to be surrounded by when I was 20 and they are the same people I want to fill our front office with at 42.”

As you reflect back on Wesleyan and being a student there, did you have a favorite professor?

“The most vivid memory of the classroom at Wesleyan – and I think back on this quite a bit – there was a professor named Richard Slotkin, and he taught American Literature. His classes were incredibly hard to get into because he was such an amazing lecturer. I remember sitting in his lectures and thinking … I hope someday I can be as good at my job and as passionate about my job and as knowledgeable about the field of study as this guy is. Candidly, I think I’m still trying to get there. I think it’s great when you see anyone in any walk of life that so dominates their field – and you can tell that it brings them so much joy to share it.”

Baseball-wise, did you make any important connections at Wesleyan that helped you in your baseball career?

“Ben Cherington played at Amherst, and they were our rival. My closest friend from high school played at Amherst with Ben, so I got to know those guys very well. It was a really fun and great rivalry. When I tried to get an internship with the Red Sox a few years later, the connection with Ben really helped me. Ben is an incredible talent. I was really fortunate to get to know him at age 19 in a setting that neither of us ever would have imagined would have led to a professional relationship and friendship.”

You set Wesleyan’s all-time school saves record – and were also the everyday shortstop. Can you talk about your playing days?

“If I had any strength in baseball at all, it was that I was really versatile. My sophomore year, I played left field and was the closer. My junior year, I played shortstop, was a starting pitcher, and even played catcher a few games when our catcher got hurt. My senior year, I played shortstop and was the closer. In general, I felt comfortable moving around the diamond. I knew I wasn’t going to play in the big leagues. I was self-aware enough to realize that. I played in the Cape Cod League after my junior year and was teammates with Mark DeRosa, John McDonald and Dan Reichert. It was a great experience and also a humbling experience. I realized that if I was going to have a future in baseball, it wasn’t going to be playing on TV.”

Do you ever get a chance to go back to visit campus?

“I’m actually going back soon. My 20th reunion is in the middle of May, so I’m going back for that – which will be fun. When I was with the Red Sox, I went back often; it was only a three-hour drive. I could get down there for a game or to visit people. But after I left the Red Sox, I haven’t been back since. I’m excited to be back on campus.”

Final question, as we tie together your college major and your professional career. Did obtaining a history degree pique your interest in learning more about the histories of the Red Sox and the Cubs?

“No doubt. I’ve been fortunate that two of the three teams I’ve worked for have incredibly rich, deep histories. Those two teams are more than just baseball teams to their cultures … they’re a way of life that’s passed down generation to generation. I think I’d be doing a disservice to the job if I didn’t completely embrace the history of the Red Sox or the Cubs. There are so many similarities between the two teams. The Red Sox ended their long suffering. Now we get the incredible opportunity to try to do the same thing in Chicago.”

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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Corey Ray (Louisville) Interview: Draft Prospect Q&A

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 13, 2016 at 12:19pm CDT

MLBTR is re-launching its Draft Prospect Q&A series in order to give our readers a look at some of the top names on the board in this year’s draft. MLBTR will be chatting with some of the draft’s most well-regarded prospects as they prepare for the 2016 draft on June 9-11.

University of Louisville center fielder Corey Ray is rated among the top position players available in this year’s draft. In a recent mock draft, Baseball America has Ray going sixth overall.

At 6’0″, 200 pounds, Ray made a name for himself in 2015 with a strong sophomore season for Louisville, recording a .325/.389/.543 batting line with 11 homers and 34 stolen bases. Over the summer, the left-handed batter led the U.S. collegiate national team in extra-base hits (nine), OPS (.971) and steals (11). After Louisville’s weekend series against ACC rival Florida State, the 21-year-old is hitting .331/.396/.624 with 20 extra-base hits (including nine homers), 38 RBI and 28 steals as the Cardinals’ leadoff batter.

According to MLBPipeline.com’s Jonathan Mayo, Ray is “the epitome of the college performer. He just hits. He’s got some power. He’s performed well. If he continues to do that, he should be a guy who easily can go in the Top 10.” Keith Law and Eric Longengagen of ESPN.com rated Ray third among draft prospects yesterday, praising his blend of power and speed.

Ray arrived on the Louisville campus after a stellar prep career at Simeon Career Academy in Chicago. Over his own objections, he went the college route after being selected in the 33rd round of the 2013 draft. Ray was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk with MLBTR this week.

Chuck Wasserstrom: I know the draft is a couple months away – and you’ve been through the draft process before – but is it hard not to think about the draft right now?

Corey Ray: “No, it’s not hard, because I’m in a college season. As a high Division 1 program, we have goals. And we want to accomplish those goals first and foremost. I put the team before myself.”

I like that answer. Let’s go back to 2013. You were selected by the Mariners in the 33rd round of the draft, but your dad (also named Corey Ray) put his foot down and said you were going to college. Can you talk about how those conversations went down?

“They were intense. As a baseball player and as an African-American from the south side of Chicago, you love playing sports. The idea that you get paid to do it is a dream come true. That dream was knocking on my door, and those were some pretty tough conversations with my father. He told me I wasn’t ready. All I was seeing was the dollar amount and not the big picture in the long term.”

How hard was it for you to say ‘No’ to the Mariners?

“Very hard … I think I may have teared up a little bit.”

You have said your dad was right. Can you tell me how the Louisville experience has changed you?

“I think it’s made me a baseball player. I came here and I had some talent, but I didn’t know how to play the game. I didn’t know what hard work was. Being here under Coach Mac (Dan McDonnell) has taught me what hard work was. The players I have played with here have taught me what hard work was – and they taught me the game as well. It has also made me a more mature person – being in college … being on my own … finding out what it takes to be successful at this level.”

Why did you choose Louisville?

“It was close to home, but not too close. My grandparents and my father can come and see me play when we have weekend series, but they can’t come up here every day. They can’t surprise me. I have enough distance between my parents and here that I feel like I’m on my own, but I see them enough not to get homesick.”

For people who haven’t seen you play, how would you describe Corey Ray as a baseball player?

“Versatile … can play all three outfield positions … can steal a base … can hit the ball in gap … if you make a mistake, can hit the ball over the fence. But I also can grind out at-bats and see pitches. Whatever that needs to be done, I can do it.”

You made the huge jump forward your sophomore year, and then had a big summer campaign. You’ve followed up on that with a strong junior season. What do you see as the turning point in your college career?

“I think the turning point for me was, at the end of my freshman season, just being able to play and being able to get reps. But I think one of the best things for me was going to the Cape Cod League after my freshman year. I wasn’t as successful as you’d like to be as a hitter, but the reps … I saw the best pitching that college baseball has to offer day in and day out. You learn what you can and cannot do on the baseball field. You learn the flaws and the advantages of your swing. I think I learned a lot about myself as a baseball player from just being unsuccessful in the Cape.”

But you also got to see a lot of quality players and use a wood bat, so you were learning how the pro game is played.

“You’re playing with some of the best players in college baseball and you’re playing against some of the best players in college baseball. So I tried to pick up some things that other players do that I didn’t do that could possibly help me with my game.”

The old speed or strength question … Do you see yourself as more a leadoff hitter or a middle of the lineup batter?

“Leadoff hitter… I love leadoff. I practically had to beg Coach Mac to lead me off this year. Just being that table setter … I think in the leadoff spot I can be more dangerous because when I’m on base and there aren’t any out, I can pick which pitches to steal and what situation I want to steal in.”

Being a leadoff hitter all the time now, have you taken a different approach to the plate? Your strikeout total (17 in more than 150 plate appearances this season) rivals your walk total (16).

“Definitely. Not just because I’m the leadoff hitter, but because I want to grow as a hitter. I think I’ve become more mature. I’m starting to learn what pitches I hit best and what pitches I can’t hit. And what pitches to swing at early in the count and which pitches not to. I also think that can be attributed to being more comfortable hitting with two strikes. Last year, I wasn’t as comfortable and I’d swing early in the count. I would get myself out sometimes, or with two strikes – I’d sometimes swing at anything thrown. Now, I’m able to work counts with two strikes and get a better pitch to hit.”

Defensively, if you’re given a choice, what position do you think you should play?

“Center field.”

Why center field?

“I think it’s the easiest of all three positions, but there’s more ground to cover. You’re the leader of the outfield. That’s the premier position to play. I think my speed and my jumps and my defensive ability profiles better in center field than the corners.”

But you’ll play anywhere they tell you.

“Yes sir. As long as I’m in the lineup.”

As a Chicago native, I have to ask you this question: Cubs fan or White Sox fan?

“I like them both. Growing up, I lived close to [U.S. Cellular Field] and went to a lot of White Sox games – and I like the White Sox. But before my senior year in high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to play in the (Under Armour) All-American Game at Wrigley Field. Just being in that clubhouse and playing on that field … the history from that ballpark, you can’t not like a team like the Chicago Cubs. It doesn’t hurt that they could win the World Series this year.”

What was it like being on a Major League field?

“I’ve been on a few different Major League fields before, but the two that stand out to me most are Fenway Park and Wrigley, just because of the history. They’re old, but they have that historic feel. You can just tell you’re in some place special.”

Speaking of Fenway, I know you’ve listed former Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury as someone you model your game after. Are there other players that you look up to?

“Yes, Jacoby Ellsbury … definitely. Oregon State … two national championships … first round pick … Boston Red Sox. He’s made a lot of money in his career, and he’s done it in many ways. By stealing bases. By defending. He also hit third for the Yankees one year. He can hit the long ball. He’s very versatile. And then there’s Curtis Granderson. He’s from Chicago. I’ve talked to him a lot. He’s a mentor of mine. He’s a great guy. If I can have the career Curtis Granderson has had, I’d be pretty happy. I’ve also been watching a lot of videos on Tony Gwynn. One of the best hitters to ever play … the way that he did it was amazing.”

Your Louisville bio includes the phrase “the greatest influence on his career is his grandfather because of his support.” Tell me about your grandfather (Earnest, his paternal grandfather).

“Growing up, I can probably count on two hands the number of games my granddad missed. And that includes playing out of the state and all over the country. He’s the reason I started watching baseball more. I’ve always liked playing it, but I’ve learned a lot about baseball by just watching it. I remember times when I was younger when we’d just sit down and watch whole White Sox games on back-to-back days. I could always count on him to be in the stands if I had a baseball game, cheering me on, telling me to hit the ball. He made it known from an early age that, if you want to do this, you have to work hard to do it. It’s possible if you work hard enough.”

I’ve read stories about your dad getting you started in baseball at a young age.

“His co-worker started a baseball team, and they needed one extra player. My dad signed me up and they stuck me in center field. The rest is history. My dad always told me that whatever it is you want to do, you’ve got to work harder. You’re not only going against the people in your area in Chicago or even the Midwest, you’re going against everybody else in the country. He always told me that there’s someone out there trying to take your spot. And that guy’s working hard, so you have to work harder to keep up. He would tell me to go and run the hill. The ironic thing is he would never watch me. He said ‘if you’re working hard and you’re really doing what you’re supposed to do, it will really show on the field. So I don’t have to watch the process. I want to watch the result.’ ”

If you don’t mind, tell me a little bit about this legendary hill (a 40-foot-high hill at Robichaux Park in Chicago).

“There’s a hill that was basically behind my house that I would run on. I would run sprints up it and run sprints down it. Do some push-ups. And then run a 50-yard sprint. At the end, run up the hill and sprint down backwards. Some agility, some speed, some conditioning.”

Did you do it by yourself or with friends?

“I did it by myself. Sometimes I would take my puppy to run with me (laughing).”

There hasn’t been a city of Chicago product picked in the draft’s Top 10 since 1989. Do you think about that at all? Is that a goal for you?

“I think a goal for me is to play the game of baseball as long as I can and to give back to Chicago baseball as much as I can, whether that be as a Top 10 pick or being just a draft pick at all. To be able to get into professional baseball and hopefully to get into Major League Baseball and leave my mark on Chicago baseball – to be an ambassador for Chicago baseball.”

So if you are a high draft pick, will your dad be OK if you turn pro?

(Laughing) “Definitely. I don’t think he’s the decision maker this time.”

Does he know that?

“Yes. He knows.”

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Photo courtesy of University of Louisville Sports Information.

Tyrone Brooks And MLB’s Diversity Pipeline Program

By Chuck Wasserstrom | April 11, 2016 at 11:30pm CDT

Tyrone Brooks has been preparing for his current job since joining a Major League front office more than 20 years ago. Brooks, who was named Senior Director of MLB’s Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program earlier this year, has long been known for the work he has done in trying to help people land careers in baseball. Back in 2009, he founded the Baseball Industry Network – a networking group designed to assist individuals working in and/or connected to the game. One of the goals of the network – which now has over 29,000 members – is to develop mentoring relationships between people in the sport and individuals attempting to enter the industry.

Brooks, 42, got his start in baseball by landing an internship with the Atlanta Braves. He didn’t come from a baseball pedigree – as he double-majored in accounting and marketing at the University of Maryland, where he also spent time as a photojournalist. He took the internship opportunity and parlayed it into a full-time position. His resume – with stops in Atlanta (1996-2006), Cleveland (2006- 2009) and Pittsburgh (2009- 2016) – shows slow steady progress through different departments and roles en route to leadership positions. In essence, Brooks was the first member of his own pipeline.

“With the Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program, the goal is to help increase the pool of minority and women candidates for baseball operations positions,” Brooks said. “The main thing is developing a pipeline both to the front office and for potential managers at the big league level. We’re starting from the bottom. We’re not looking to bring somebody in and try to make them assistant GMs for a club right away. We’re trying to bring new people in through internships and entry level jobs and create a path for that person. And as the person goes through the pipeline, that’s how we can help develop that person. Looking at it from a long-term perspective, that’s how we can make this game better … by giving individuals opportunities, and from there, helping develop them as they go through the process.

“We’re putting programs in place where we can help individuals make the next step from entry level to mid-manager to higher levels within an organization. It’s a continual process as you make your way through the pipeline. You need to have things in place that are going to help an individual grow and work their way toward the top of an organization.”

The type of path Brooks talks about directly mirrors his own course, beginning with the aforementioned Braves internship. Brooks got that position through that organization’s Career Initiative Trainee Program – a program developed by Braves executives Hank Aaron and Stan Kasten to help create opportunities for minorities and women in baseball. He spent just a couple months as an intern before a full-time position opened up – and he was hired as an administrative assistant in scouting and player development. Brooks bided his time and put in nine full years before being promoted into his first titled position – as the Braves’ Director of Baseball Operations.

“You can look at my own career as a little bit of a model for the program,” he said. “I came in as an intern out of college – that was my way in. I got my feet wet. I was very fortunate to get hired later that summer full-time. From there, I continued to grow and expand in the duties I was given. At that time, I wanted to learn how we evaluated talent. The Braves were a very scout-driven organization, so the opportunity to get exposed to that area was important. I just tried to balance as much as I could – both on the administrative side in order to do my job effectively and to grow on the evaluation side as well.

“I started in the office as an administrator … became an area scout … went back into the office … did more of the administrator stuff – contracts, arbitration … went back into the field as a pro scout (with the Indians) … then came back into the office with the Pirates and basically did the duties of an assistant GM day-to-day … and from there, Director of Player Personnel.”

In his new role at MLB, Brooks will play a part in the way baseball front offices are constructed moving forward. He was asked what it was like knowing that he was involved in changing future front office landscapes.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have this opportunity,” he said. “This whole process started in November, when I was asked to be on an advisory council to look at how we can help get more minorities and women into opportunities on the baseball operations side. Right before we got ready for our first council meeting – and the council was made up of individuals throughout the league at both the club level and through the league office – I saw the job description for the program director. When I read it, I thought, ‘Man, this is something up my alley. I’ve already been doing a lot of this informally with the Baseball Industry Network.’ I saw the job description and said I’d like to throw my name in the hat.

“MLB, at that time, wasn’t thinking they’d be able to attract anybody to leave a club for that kind of a role. When I saw it, and once I had a chance to talk about it further with executives in the league office and see how committed they were to this program – I knew I wanted this. Twenty years ago, somebody gave me an opportunity. Now, I have a chance to do this on a bigger scale and help individuals get into the game. If anything, I would love for my legacy in baseball to be that I was always willing to give back to our game – and I was always willing to share in providing opportunities for other people who were passionate for our game and qualified to work in our game.”

Looking at his background, it speaks highly to what he has been able to accomplish. His unconventional path — accounting, marketing and photojournalism as opposed to spending time as a player — gives him a diverse skill set and unique perspective. He was given an opportunity, but then he had to do something about it.

“When I talk to individuals at various schools, I let them know that education opened up doors for me,” Brooks said. “I didn’t have the playing background like some others have. I came in with the idea that I was going to find a way to show I had a skill set to differentiate myself. That’s what you have to have. Now, the game is even more receptive to the idea of somebody not having a playing background; you see it more and more. Our game is attracting talented people. Since the time ‘Moneyball’ came out, that led a transformation as far as different types of people coming into our industry. Before, they probably would go into another realm and make more money to start a career. They saw this as an avenue to do something they were passionate about. It brought a new influx of talent into major league baseball.”

There are increasing numbers in higher-level executives that, like Brooks, didn’t play the sport. That excuse cannot be used as a reason for the lack of females in front offices around the game, but while society has embraced empowering women in other fields, baseball still lags behind.

“It really shouldn’t,” Brooks said in discussing how gender should impact the hiring process. “Now, it’s a case where every baseball ops department staff is getting bigger and bigger. There’s more information, more things for that person to manage. It’s just a matter of having enough ability to lead and manage those areas – and having good people around you to do that job.”

The game has largely been male-centric through the years, with women playing supporting roles for the most part. There are some signs of change on that front, though, and Brooks hopes to see this new program to facilitate greater change in that regard.

“In today’s game, we’re now seeing new opportunities opening up,” Brooks said. “Thanks to Amanda Hopkins, who is now an area scout with the Seattle Mariners in the northwest – seeing a young woman who had played college softball moving into that position shows that there is opportunity for women in this game. Look at Rachel Balkovec, who is with the Houston Astros – and she’s their Latin American Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Those avenues are right there and available. Within the front office, now within scouting, we’re going to push things. Justine Siegal was in the instructional league as a coach with the Oakland A’s last October. There are going to be opportunities for women.

“We have to make sure that college programs academically and athletically are aware of our program – so that their students can have a potential avenue available to them if they so desire. I had a chance to speak to some softball players the other day. I was visiting Lehigh University, and I talked to their coach and some of their players to make them aware of what we’re trying to do here. It’s great to see the excitement when you’re talking to a young woman athlete and her eyes open up and realize there are ways to stay in the game.”

In giving advice to college students who want to work in a big league front office, Brooks speaks solely about necessary skills and characteristics.

“First and foremost, from a college standpoint, you need to be in a rigorous program,” he said. “Having a program where you’re going to be critically thinking, analyzing things, showing your ability to write, and your ability to communicate. All of those areas are vital as we look at individuals who are coming into our game, and how somebody is going to come in and fit into that environment.”

Brooks is starting at the bottom level, so he can grow and develop the program. With that in mind, he was asked about his vision for what his department will look like down the road. In other words, for people with teenage sons and teenage daughters who want to work in baseball, what does he think the landscape will look like moving forward?

“If they love the game, they need to watch the game at all different levels – and make sure they have an idea of what’s going on during the game and behind the scenes,” Brooks said. “From an educational standpoint, being in a college program where you’re constantly thinking, you’re writing, you’re dealing with numbers, too. Organizations want individuals who are analytically inclined. If you continue to have that kind of skill set and are looking for ways to separate yourself, try to look for the next area. That’s something that could be groundbreaking for the industry.

“There are so many opportunities out there. It’s just a matter of finding someone who can believe in them. That’s where I totally believe it all comes down to having one person believe in you. That’s why networking is important. Getting to know people … telling your story of where you’re coming from … where you’re trying to go … what are your hopes. Remember, this is still a relationship business. It’s so vital to meet people. Start doing informational interviews. Talk to people who are already in the field. Find out further if this is the right career for you – so you have an understanding of it. Even volunteering if you want to work in sports. Just build your resume. Start meeting people. You never know when that connection with one person will lead to another opportunity.

“There’s one thing we’ve all found out in this game – you can’t do it by yourself. There has to be somebody along the way who has taken a belief in you as a person and wants to see you succeed and pull you along the way with them.”

The best thing about baseball is that there’s not only one way to break into the sport. The hardest thing about breaking into baseball is that there’s not just one right way to do it.

“I look at my own career, and once I was an intern and had one foot in the door, if it wasn’t for one of our staffers leaving in the middle of the year – who knows where I would be,” Brooks said. “That’s why I’m so thankful and feel so blessed. I had the opportunity to get into the game 20 years ago, and now I’m hopefully paving the way for the next generation of individuals who want to work in baseball.”

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MLBTR College Series: Reds GM Dick Williams (University of Virginia)

By Chuck Wasserstrom | March 30, 2016 at 3:30pm CDT

MLBTR is beginning a series where we interview top baseball executives about their college years. We’ll ask about why those chose their school, memorable moments, their favorite professor, important connections made, college learnings they still use today, etc.

Leading off the question-and-answer series is Cincinnati Reds Senior Vice President/General Manager Dick Williams – a graduate of the University of Virginia.

* * * * *

First off, sorry about the basketball game Sunday. Why did you choose Virginia?

“I’m still reeling from the loss. Feel free to put that in the article. It was tough. I was so bummed. It’s been a while since we’ve gone to the Final Four. Why Virginia? It’s tough to pinpoint exactly. I went to boarding school in the northeast and I loved it. After two years in the northeast, I thought I would try a different part of the country. I’ve always been a bit of a wandering soul, and I wanted to try something new. So I applied to some northeastern schools, but I also applied to schools in the southeast and on the West Coast. I kind of had it in my mind that I was going to try a new part of the country.

The real tipping point was that I was a finalist for an award called the Jefferson Scholar, and they award a handful of these each year to incoming freshman. It’s a prestigious academic leadership award. They invite the finalists down their senior year to participate in a multi-day forum. They interview you and they have you participate in activities … and take tests … and they observe you. Then they award the scholarships for the next year. I didn’t get picked as a Jefferson Scholar, but I got to go down there for three days in March of my senior year in high school. And I spent three days on the Charlottesville campus – which was more than I spent on any other college visit. I think I just got more familiar with it. It didn’t hurt that it was St. Patty’s Day while I was there, so they had all these fraternity parties and all of the social activity going on. This beautiful campus … it was spring … it was gorgeous … and we’re just running around having the time of our lives. I really got a good feel from being there. I think that just gave it a leg up over other great schools that I was looking at. I think going there for that long weekend made all the difference.”

Although you weren’t selected a Jefferson Scholar, you did decide to go to UVA. Did you end up going there on an academic scholarship?

“They have another program called the Echols Scholars, and that’s for the top incoming freshmen academically. It is not a monetary scholarship. What it allows you to do is it gives you academic freedom when you get there. And I was an Echols Scholar. It gives you priority to sign up for any classes. Instead of classes based on age or what your major was, if you were an Echols Scholar, you got a free pass into any class you wanted to take. That really shaped my experience there, because I made it a point of trying to take classes in every discipline. I took a class from the engineering school. I took classes from the nursing school. I took classes from the architecture school. I did a little bit of everything – just because I was given that freedom. You didn’t have to meet typical major requirements as an Echols Scholar. You could build your own field of study. So you could really spread it around, and I took full advantage of it. I just took a lot of things that interested me that I would never get a chance to study again. When I look back on my transcript, it wasn’t all finance or all politics. It really was a melting pot of things I was interested in.”

So, what was your major?

“Well, my diploma says Echols Scholar Interdisciplinary Studies. So I had to explain that in job interviews for years. Just telling people that I really didn’t have a major. But I majored in being a liberal arts student – taking a little bit of everything.”

Looking back, should you have focused on a specific major – or are you comfortable with the route you took?

“I’m really comfortable with the route I went. I loved doing it the way I did. And when I got out of college, I went right into investment banking on Wall Street – and they put us through a training program of accounting and finance. I had a very good base in that. I learned plenty there and on the job. I ended up getting my chartered financial analyst designation – my CFA – a few years later, and that was self-study. Once my career took me on a path, then I began to do a lot of that follow-up work on my own.”

Did you have a favorite class or favorite professor?

“I would have to say my favorite class was what they called ‘Bice Psych.’ Professor Bice. Everybody took that. It was Intro to Psychology. Every class was like a Broadway show. He always brought something very interesting to class. A lot of practical examples. A lot of funny stories. A lot of interactive exhibits. It also didn’t hurt that it was a pretty easy ‘A’ … For me, you got out of high school and you get to college – and you don’t know what to expect. I received some good advice to sign up for this class. It reminded you that academics could be fun and interesting. Not every class was big textbooks that you can’t read and worrying about copying down notes. ‘Bice Psych’ was like going to recess.”

Can you share any memorable moments from your college days?

“I went abroad for a semester. I went to Australia; that was one of my formative experiences. I had a great time going down there. It’s kind of different being on the other side of the world. It was more about the travel and being able to travel around Australia and New Zealand. I kind of cheated a little bit … I went abroad, but there was no language barrier. That made it easier to meet people.”

Any college learnings that you utilize today?

“Statistics and probability – I took them there and really got a good understanding of them. I was surprised at how much that played into my business career, both in baseball and investment banking. Just the foundation for statistics and probability. It really affects everything you do in your daily life.”

Keep reading after the break for more …

Did you follow the college baseball team when you were there?

“Not a lot. When I was there, the college football team was ranked No. 1 in the country. People who follow UVA football know that doesn’t come along very often. My sophomore year (1990), we were the No. 1-ranked team in the country. I still remember the game vividly. We lost a shootout to Georgia Tech at home 41-38. Georgia Tech went on to become co-national champs that year. We lost that game, and what I also remember about it was that the Allman Brothers played UVA that night at University Hall. The campus was in mourning, so nobody went to the concert. I had these buddies come in from out of town. It was one of the great concert experiences of my life, because we were watching an Allman Brothers concert – and there were about 100 people there. We were able to walk right up to the edge of the stage. We could go anywhere we wanted. It was like having a private Allman Brothers show … I’m sure it was one of the hardest shows they ever had to play. There weren’t many people there to get them fired up. But my memory of it was that it was a pretty great show.

I don’t remember the college baseball team that well. I had a couple buddies who played. I don’t remember watching them very much. But the program has certainly ascended to a whole other level. They have an unbelievable new facility. I’ve been back there a couple times and I’ve been able to see the facility they have. And the team now is just a rocket ship. They’ve had several good years there. They’re a lot of fun to watch. We actually had a first rounder a couple years ago from UVA (RHP Nick Howard in 2014). I promise I didn’t have any undue influence on our scouting director. That was all him, but it was kind of neat to have a pick from my alma mater.”

Do you know Virginia coach Brian O’Connor a little bit?

“Not very well. I’ve met him once. I don’t get real involved in our amateur scouting, so I don’t get down to Charlottesville much. But I’d like to get to know him better.”

Obviously, you do get back to Virginia from time to time. As an alum, what emotions were going through your head while watching the Cavaliers play against Syracuse on Sunday?

“I was so disappointed. I know how many people were planning to watch them play in the Final Four. They’re such an easy team to root for, and I’m not just saying that as a UVA grad. They’re likable guys with a likable coach. Hard-nosed defense. This year, their offense kind of exploded. For three quarters of (Sunday’s) game, it was all UVA. Then that (Syracuse) run the last 8-to-10 minutes took all the wind out of our sails. It was just a bummer. But they’ll be back.”

Were you wearing your Ralph Sampson jersey during the game?

“Well, my era was Bryant Stith. So I had my Bryant Stith jersey handy. Ralph was a little before my time.”

What advice would you give to high school and college students looking to work in a major league front office down the road?

“If you’re serious about it, it’s never too early to start and there’s no job too small. Everybody now has pretty good academic credentials. It just gives you a leg up if you can show some practical experience around the sport. I’ve got one guy on my staff that started on the grounds crew. I’ve got one guy who started as a clubhouse attendant. I know guys who have worn a mascot costume. I know some guys who worked in media relations. At a young age, no job is too small to be around the game and get familiarity with it. But you have to have some patience. There aren’t that many job openings. You have to start early and have patience.”

Any important connections that you made in college that still play a part in what you do today?

“That’s a tough one. One of the other GM’s went to the same grade school I did in Cincinnati –Mike Hill of the Marlins. So I have that connection from grade school. For college, not sure I have a good one for that question. All of my UVA buddies were too smart to get into baseball. They all went and got real jobs.”

Any memorable stories from your college days that you can share?

“A couple come to mind. I used to go to a bar called Trax every Tuesday night and pay a $5 cover to see Dave Matthews and Boyd Tinsley before they made it big. I also had the opportunity to eat dinner in the rotunda one year. Any time you got to do something in one of the historical buildings on campus, it was pretty special.”

* * * * *

Andy MacPhail On The 25-Year Anniversary Of The Twins’ 1991 World Series Championship

By Chuck Wasserstrom | March 21, 2016 at 11:00pm CDT

The Minnesota Twins surprised the baseball world in 1987 when they finished first in the American League West with an 85-77 record – just one season after going 71-91. But they didn’t stop there; the Twins stunned Detroit (98-64 in the regular season) to win the A.L. Championship Series, then shocked St. Louis (95-67) to bring home a World Series title.

Just four years later, after a complete retooling of the pitching staff, the 1991 Twins rebounded from a last-place finish the year before to win the A.L. West. After dropping nine of their first 11 games, they started putting things together – and eventually went on a 24-3 tear from May 28-June 25 (including a 15-game winning streak). By the time that stretch ended, they found themselves atop the divisional standings – and never entered a day’s action the rest of the season looking up at anyone. After defeating Toronto in the ALCS, they outlasted Atlanta in the worst-to-first World Series to bring home another trophy.

The architect of both championship clubs was Andy MacPhail, who was just 32 years old when he took over as Minnesota’s General Manager in August 1985. Now the President of the Philadelphia Phillies, MacPhail took some time to speak to MLB Trade Rumors about the 1991 Twins in this – the 25th anniversary of their last World Championship.

The pitching staff was completely overhauled between 1987 and 1991. The front three in 1987 were Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven and Les Straker; by 1991, Jack Morris, Scott Erickson and Kevin Tapani sat atop the rotation. Jeff Reardon was the closer in 1987; Rick Aguilera was in that role in 1991.

“We had to turn the entire pitching staff over in a four-year period, which was no easy feat,” MacPhail said. “As I recall, it was a little bit of everything – trades, free agent acquisitions, minor league free agents, major league free agents … Some came from the system, like Scott Erickson. Some were more high-profile free agents, like Jack Morris. But one of the most critical signings was a minor league free agent named Carl Willis – who ended up pitching the 8th inning and doing an extraordinary job for us. With Willis in the 8th and Aguilera in the 9th, we locked down the last two innings. It just goes to remind you that you have to get contributions from every potential artery you can to improve your club – not just rely on one aspect alone. Tapani and Aguilera were trades. Morris – major league free agent. Mark Guthrie – minor league free agent. They all combined in one year to help us completely turn over the pitching staff.”

The best pitcher on the 1987 team – and the most recognizable – was Frank Viola, who earned World Series MVP honors that season and went on to win the A.L. Cy Young Award in 1988. The trade of Viola at the July 1989 deadline turned out to be a big reason why the Twins won the 1991 World Series, as three pitchers acquired for him – Tapani, Aguilera and David West – became key members of the Minnesota staff.

“At the time we moved him, we were in last place, and it felt like we needed some volume as opposed to one great starter,” MacPhail said. “We had a difficult negotiation after the ’88 season. He ended up signing a three-year agreement, but we were probably going to have another negotiation that would not be easy. We just felt it was time to make a move. When he went over to the Mets, he won 20 games and pitched well there. Given our circumstances, we were looking for volume. We got Kevin Tapani – who did a tremendous job for us and was an integral piece of the ’91 puzzle. And we were able to add David West, who ended up starting and relieving for us over the course of ’91. And then another critical piece was Rick Aguilera, who was our closer and filled an important void for us.”

From a fan standpoint, moving such a popular player and person as Viola had to be tough. MacPhail was asked if it was harder to remove him from the team because Minnesota was a small market club.

“That was a harder one to do. We ended up doing it right at the deadline on July 31st,” MacPhail said. “Back then, it was a midnight deadline. We did it with minutes to spare. It was not an easy decision by any stretch. I remember just wanting to have to sit down for a moment and sort of collect myself. Independent of the market size, it clearly was not an easy decision. It was not going to be popular, because you are trading a known for multiple unknowns to some degree. While I felt conviction that it was the right thing for us to make the trade … I wouldn’t say I was conflicted, but I recognized back then that of all the trades I had made in my career, this one was going to have the most riding on it. If it was not successful, it was going to come back and bite you personally – probably in a big way. You trade a potential 20-game winner to a New York club, you better be getting something back.”

A year and a half later, the Twins were playing in the 1991 World Series. Vindication, or still a tad conflicted?

“No, the end game object is to be the last club standing. We were able to accomplish that. The pitchers we acquired in that deal were big parts of it. So I felt the actions of the organization were justified,” he said.

The Twins were a last-place club in 1990 but added some key players in the off-season – notably Jack Morris. In order to land Morris, MacPhail offered the veteran a player option. As pointed out recently by New York Daily News writer Anthony McCarron in a story about Yoenis Cespedes and the Mets, MacPhail is credited with the creation of the modern-day player opt-out clause.

“I had been trying to sign him all off season, and I think our offer was three years, $9 million,” MacPhail said. “We were into February and he still hadn’t signed anywhere. I came to the realization that if we were going to sign him, I was going to have to sweeten the pot in some respects. So I gave him what would be a player option at the end of the ’91 season. That was, as far as I know, the first player opt-out. We were committed to three years at $9 million, but if he wanted to leave after one year, then he could. The justification in my mind for doing that was I wasn’t sure if we were able to sign him without it. It’s not like we moved early; it’s the first week in February, and he still hasn’t agreed with us. So I wanted to do something to assure getting him … At the end, the one thing I do remember about that season, Scott Erickson – out of our farm system – would end up winning 20 games and was probably the most dominant starting pitcher I’ve ever seen for the first third of that year. And Jack Morris, at age 36, was probably the most dominant pitcher I saw the last third of the season. Tapani was solid all year. At any point of the season, we had at the very least two very good starters in our rotation.”

As opposed to the overhaul of the pitching staff, the core group of position players from 1987 through 1991 was largely unchanged. Kirby Puckett was in the midst of his Hall of Fame career. Kent Hrbek, Greg Gagne and Dan Gladden were important players on the field and in the clubhouse.

“Free agent signing-wise among position players, we added Chili Davis – who had a tremendous year hitting out of the middle of the lineup for us,” MacPhail recalled. “Then out of our system we had Chuck Knoblauch, who filled a black hole at second base and wound up being Rookie of the Year that season. He was a tremendous addition. Just to reiterate on a theme, using all avenues to improve your club, Shane Mack – who had a tremendous year for us in rightfield – he was a Rule 5 draft selection. So when I look back on that team, I’m thinking as an organization, we literally employed every method we could to improve the team and make it successful.”

The Twins went to camp in 1991 with a roster that would carry them through the season – as they didn’t make any big in-season moves. MacPhail was asked how he realistically looked at the club he had constructed when the squad reported to Florida for spring training.

“Improved. But I don’t know that we thought we were going to be World Champions, because we had so many variables,” MacPhail said. “I know when we spoke to our owner, Carl Pohlad, about the importance of Morris – even though we had gone into February – we wouldn’t have pressed it and stayed with it and ultimately given him the player-out had we not thought that he was capable of getting us to another level. Not just to be .500, but potentially make the team competitive. We were much more surprised, frankly, with the dramatic rise of the ’87 team from ’86. I was pretty confident that, if the starting pitching held, that we’d be OK. I do think we felt we would be improved, but I don’t think anybody goes in and thinks, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got a World Series team.’ We all know too much for that.”

It’s 25 years later. MacPhail has been with a few other organizations (Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies). He’s had success. He was asked if it’s still as fun now as it was back then.

“The scrutiny is greater today, but the positive of that is that the fans are so knowledgeable that they’re going to critique you not just on your won-loss record, but they’re going to critique you on how efficient you are. Which in some respects is nice,” MacPhail said. “They’re just so much more sophisticated. It’s not just about what you’ve spent. There is so much information available to them, and they know a great deal more than what an interested fan could know back in ’87 or ’91.”

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