It has been too long since I made an update. I apologize for that.
If you want the too long, don’t read, I’ll toss one at the bottom.
Anyways, I have worked my way into my third spring training, with my third team, in the last three years. How many guys can say that? Probably not too many. Is that good? Is that bad? It could be like my college career doing five schools.
It was a culmination of hard work throughout an atypical off season. This year was similar to last year when I was scrambling to go to different workouts, and different places to make sure that I had the most eyes on me as possible.
The latest of these adventures brought me to Florida for a camp/workout place that took place in early February. This meant that I had to be firing on all cylinders in early February, when I was still throwing max effort into December. The camp was very straight forward, we have X amount of players here, we will do a scrimmage every day, and then go from there. It was not a real scrimmage, but had the turtle set up, and the coaches watching, as well as doing pitch count in favor of three out innings. It was structured like early spring training live batting practice sessions.
There was an intro meeting on a Friday night, and my first appearance in the camp was on Monday. I ended up throwing that Friday as well. The first day of workouts on Saturday I threw a small bullpen because I wanted to make sure I knew what throwing off a dirt mound feels like. Luckily for me it went pretty well and I still remembered how to throw off the dirt.
My first outing of 20 pitches went well in the first game. I was throwing strikes, had good velocity, and overall for a first outing in February it went very well. I followed up that outing with an outing on Friday that went similar, this time was around 40 pitches, and much of the same results. For me, it was good to see that the mechanical changes, as well as a few new grip variations on different pitches are going to pay off in the long run.
After my Friday outing, the MLB scout of the Red Sox informed me that they were going to make me an offer. They had seen me before in the fall at different workouts, eventually throwing in front of the right person, then ultimately confirming their expectations of me seeing me live in a game. The feedback I got from the scout was that I need to let it rip, even though I am in the 90s while trying to guide the ball sometimes, there is still more in my tank when I trust my mechanics. A scout from another team told me that my pitching balls haven’t dropped yet, which makes sense. I am still a greenhorn in the pitching game, but I am feeling good about my opportunity this season.
It was certainly unexpected for me because the camp still had about five days going forward, and I was told to no longer show up. The thought process was that now I would be under contract, and that if an accident occurred it would be a bad look. If I said that going into this week long camp I expected to sign with another affiliated club, I don’t know if I would have believed it. The fact that another ball club believes in me enough to bring me in for at least a few weeks of camp means that I need to step up my belief in myself.
The difference between this signing and Colorado signing is that I think the Rockies signed me late enough they were sure what to do with me coming out of spring training. The good news is for the Red Sox it was still early enough for them to formulate a plan going forward and know where I am going to fit into their camp. Which brings me to my next area that I am writing about.
Last year I had my IMG trip set up so I could mosey over to Orlando and be ready to go by March 3. With my release from Atlanta this seemed silly at first, but then I figured hey it is already booked might as well go train there. After I signed with Colorado, I still had a week left on my stay, which IMG gave me as a credit to use at a later time. The camp here ended on Feb 15. IMG has stuff during the week, but not during the weekend. I made my week credit transfer to the following week, to start on Sunday night and run from Feb 19-25ish. I was already in Florida, it made sense to stay here, and if I was not signed on with anyone yet I would give it the college try like last year and hopefully get a last minute look before Spring Training. Then I was looking at the Red Sox paperwork and saw that they had a mini camp starting on Feb 19 and running right up to Spring Training. The thing was, you either had to come on the 19th to get your physical with the group, or show up March 3rd.
The decision was made to hustle to Fort Myers to get an early introduction into the life and times of being a minor league player with the Red Sox. The only part of the set up that is tough is that you have to pay your own way if you come early to the camp, and I am currently typing this from my second ever AirBnB set up. It has been going pretty well, I usually just lurk in my room and spend most of the time at the field.
The first two days I have been here have been fun. It is hard to keep track of every person I meet and remember their name, but the good news is I am doing this right now, instead of catching up and doing it on March 3rd. I’ve been doing conditioning tests, bullpens, running, PFPs, all the things you would do in spring, just early.
The early testings of bio-mechanics and stuff are kinda wonky, bur fun at the same time. This year I am coming in a healthy 260 lbs, 14% fat, and the strength coaches identified a weakness in my lower ab area from all the testing we have done. It has something to do with my quads working harder to lift my legs rather than my strong core lifting my legs for me. This means that during the mornings of activation in the weight room I have extra stretching and core work before each day on the field. The first two days we were in the afternoon, but now that the big league club is starting up their games in the afternoon we are on a morning schedule similar to March. The sessions are lighter than normal training, but that is because they do not want burn anyone out in February.
The schedule each day follows a similar routine to what will happen in March – just a little more laid back. The standard day of meetings in the morning, stretching, throwing, pitchers fielding practice, running, and shagging is the pitching life style. I am glad I came early to work on these aspects of the game that will give me a, hopeful, leg up on the rest of the guys who are not here yet. The bullpen schedule looks like it will be every other day, but as more guys arrive to camp next week I think they will space them out more. As much conditioning and working out you do in the offseason, for some reason no matter what, your strength is always sapped when you get to March. Even in my second pen today I was feeling tired at the end and it was only about 25 pitches. I usually roll into the gym and throw my pen, all these dynamic warm ups, and jogging around is taking it out of me. That is why I am here though so when March and games start I will be in good shape.
With this in mind, it is a good opportunity for the coaches to get to know me, and me to know them. I had a player plan meeting with the coaching staff, and development guys, which they showed me every pitch I had thrown with Atlanta. I thought that was sweet that organizations are tracking pitches with new technology, rather than just relying on scouts to send word back to the club. The coaches also mentioned how they would like to get me to throw more of a true slider rather than a normal breaking ball, that will better compliment my pitch style and arm angle going forward.
With all this being said, this is a make or break year for me. Coming in with my past, my experience, my pitch-ability, everything that goes into keeping my job, will ride on this year. I feel good about where I am at going into spring I feel confident I can make a team for the first time in my young spring career. I do not know anything about the Red Sox system or how they operate, but they are a storied franchise.
I am happy that I will get to report from another Spring Training for those who have continued to follow my strange journey, and for those just reading for the first time this year. I do my best to write what I am feeling and thinking each update, and give my honest opinions about what is happening in my career. I will have no worries or regrets knowing that up to this point I have been doing whatever I can to keep playing, and like I said, convinced a third team to believe in me. The rest is up to me performing, in my third full year of pitching. The whirlwind of the last few years has culminated into this spring, or as I call it my junior year of competition. In the few days I have been here I have already met good people, who are veterans, and first timers. One of my goals going into spring is to help the younger guys, and first timers navigate their way through their first experience in Spring Training. If nothing else, being able to lend an ear or talk about my experience to help someone else is important to me.
I will have more to come as the camp starts to ramp up, and training officially begins on March 3rd. Until then, it is a game of repetition as I look to make a good impression on the Red Sox and their coaching staff.
TL:DR – Red Sox
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