Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - Interview With Cardinals Pitching Prospect Ian Bedell

Starting point is 00:00:00 Pitchers and Catchers report next week. And today we're going to talk with Cardinals prospect, Ian Bedell, as he heads into the 2025 season and his first major league camp. This is Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on Cardinals, your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, there are Carlis fans. I'm J.D. Hafford and I'm Eros for Lockdown Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:00:30 Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network covering your team every day. You can follow me on TwitterX at JD Sports Radio as well as the podcast itself at L010 underscore Cardinals. We want to thank those of you who make Locked on Cardinals, your first listen every day. We're free and available wherever you get your podcast. You can find us on YouTube as well. Like, subscribe, comment, and hit that notification button so you know when the new episodes are posted. This is a show serving Cardle Nation and giving the best fans of baseball, all of the info about the birds on the bat.

Starting point is 00:00:55 Today's episode being brought to you by GameTime, download the GameTime app, create an account, and use the code locked on MLB for $20 off your first. purchase. All right. So the Cardinals are making a commitment to the youth in the organization, allowing multiple veterans to walk through free agency to open up spots for younger prospects to get more opportunities in 2025. And one of those prospects is joining us here today, starting picture Ian Bedell coming to you. Ian, how are you, buddy? I'm doing great. How are you? I'm doing all right. I'm starting to get excited for the season. I'm sure you are too. We've got spring training starting at Jupiter, Florida next week. And the team has 26 non-rosster invitees

Starting point is 00:01:36 to camp, nine of them taking part in their very first Major League camp. And you just happen to be one of those. So far, as you get revved up for what's going to be your first camp, who have you talked to, if anyone, about advice and what to expect as you go to your first Major League camp? I mean, I've played with a lot of guys that have been invited. for non-roster invites for last year. And it's a little different. Everybody always says, like, just kind of hang back, listen, learn, rather than trying to be extremely outspoken up front.

Starting point is 00:02:15 But I'm really excited and ready to learn. When you made the jump from double A to AAA this past year, what were some of the biggest differences? Because, you know, obviously you're talking about there's some different. between the minor league camp and spring training and of course what it's going to be a major league camp what were some of the biggest differences between the two levels of double a to triple a that made things more challenging for you last year the abs zone is a lot different there's no top of the strike zone which was really weird uh i pitched in low a on a rehab assignment for like

Starting point is 00:02:53 two or three weeks back in 22 that's the only time i've ever seen the automated zone so running into automated zone was a little different. Approach-wise, the hitters are definitely a little better east and west. They know the sides of the plate really well. I was throwing a lot of stuff, a ball off, and they just weren't swinging at it. And it took some while, it took a while to make those adjustments and learn to pitch through the zone, which sounds stupid because that's what everybody's trying to do. But when you move up a level subconsciously, you're agaried, I have to be this much better when in reality it's the exact same game. You just have to do exactly what you're doing and perform. I'm glad you brought up the strike show and that was something I wanted to ask you.

Starting point is 00:03:38 Was that the biggest difference? You said there's no real top to the zone. Explain that a little bit for maybe some novice people who just kind of watch the game and check it out. What do you mean by no top of the zone when it comes to the automated system? So I felt like I threw a lot of fastballs that were belt high and they were called balls. And I'm sitting there on that. I'm like, I was that a ball? It looks perfect to me. And then you go back in, we have the iPad that showed you the strike zone and you can

Starting point is 00:04:09 go back and look at any of the bats throughout the game. Sure enough, the ball's up. I'm like, wow, that is crazy. And there will be times where a hitter will challenge something. And I'm like, oh, that's definitely the strike. Ball. I'm like, okay, all right, three, two instead of strikeout. And then it'll be times they'll challenge it.

Starting point is 00:04:29 I'm like, all right, that was probably three to five inches off. And it somehow clips the zone. So I visually, everything looks good to me, but it's different seeing it on the iPad in the strike zone and how good the umpires actually are with the zones. Did other of your teammates and coaches kind of have the same issues adjusting to it where they were like, that look pretty darn good? and then be like, yeah, I guess I said it was off. Yeah, I know that there's a few guys that said when you get there, just don't be surprised that every team has it a little different. The Orioles challenged kind of whenever,

Starting point is 00:05:06 and we had a philosophy of on or out. So basically trying to save the challenges for late in the game, unless you were just 100% confident that you had the pitch. So just let it go, essentially. but the zone is it's very very weird. I can only imagine what some of the veteran guys are going to think when they have to try that out for the first time. You know, guys that have, you know, in their 30s and stuff now when they try to adjust to something like that, if it's ever implemented at that level.

Starting point is 00:05:37 That's going to be interesting. What are some of the things that you wanted to work on this offseason to help improve your stock going in to spring training this year? Last year, you were a top 20 prospect in the organization. What were some things that you wanted to improve on to push you up a few spots this year? Well, realistically, I need my average velocity to be just a tick or two higher. I think I was hovering around like the mid-92 range, whatever decimal point that is. I need to be closer to that 94 range, ideally. But the biggest goal of the offseason was to improve the slider.

Starting point is 00:06:15 Once I got the big league ball in my hand from that jump from double A to AAA, which sounds weird. You're playing in pro ball. You should all have the same baseball, but there's a minor league and a big league ball. And the big league ball is a little different, scene-wise. And trying to throw sliders with that, it just kept popping out of my hand and going high in arm's side. So really trying to work on that and then also trying to pick up the velocity on it. When I was throwing it around 84, it was really good. And at 81, it was not getting the same level of swing.

Starting point is 00:06:45 and miss. So that was a big goal of the off season. And then also to refine the change up. At times it's been really good. And then at times it's been really hit or miss. And so far, in the last couple of weeks, the changeups felt really good. And I'm happy with where it's at. When you try to improve velocity, because that's something, you know, a lot of fans are going to notice that, you know, they're always, they're always looking at the, at the radar gun like, oh, there's good. What are some things that you can do or have tried to do to help improve velocity by a ticker to miles per hour wise so the biggest thing that we've looked at is lower body efficiencies with my hips and shoulders like you always hear like hip shoulder separation

Starting point is 00:07:30 and trying to improve on that and I am not the best at that so that was the goal of this season was trying to get the hips more square to the target at foot strike so whenever the front foot hits trying to have your hips pointed more to the plate. That was, that was the goal. And I was using this contraption, I guess you can call it a core velocity belt. It's a strap that goes around your hips and around like your upper thigh. And then you can have a band and you can pull the band to shift your hips and try to feel the variations in that plane. All right. See, is this the interest?

Starting point is 00:08:14 This is this stuff that none of us see because everybody thinks like, oh, he's probably going to just, you know, put on some weight. He's going to weight lift a little bit. Well, I did put on some weight, too. Hopefully that'll help. But that's the behind the scene stuff of the training aspects way more important. All right. Very nice.

Starting point is 00:08:30 All right. Well, we're going to dive into some of the improvements because I want to get your thoughts on how the Cardinals as an organization are making some differences and some changes at the minor league levels. and get your input on that. So we'll have more with Ian Biddle here in just a moment on Locked on Cardinals. The big game is almost here. There's no better way to make it even more exciting than with prize picks,

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Starting point is 00:10:22 a professional pitcher, some good stuff there in segment one. The Cardinals organization is making it a point to improve things at the minor league level to help prospects like Ian get the most out of what they're learning and how they're going to become and prosper as a prospect so that they can find some more success, not only within the organization, but hopefully at the major league level at some point. What improvements, Ian, have you heard about that you're excited to see and be a part of? Because, you know, there's been word that the Cardinals have, you know, had fallen behind in certain things. What are some things maybe that you've heard about that? You're like, oh, that's cool. We're going to get to be a part of that now. Well, we have made a lot of what I believe

Starting point is 00:11:06 are really good hires. So I have been at, I guess we're calling it a winter camp, even though it's two weeks before Thanksgiving, before spring training. And we've, I've gotten to meet the new assistant pitching coordinator, pitching coordinators, some new pitching coaches at the lower levels. And everybody's been extremely helpful. The assistant pitching coordinator, Austin Miney helped me with the change up. And over the last two weeks, it's been really good. Last week, or I guess two days ago, the low-a pitching coach was helping me with the slider and got that. dialed in. So everything's been great so far. We've hired some really good people, which is great. You know, that's the one thing, you know, the fans will say, wow, we haven't done anything at the

Starting point is 00:11:53 major league level. And we kind of knew that going into the season that the major league roster was going to change all that much. But the important thing was the, this reset that we've been talking about. More has to do with what's going on in the minor leagues and stuff to get more, you know, coordinators and assistants and stuff to do help everybody get better. That way that when they do finally break out, they're doing it for the Cardinals and not getting shipped to other organizations and prospering in those spots. What was your reaction as a player in the minor leagues when you heard about this new direction of the organization, you know, leaning more on prospects going into this season instead of relying

Starting point is 00:12:34 on as many veterans and really opening up more opportunities for prospects like yourself. What was the reaction that you had when you heard about this? It's a great time to be a Cardinal. I mean, every guy in the minor league wants a shot. That's the biggest goal. And hearing that the organization is going to move in the direction of, all right, we want our homegrown talent to perform. We're going to give them the chance.

Starting point is 00:12:56 I mean, that's all you can ask for. Being at AAA already, you're one step away. You're truly one step away now. It's that close. And I grew up a Cardinal fan. I'm happy to be here. I want to be here. So hearing that it's going to be the young guy's chance, I'm excited.

Starting point is 00:13:13 The game has changed significantly over the last decade with a bigger emphasis on things like analytics. Can you pull back the curtain? I know you did it a little bit in that segment one already and take us through what a routine is because people always want to know like what's the mindset of a pitcher going into a start each time. Are they sitting around playing cards like they see in the movies or whatnot? What is something that you do for your routine on a day that you're set to make a start as far as like meetings and video and analytic stuff? What are some of the ways that you prepare the day of a start? So on Tuesdays at every level that I've had been at, we have a video breakdown of hitters of the lineup for that day mostly. And you go over the main guys in the lineup who you think are the threats, the base sealers, all of that.

Starting point is 00:14:04 And then on your start day, you go back over more of the data and how you want to approach it, not so much the film aspect. You could do that if you wanted. I have occasionally gone back into our database and looked at film on some guys, but more so you just try to think of your approach on how you want to go about it. So I'd say about two hours before first pitch or so, we're having a meeting between the catchers and the pitching coach. and I guess if any of the starters have anything that they want to say, that would be the time. But most of the time it's just starting pitcher, catcher, and pitching coach going over the plan of how you want to attack hitters, what you want to do in certain situations, all of that. And then about an hour and a half before first pitch really start warming up, foam roll, bands, anything for body prep for that,

Starting point is 00:14:56 and then out on the field about 30 minutes before first pitch. Do you have any, just for yourself, any certain superstitions that you like to do before you make a start or you just pretty much, whatever? Pretty much, whatever. I'll change the prep up. It normally stays pretty similar, but it doesn't have to be the exact same exercises every single time. I will say that the Red Bull gets cracked either about an hour, about an hour 45, before, first pitch, no matter what, I will look at a clock for that, which sounds stupid. But I'll always listen to humble and kind before going out on the field. And then out on the field, everything is down to the

Starting point is 00:15:42 minute of when stretch will start, when catch will start, when I get on the mound, when I get off the mound, all of that. I'll be looking on the clock. You can see me down the left field line, staring at the clock, waiting for exactly 30 minutes before first pitch. So very meticulous about how you want things to go before you hit that rubber for the first time in the game. Yeah, I'll switch it up for like what's contained in that time frame, but that set block is that set block. All right, got you. I've got some other questions for you,

Starting point is 00:16:15 you know, some more fun stuff about, you know, former hitters and, you know, current pitches and whatnot. We're going to get more into that stuff with Cardinals prospect, Ian Bedell, coming up next on Locked on Cardinals. Now, I love going to live events. I'm sure you're the same and going to a playoff game. That's like next level type of fun. It brings the fans together.

Starting point is 00:16:40 We always have a good time, unless our team's losing. But normally it's just a all around really cool experience, whether it is a major league baseball game, whether it's the NFL, the NHL, NBA. You know, how many of you guys have been to a Cardinals playoff game or a blues playoff game at some point? Or, you know, when the Rams were in St. Louis got to go to one of the greatest show-on-turf playoff games, which were insane. Maybe you're in Kansas City right now, and you're just used to

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Starting point is 00:17:33 It's going to get rid of stuff like that. That way you're not searching through all of the tickets to get to where you want to be. The Blues are obviously in the midst of a homestand right now. So you've got your chance to go and get tickets tonight. Defending Champion Panthers are in town. Tickets are as low as $14 right now on the GameTime app. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with GameTime download the GameTime app. Create an account.

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Starting point is 00:18:21 For your second list, and I encourage you to go find Locked-on MLB, our baseball guru, Sully, gives you the daily blend of humor in baseball, keeping you updated on all the teams this off-season as we head into training camp. You can find Locked on MLB on YouTube, wherever you listen to your podcast.

Starting point is 00:18:37 We're talking with Cardinals prospect, Ian Badell, who is going to be making his first appearance at the Major League camp down in Jupiter, Florida. So very nice of him to join us here today. I want to ask you some fun questions, some things we got from some of the fans here. If you could face one current and one former hitter, who would you love to face and compete against?

Starting point is 00:19:02 Former hitters, easy. Favorite player growing up. up was Colby Rasmus. Colby. How about that? Colby Rasmus. Yeah. So he or the Cardinals were my affiliate spot growing up as a little kid in the Quad Cities. And then it became the Astros back when they were really bad. And they had Carlos Correa and Breggman and everybody coming up through. But for some reason, I little four-year-old Ian took to Colby Rasmus. And that was my favorite player growing up.

Starting point is 00:19:30 Currently, Mike Trout. How do you not want to face that? the best hitter. Absolutely. Yeah, we need Trout to get healthy. Like I just want to see him back on the field again. I mean, I feel like some of this generation, they're missing out on them because we got to see it's been like three or four years since he's, you know, the game needs him. Yeah, yeah, since we've seen the real Mike Trout and it's been lacking for sure. I mean, we know the angels could use them, that's for sure. But yeah, Colby Rasmus, who ended up being a huge piece of the Cardinals winning their last championship because he was a part of the trade

Starting point is 00:20:06 that went down that brought them a ton of pieces over from Toronto. So a big piece of Cardle's history and Colby Rasmus. One current pitch in the game that you currently don't throw that you wish you could add to your repertoire. An example would be like Devin Williams

Starting point is 00:20:25 and throwing his airbender pitch. What's something you wish you had the capability of pulling off? Tanner Hauke's slitter. Wow. There you go. So big Mizzou guy, obviously. But I've played catch with him in the off seasons before down here at Cressies. And his slider is gross. It's hit me in the knee before because I've whiffed. But his splitter, like you think you're going to catch it, then all of a sudden it's on your shoe top and it's just gone. I think is gross. I would love to have that. So what is it about it? I mean, I'm sure you've been like, show me how you throw. Is it just because his fingers are humongous or something? What's his, I mean, he's throwing from complete the side. And this thing just looks like it's going dead straight. And then at the last second, it just drops.

Starting point is 00:21:13 Sick. And they want, you never, you never, you never see it coming. Like it's just gone. Because we take it. We, we take it for granted. Like, we're like, oh my gosh, how are these guys not hitting these pitches? They can't see us. It's not even close to the fit.

Starting point is 00:21:25 Nobody realizes those things dip like, right before it hits the plate. You don't know what's happening. The last 10 feet is dropped. In your opinion, what's more important? You can either say this for yourself or just for pitchers in general, velocity or movement. Because again, everybody gets so impressed of 101, 101, 102, when movement is as important to me as anything. What do you think? You know, my mom always gives my dad two options, A or B, and he always chooses C.

Starting point is 00:21:53 So I'm going with C and I'm going with location. Location is the most important thing. But if you made me pick, I'd say velocity, you can, you can. get away more with philosophy than sheer movement, I believe, just because of the timing aspect. But location above all is the biggest, biggest location, location. And now, is that something that coaches and stuff in the organization preach to you guys? Or is that just one of your own personal philosophies as a person? I mean, that's definitely part of it. But that's definitely my philosophy is my dad was always big on location over velocity. And that was the way that I learned.

Starting point is 00:22:31 I didn't do that growing up. I just wanted to throw the ball as hard as possible. But about high school time, I started to give it a little bit more appreciation for what location can do versus just sheer movement or velocity. Now, you mentioned that Colby Rasmus was your favorite player growing up. Is there a certain pitcher that you patted yourself at during your time either at Missouri or just as a little kid? Is there anybody else that you particularly loved watching the pitch? I love watching Corey Klooper back when he was, what, mid-2010? So I was in high school and he was as dominant as ever.

Starting point is 00:23:12 And it was, it was awesome. His slider and slur that he threw, he blew the lineups up. It was awesome. Yeah, watching him in Cleveland over those years. And then unfortunately, the injury bug started to catch up with him a little bit. But yeah, he was, he was disgusting. Not that I've ever faced anybody like that. but if you ever play MLB the show, he's always like one of the best cards in the game,

Starting point is 00:23:33 like trying to hit him is like nonsense. Even there, I have no shot. Yeah. What is a favorite activity of yours outside of playing baseball? Most people will go to golf, but is there something else that you like to do in your free time that just kind of get your mind away from the game itself? Golf. Boring pitcher answer, but golf.

Starting point is 00:23:58 I should be way better than one. what I am. Let me ask you this. Okay, at the different levels you play at and you get a chance to play with the guys. How do you rate amongst some of the other, the other pitchers are usually one of the better golfers in the foursome or do you struggle? Well, about two years ago, I would have said I was one of the better ones. I've gotten worse. I don't know how, but I'd say probably middle of a pack. All right. Final question for you. This weekend, Super Bowl. We got Eagles. We got Eagles, we got Chiefs. You're an Iowa guy. You're from the zoo. Are we rolling with the Chiefs? Or you think in Philadelphia pulls off what I would deem me upset? Well, I am a Packers fan,

Starting point is 00:24:42 but you don't bet. Oh, man. Hold on. I got a turn to something. Good. She's head. Got the cheese head. I've got the ownership. Ownership. Yep. My dad's got the same thing in the basement. I am legit, huge Packers fan as well. I figured as much from Iowa that you might like Green Bay, but I am, I'm rolling with the chief. You don't bet against my homes. Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. I was like, I'm like, I don't understand how everybody is like, well, they're got to fall this time. But I don't know. History in the making. Kelsey, Taylor Swift, they got everybody on their side. I'm just, I'm thinking Kansas City on this one as well. All right, Ian, I appreciate your time.

Starting point is 00:25:28 And I want to wish you the best of luck headed down into spring training. And hopefully some point this year, not only do you have success in Memphis, but we hope to see you in the show at Bush Stadium at some point. You know, I wish you the best of luck this year, buddy. Thank you. And thank you guys for making lots on Carlton's your first listen every day.

Starting point is 00:25:47 If you haven't already, please give us a follow on Twitter X at L-O-W-W-D Sports Radio, like, subscribe on YouTube, help our channel and love for the Cardinals grow. You guys are the best fans in baseball for a reason. And we will see you next time on lockdown cardless.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - Interview With Cardinals Pitching Prospect Ian Bedell

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