Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 154 | Rangers LHP Taylor Hearn Was Drafted Four Times

Episode Date: June 5, 2020

Taylor Hearn is a 6-5 southpaw for the Texas Rangers. He was drafted in four consecutive drafts, made his MLB debut in 2019, and might already be better than Madison Bumgarner (at being a Rodeo Cowboy). He'll also crush you at NHL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to Talking Baseball. We got special guests, Taylor Hearn, joining us on the show today. Let's do it. What's going on, everybody? Welcome to Talking Baseball. My name is John Boy. I got Trep with me. We got Jake here, producer BBDs with us, and we have another interview coming to your way.

We just wrapped up with Texas Ranger. Texas Ranger Taylor Hearn. He made his debut last year. Got hurt. crazy story got drafted a bunch got traded a bunch we covered it all jake trev how do you think it went trev you like talking to these young guys huh i do i think that's kind of what we need to say about old taylor is he's a freak and you know i love the freaks especially on the mound six five left you bring in the cheese and we approached a couple different topics about that

talked about bullpen we talked about letting it eat for what what could he do with that? But as always, pitchers love the starting role. And I think he wants to stay there. But I wouldn't be surprised, you guys. I would not be surprised if we had a Josh Hader, Amir Garrett,

Andrew Miller, tall, lefty that could just come in and shut people down. I think that's kind of what the Rangers have in Taylor. Everyone listening, you'll hear this, but Trev asked him at one point if he could get to a hundred,

and he was kind of like, I have, dude. Yeah, like, hunge, whatever. Yeah, whatever. Jake, what do you got, Jake? Taylor's awesome. Good baseball stuff, good life stuff. And, yeah, ploof, I mean,

I feel like I big time biz you a little bit, but like you got a starting pitcher. You know, don't tell him about the bullpen, bro. He knows it's out there. But I think the bigger thing, and I mentioned it so I don't want this to be tuned my own horn, but there's a position in baseball that's forming that's just a weapon. It's give me two or three out of the pen and like let's win this game. And I mean, guys like Hater are already doing this.

And dude, if this guy's numbers are what they are and he's hitting on the gun and he can control it a little bit, like I think it's the future of baseball whenever I'll spin this to Yankees as we always do. whenever Jabba Chamberlain gets mentioned in Yankee land, me and Jimmy say how he was 10 years too early because they would have said, okay, you don't need to close, you don't need to start. Let's get you in the two to three most important innings of this game and just mow people down. And I mean, the league's obviously heading there in different ways. But yeah, man, with the expanded roster and with guys not being stretched out, if we get this baseball season, like, I think Taylor Hearn's going to be twirling the pill and get a real opportunity.

I'm excited for that. Yeah. All right. Let's throw it right to the interview, and then we'll wrap up a little bit. Here he is, we are joined by Texas Rangers pitcher. Taylor Hearn. Taylor, how you doing, man? Oh, man, I'm doing good.

Doing good. Just taking a day by day in this pandemic and with the virus and just waiting for the season start, hopefully. Yeah, man. We're going to be fast friends. We're going to talk some baseball. We're going to talk some life. So let's stay.

Do it, man. Where are you coming from right now? I'm staying in downtown Dallas. I live down here now. So I kind of got out of Roy City just to move close to the stadium. But yeah, so I'm closer to food. I can just walk and go to stuff now. So it's a little bit easier. I actually lived in Dallas for a couple years and I missed the food really bad. The Tex-Mex, Tacos E. Moss was myself. I'll get off of that for now. I'll let the other guys talk. I want to let you know that we talked before the show a little bit, you know, said hi,

but one thing I left out is I'm pretty good buddies with your spring training roommate, Scott Heineman. So I got to ask a few questions about you before we got on. And Scott, he's not shy. Scotty shares everything, I'm sure. Oh, no. Mm-hmm. Yeah, Scott's not scared to say whatever's on his mind and share it, that's for sure.

Yeah, we had Lance Lynn on, and I also, I asked us, man, you know, you know Scott Eimmy's. Oh, he's always walking on his tippy toes. He's got his shoulders back, loving, you know, he shows off his muscles. I encourage anyone that just listens to the pod to go and Google Scott Heineman, kind of see what you're, what we're talking about. You'll see right away. This guy is like, he's like a cartoon character. He walks with a briefcase under his arm every day. And he told us some stuff about you. Okay. One, he said big gamer.

So he told me you're an NHL guy. He said you claim to be the best in the clubhouse. Is that something that you're going to back up here? In the spotlight, it's going to be recorded. Do you back that statement up? I 100% back it up. 100%. NHL, for sure, FIFA.

And MLB is show. That's a different story. There's some guys in there that play way more than me. But, yeah, NHL, FIFA. And I would say Madden. I've been getting back at it, but, you know, Madden for sure, though. But FIFA and NHR are the big one. Do you have a team in NHL?

That I play with? See, so I've gotten kind of used to playing with other teams. So I play with, I used to play like San Jose, and sometimes I play with Vegas. who else? St. Louis has a blues. They got a pretty good team defensively, too. But it used to be the stars,

but when I play Jose Trevino all the time, and I play a bunch of my buddies that live here, they want to play with the stars. So I kind of got used to playing with different teams. Jim, there used to be your games back when you played, man. I mean, those are the best video games to play against another human. NHL and FIFA, because the game speed is good.

it keeps going and like kind of anyone can play like if you play someone who's good in madden and you're not like that's a bad time real quick but i feel like you can get a good shell game out of a lot of people for sure for sure sounds like taylor's kicking ass though so i'm not playing i'm not you're out i've retired from the video we used to crush fifa in college but i only like playing we would play two v2 just all day yeah that was a mess that's the best that's sloppy um so yeah so you're you're living in Dallas. I mean, are you amidst the chaos right now? Is it, you know, on your front, front door? Yeah. So I was actually, I was actually coming home. Yeah, we went to, went to my girlfriend's friends party and we're on our way home. We're driving up Main Street. And we're about

to pull into my apartment. And they, and we literally like, as we're pulling in, we see, and like they looted um um um the babe shop down here they like broke all the glass and everything and they go up the street and i saw them you know hit a coffee shop they hit one of the sneaker stores down here politics that's a really good spot as well um but yeah it's been it's been it's been all around but like the last couple days you know they've done uh they started doing the curfew and we it's been it's been like a ghost town in here so They cut off at 7. I'll go out to my balcony and you can look down Elm and Main Street and just downtown.

It's like you can hear a pin drop. Like it's like that quiet. Man, it's nuts. And like that's how it was with, you know, Corona and all that. And now it's so weird the whole thing like we went from no people to so many people and now they're mandating no people when they're mandating no people originally. It's crazy, man. But I mean, I know that Trev played with some minor league teams.

I think you guys may have played on the same. And, you know, Travis told us, like, there's some towns in these minor league facilities that kind of live up to the issues that, you know, are being highlighted and broadcast across everywhere, everywhere, every social media, every TV network. I mean, what was your experience like going to some of these smaller towns or just in baseball in general? It wasn't really much of a shock to me, but, like, it was, I was kind of used. to at time when I was younger, I played at fields that weren't the best, you know. And but going to these minor league parks that are just not the best either. Like it can be a shock as well because, you know, I don't know if Trevor played. Trevor, did you ever play in the Forest State League?

I did. That's a horrible league. Okay. So he was 100% back me up on that. So when you go play Dayton and they, and the, the, the, uh, the, uh, the, uh, Cincinnati Reds, high age team. You know, they, they like, your hotels right on the beach. Like, you know, it lets you think you're about to go to the ice park, you know,

then you pull up and, you know, the dugout is not that big. And the dugout is so small that after I got done throwing, I had to go do my arm can. I'm coming out to go get in the dugging. And I can't even, I got to sit outside. And there's like fans right behind me. Oh, yeah. I mean, it's, you know, and then also I was in Hagerstown, Maryland when I was with

the Pirates. or national, excuse me, at the time. And then West Virginia with the Pirates also, that was, you know, those towns weren't the best as well. And then Bradenton, Bradenton wasn't bad either. But, you know, a lot of the places you go play, like, they're really, like, they're not that good. But you see why, like, baseball, why they eat,

why there's so many people that go to the game because it's all they have in the town. That's what they thrive in and, like, depend on. Yeah, the Florida State League is, I mean, it's probably the best league for facilities. Daytona Beach is not one of the best facilities, but it is a fun hotel. I remember having some good times there. But at least you have the facilities, you know, I've told a lot of people this, you know, we didn't play at great high school fields in my league that I played in. But when I got to

pro ball, the fields were a step back, 100%. And it's a shock to me. Like it's, I didn't matter that much to me, like I said, because I was a high school kid and fields were okay. But for guys coming from LSU or, you know, some of these big time schools where they put a lot of money into these fields and these programs, you're absolutely taking, not one, but probably two steps back in like the amenities side of things and the quality of the field. It's, it's a, I think it's an eye-opening experience for a lot of people the first year they get into pro, like, what, this is, this is interesting. Yeah, yeah, especially, you know, low A and short season at high for sure, but I mean every coach I've ever had all I mean I'm sure that you know as well they always say

the higher you know up the better to feel good I would say that's that's a that's a little if you what uh what part of we talked before about just for the audience to know what part of like your i don't even know what to call this like your second off season like are you in like where are you at throwing wise what are you built up for right now because we we talk about this all the time the show Baseball is going to be here soon or it's not going to be here, but you got to be ready for it. Are you stretched out completely? Yeah.

Yeah. So, like, I've been doing up-down, like, two-inning and built up to least, you know, 40, 50 pitches. And honestly, whenever all that stuff happened, we came back down, I didn't stop throwing. So I was just ready, you know, I'm going to keep, you know, continue to keep throwing. But, like, I'm at a good spot right now. You know, got all the sprint. training arm cranking is out the way. You suffered two injuries last season.

Like you were out with elbow and then came back and then on the path back fractured something again. Is that correct? Yeah. So it was just crazy. But so before like it had bothered me a little bit before my debut. But when I got on the debut as well, but it was a, grade one UCL spring so I went down to Arizona

rehab that and then for six weeks and then I'm about to throw I'm about like literally I'm throwing my last live BP about to hop in the games that next week

go through three games and then get shipped out to Nashville so I get I'm almost done I start feeling some like stuff in my arm and I'm like man it feels like somebody's like just clicking a nerve

like that nerve that runs under your elbow, like I feel like come up just hitting it every time I threw and come to find out it was a stress fracture that was under there. So then they had to shut me down for another six weeks. So needless to say, I was out in Arizona for the whole season last year, and it wasn't fun. No, that's not fun, man. Rehab will steal your soul. You know, you got to go in there and be as mentally tough as you can be. People might say, what are you talking? talking about, like you go, just go rehab. But it's just, you want to be playing. You're a baseball player. And the feeling of like helplessness you have when you're on the DL rehabbing something is it's a tough thing to go through. Whether people want to believe me or not, you know, I'm saying

it. I'm sure Taylor, you probably think the same thing. It's not a fun thing to go through. And then, yeah, you're spending your time in Arizona or Florida in these, these spring training sites. And it's hot. So anytime you go out, it's, yeah, it's just a bad, bad thing. to be going. And the worst thing is like, yeah, the worst thing is like I've rehabbed in both Arizona and Florida, and they weren't good. But hey, you know, when you, you know, that first month and a half, you know, not everybody can have a Scott Heineman to rehab with.

But he made it a lot easier. Yeah, you're right. He brings the energy. If he brings anything at all, it's energy every single day. Him and I have had some dustups in the weight room. You can ask him about this. I actually quit. I took a week off in the one off season.

And I was like, I need a mental break from you, Scott. Him and I were budding heads every single day. Because we both, like, we're in this little gym, and we're just getting after it. And you get competitive, and then you say something. He was popping off saying stupid things, and I'd pop right back to him. And finally, I was like, I need to break from this.

And we're like really good buddies. So I don't want anyone to think he's like an asshole or something. He's not. he's great but but uh that energy man him and i we we but it had it was fun it was it was a good time now that i look back at i laugh i don't i don't see i don't see how like anybody could hate that guy scott is scott is awesome i could tell you no i'm just kidding you know you know the me and scott went to during spring train we went to the mall one day right and um there was a mike trout shirt and this guy he was like he looked at yeah he looked at and he goes

you know you he goes you know you what you can call me now and I'm like what he goes Mike Trout mini I was like why I'm like you're not Mike Trout he goes yeah I am because I'm me better than Mike Trout I was oh do me big guy I'm not that's him that's him but also if he stood next to Mike Trout he might he seriously I don't know what he would do Mike Trout probably need a restraining order after it he probably well Taylor I want I want to ask you a little bit because because, man, I'm going through some of the numbers, and, dude, some of the strikeouts and innings numbers, I mean, they're where you got to be.

And I want a little bit, and I want to make this into two different conversations, but like, what's your pitch mix? What are you bringing? And then I kind of want to relate that to the Rangers staff a little bit this year, because like we mentioned to you before, we talked to Lance Lynn, and we're like, man, there's some dudes in the Rangers organization right now. We left Kluber off, and Lance Lynn was like, I hype Kluber up. every day like that guy's got sigh youngs so i and i also want to relate that to being a lefty a little bit

because mike minor yes he's a lefty and i was going to say maybe that's someone you lean on but he also pitches differently he uses that like high change up and it's awesome to watch but also other pitchers might not be able to use that so i want a little bit on your mix and how you've been able to kind of work with different guys within the organization um so my mix so i throw i got rid of my two-scene fastball but i throw a four scene slider and change up right here for seamer right here that's what I'm a lot of those um probably um but uh yeah four seam change up slider um I actually tightened up my slider this this off season I got it so whenever I was throw on a slider it'd be

like 80 you know 83 84 85 and change it'll be like 88, 89. And I got to the point where I tightened it up. And I, you know, I watched a lot of video of Jacob de Grom for a long time. And, you know, I got to ask a bunch of people that were around him and, like, what was him in Senegard doing? The reason why they were throwing, like, these slides at, like, 92, 93 miles an hour. And come to find out, they were throwing a cutter.

You know, they just would, like, manipulate just a little bit. So I was always like, man, if I get this, because I'm always trying to figure out what can I do to take each pit just that much better, you know, that every year. So this offseason I did a lot of research and trying to work with different grips. And, you know, Jeffrey Springs, who was with us, he's with the Red Sox now. But he said that Mike Miner showed him this grip

that, like, Verlander showed him about, like, type of slider he throws and stuff like that. And he's like, man, I'm trying it out. And so he was throwing it. And, you know, it was a tight spin and stuff. And I was like, you know what? Let me try it. So I tried it out for about four or five pitches.

And I swear my stuff was like, it was just hard, late. and everything and it was coming out so kept up with it came to spring training first game and i mean they they pulled me off the side and they were like our video guys were like hey uh what pittes that you're doing you started throwing a cutter now i'm like no swatter but like yeah we got up for 91 on the first game so i was like oh you know that's exactly what i wanted you know so um but just like the arson like you said like just it's hard to it's hard to like i can sit there and talk to guys about different approach,

about how they approach, you know, certain hitters just because, like, if I try to talk to Mike, you know, he can give me great advice to Lance as well. But I've come to realize even in minor league baseball as well, but just coming through the ranks, like everybody approaches every pitcher different, you know,

and I'm sure Trevor can testify to it. Like, he's not, his approach ain't going to be the same. Like he, when he would, like, if he would face, you know, righty Jacob de Grum, then what he would face me the next time. Because, you know, they would obviously, he'd be looking for, like different stuff. So, and so it's, I honestly just been learning just by myself over the last couple years, about how to, how guys are approaching me and what they're looking

for and everything, asking hitters and stuff like that. So, um, I would say a lot of stuff I just learned on my own as well and then working with my trainer, um, who's here. And, but yeah, just learning on my own, you know, because, you know, I can sit there like, like when I was with the Pirates, Mitch Keller would throw and then I would throw after him. And so I sit there and write the sky. report and it got to the points where after like two games and we faced like the Phillies and then over and over again I'm like I had to tell our pitch the coach I'm like hey I can't I can't do this like I'm writing the reports on how they were pitching him but I said man they're hitting me they're like approach is way different than mine you know and they were like so I think that's just one thing I learned just trying to learn about myself as well because you know I'm a different guy you know hard throwing lefty and you know different stuff than Lance Lynn and other guys yeah When you say Go ahead, Jim.

I just want to know the nitty, of like the cutter and slider, like how different is the actual grip? Is it finger placement, pressure points? Like if you were to show me one grip and then the other, would I be like, oh, those are two completely things? Or would you have to actually tell me, like,

no, you see this is pressure here? Is it big change those two different grips? Honestly, no. It's just with me, it's just like, it's just, I don't even think, really that much about finger pressure, it's just more so just a grip. You know? So I was like thinking, if I could just get something to where I don't have to think about

throwing it and like manipulate and just throwing like a fastball, and then that was it. And then I got to the point I got more comfortable with it. I would add a little bit at the end of where I'd snap my wrist just a little bit, just get extra bite and stuff on it. So like to me it's just a grip. What I wanted to ask you when I, I mean, you're a nightmare, bro. Six-five lefty that throws hard. Like that's, you know, you don't want to face that, right?

So I'm thinking about other guys that are comparable to you. Josh Hader, Amir Garrett, these guys are tall lefties that they're hard. And both of them and yourself included starters in the minor leagues. Now obviously haters closing games out. Amir has been in the bullpen for a couple years now. You, I talked to Scott, he said that you'd want a job in the bullpen in Texas. Is that something? Because I know a lot of pitchers have strong.

feelings about this. Are you like, I'm a starter, but I'll help in the bullpen. Or are you like, hey, man, like maybe this bullpen thing is going to be my ticket to a long big league career. Do you have a lean one way or do you just say I'm there for whatever? So I can do both. But I think just something I've always enjoyed. And I think just me just value and just believing in myself was like I can start because, you know, I grew up watching Don Trellullet, you know, seeing Randy Johnson watching David Price and seeing just a bunch of lefties come through. And I'm like, man, you know, like growing up and then starting to realize my stuff. I'm like, I got the similar stuff that they got. So, you know, I can do it. But, you know,

I just, I think the situation that we're in right now, I mean, you got a Cy Young guys in the rotation, you know, can't beat those guys as well. So I'm always open to experience in the bullpen just to get in the big leagues as well. So I'm always open to that. So now my follow-up question to that is starter, you probably need a three-pitch mix. You don't have to, but I think that serves you well as a starter going through the lineup a couple different times. A bullpen guy, you could be a two-pitch guy. Do you alter your pitch mix knowing that, hey, I'm going to be in the bullpen to start the year? Are you, like, gung-ho on two pitches, or are you still going to mix in that third pitch as well?

No, I think I have to mix in that third pitch. I just think like with me, with them wanting me to be like, you know, before other stuff happened, they wanted me to be a long guy out of the pen to go three, you know, three or four innings. So I was like, I can't, I'm not going to sit there and try to limit it and be like just cut it down two pitches because like, you know, I got faith in all three of my pitches. So. But now I think even in like one inning, I got to have three pitches because I don't want hitters to try to eliminate one pitch and then think that's all I got. That's what they would do. that's a good mindset.

Yeah, yeah. And I know players kind of can't let their headspace go this direction, but also, A, in any baseball team, in any year, that a three-enning bullpen guy is becoming more and more valuable, you know, by the year. But this year, and I don't know if you've let your mind wander there, but, dude, if you can come in and throw three innings twice a week, that's going to be one of the most important roles on a lot. of baseball teams this year. I mean, there's, especially to start the season and if guys aren't

going to build up, I mean, like, that's going to be a massive role that we're going to see around baseball. And you're currently in that and, you know, an injury away, which happens to literally every baseball team, you're in the rotation. So have you, have you thought, like, about that role? Do you let yourself get there? Is it like, just get built up and get my stuff to the best it can be? Honestly, it's a mixture of both. Like, I mean, I like it. You know, I like going the distance. and even if that's coming out of a pen, you know, anything I can do to try to help the team, you know. And that was something that came up to me and asked me about in spring training.

They're like, hey, you know, we believe me as a starter. We want you to have a starter. But just right now, like, you know, how do you feel about coming out of the pen, you know, for two or three innings, you know, being long relief on my, I can do that. Like, just, you know, just give me enough time and spring train to get used to it and find a routine because it's not starting that worked for me. And I said, I'll be good to go, you know. do you ever just sit back and dream about just mowing guys down for one inning like i just think of

like guys and i'm like okay a guy like you you probably what do you sit 94 probably yeah 94 95 yeah 90 yeah 94 95 like just one inning just if you okay let me just ask you this hypothetically i'm sorry my mind is wandering now hypothetically you're like dude i'm gonna buy buy into this bullpen thing i want to be a closer i'm gonna be a ralvers chatman you know David Price did that his first year he came up and was reliever. I remember saying, that guy should be in the bullpen for good. Clearly, I was wrong about that one. He got a pretty good career as a start.

But like, if you were to just hypothetically, just let it eat for one in it, what do you sit in that? Do you have that extra gear in there? Are you hitting hunch? Are you getting there? Oh, I could for sure. You're getting it going right now. Yeah, I did like,

four, like four years ago. And starter? Yeah. Oh my God. But the thing is, the thing is, I have a, every, every year since then, it's been like, oh, my God, bad lighting. Every year, every year since then, it's been like just 98, 99. So it's like, I got to.

Okay, okay. So 100% you could get there. That makes, man. I have a thing for, like, lockdown reliever. so it's in the tank for sure but as i've gotten older as well like i've learned how to add and subtract on fastball and just different you know mainly the fast wall as well so like instead of me coming in trying to sit 95 98 you know the whole game i'm trying to i started taping it back to where like i'll sit you know maybe 92 and reach back for 95 if i need to you know later on the game then

that's when i'll really bring it out that's a skill that's a skill That's the Verlander special right there. Yeah, that's pretty. I don't know if it's really the Verlainter special because, you know, he could start out, what, 90, 91 first inning and then by the eighth inning, he's 99 to 100. I don't know if I do that. I don't understand how he did it. And I faced him a ton of my career and he'd be like, oh, Verlena, he doesn't really have

his A stuff today. And then you're sitting in the sixth inning. He's all of a sudden blowing 97. He's a freak, man. He's a freak. Yeah. It's in there, though, because one game I do remember today, we were playing Tampa Bay's high A team, and I'm in the sixth inning. I strike out the last two guys, and I remember hearing the third base and came up to him in the dugout, and he goes, the third base coach is shocked.

And I was like, why? He's like, he said this first words to me is after this first bat, he goes, he still throwing 98 and win the sixth inning. I was like, I was like, yeah, I was like, yeah, I was just like, bro, that's what, like, I'm, I'm ready for it, you know? We were going through your baseball reference in Wikipedia and some that we were kind of surprised by or interested in that you were drafted four different times.

You turned down three. So how did that go? Who was your like, you know, who were you getting advice or was it you or who was saying like, ah, nah, wait it out, you'll get drafted because, you know, for the, for the, people listening. It was 22nd round, no, 36 round, no, 25th round, no. And then you get the fifth round, the fourth time.

So, I mean, clearly you're getting some good advice. It worked out. How did that whole audio break down? So what I think what a lot of people don't know is so that first year, my senior high school, when I got drafted by the Pirates on 22nd round, I didn't even play my senior year. I got hurt. I need to play.

Really? So I was, so I was, I had strained my UCL in high school. And so the Rangers and Doctor at the time, he was like, hey, you can't do anything yet. But towards the back half of the season, I was playing first base in outfield. But he's like, you can hit. He's like, you can't get on the mound yet. So I need, I need pitch. I did one workout for the Pirates, one workout.

And then they draft me out for that because they called me and everyone at this evening. So then I go to San Dicino Junior College in Houston, and I go down there and pitch four innings and get hurt again. And then, you know, I was asleep on my couch in my parents' room and got a call from the Reds in 36 round. And then I just, and then just going through all that also, I just felt like, you know, I was ready for it but wasn't like mature enough yet. And I think just like I didn't I haven't even shown people what I could do to You know get paid just a little bit So then you know go to I had surgery had a stress fracture so they put a screw in my elbow So then I missed the rest of my freshman year and then they had some medical red shirt

Issues as well so then I got declared a sophomore didn't know it So then I get drafted about twins in the 25th round and you know didn't pitch up his like eight innings that year and then go to Oklahoma with Baptist and, you know, get drafted in the fifth round. But one thing my advisor agent at the time was like, you need to go somewhere, somewhere that's different, new set of eyes on you and just new scout. So you can build up your stock. He's like, these scouts have seen you since you were in high school. He's like, so you need some new eyes to see.

So that's when I went to Oklahoma Baptist, you know, NAA school at the time. And, you know, the velocity was creeping up as well. And then, you know, the champion conference championship game, I got up to 99. And then that was, you know, that was just, you know, and my mom was happy too because she was asking me after the game. She's like, how do you feel that? I said, I'm upset that we didn't, you know, we didn't win. But I said everything I went through and just was patient through the process and just like

just basically invest in it and believing in myself, you know, it's going to pay off. I mean, sure enough, get taken into the fifth round by the national. So I was like, you know, the weight was worth it. Yeah, there you go. It worked out perfectly. And then, and then you also got drafted. four times, traded for twice, the pirates. Was it the same scout and crew that wanted you back out of high school,

that then traded for you? That's kind of cool if they were like, we still want you. They did. They were still talking. When I went, got traded over there, I remember my first bullpen. It was in Winston-Salem. And I'm throwing a bullpen in front of a bunch of their, you know, GMs and everybody.

And they were like, man, why don't you want to find what us in high school? You know, and I told him straight up, I was like, you guys weren't going to pay me. Yeah, no kidding. So I was like, I was like, y'all weren't going to pay me. So I was like, why would I sit there and try to take lessons? Why not I just battle myself and go to school? But it was a pretty cool thing to come full circle with that organization. Because, you know, talking to a bunch of those guys over there, like, man, you know,

we've been watching some high school, we've progressed and stuff. So it was pretty cool. I mean, if I'm an organization and we're doing a regular draft, we're doing five rounds this year, which is ridiculous. regular drafts 40 rounds the first 10 rounds i'm going to go best player available just you know whatever after that my the rest of my picks are going to be 6 5 and above pitchers yeah that's it dude like i don't know why they don't more teams don't do that like obviously they saw something you like you were projectable that's what they're going to call you

until finally how many 6 5 pitchers do you think are just in high school i don't know i'm guessing search for all of them, though. I would search for all of them. And offering some... There's no, like, there's six, five pitches, but how many of them are lefty though? It was a real question. Exactly. That's... It's even more to my points. Like, you, yeah, like, the whole this 25th, 24, 23rd round, get out of here with that. Like, you have, you have something you can't teach, bro. Like, you can't teach six, five, can't... Yes, you kind of teach left feet.

Yeah. But the VLO's there. I don't know, man. Like, seems like a weird thing that that was the case for you and then all of a sudden national snatched you up in the fifth round like what yeah but then it didn't get for you for betting yourself man it was yeah but it was it was just a mat i mean it was and trevor you know as well like going through the whole draft process like those teams those teams like when you're honest with them you asking me like i'm asking teams like hey do you see me oh we got you 15 to 20th you know stuff like that i'm just like whatever you know what me so it got to the point to where i got tired of it and i just was like look i'm gonna continue investing myself and i got to the point to where i hit 70 80 innings and did well and it shows the

loss and i'm like it's out there i'm like now just you know now try to take me at a spot that i like so you know but yeah that whole draft process stuff is the most frustrating stuff ever man and that well you you get to the pirates and in 2018 you're in double a and your numbers are silly like you have a 14 before they traded you had a 14 game stretch like a 120 batting average against two something era were you kind of shocked that they they then turned and traded you because you're you're part of that triple a team and crushing it were you excited about the trade or is it just another step in the journey oh my dude it was um that was a lot of mixed emotions because a lot of those guys i had started you know been put in

playing with since loway. And I honestly, I kind of, I wouldn't say a fog coming, but like the writing was on the ball because there was talks of it in the locker because, you know, there was talk that the Rangers were interested, you know, and a couple guys with the pirates, but I was like, man, I was like,

man, I've been trading one. I was like, there's no way I'm about to get traded again. You know, and then, you know, pulling up to the ballpark, our video guys were like, hey, I get to the ballparking video guys Like hey the Rangers guy You know they get the list of like What scouts are here

And it's like the Rangers brought like a high executive here And I'm just like oh I wonder who they seem like no here's to you I'm like nah that's probably not So I go down to the bullpen Go warm up and I see this guy like following me To the bullpen I'm like oh okay So it is so it might be me

So But now it was it was pretty crazy You know It was it was something that I kind of you know would be what was always open to but I honestly I I had talked to a bunch of guys like in different sports that played for the hometown team and I and some of them have told me just about like how stressful it is how like you got family members always want to reach out at you and everything at all and I remember that that year I had a conversation with my dad and I told him

my dad was like how would you feel you know you got traded for the rangers you know next couple years and I said I don't know I said I would love it but I said I wouldn't want to come here to like the end of my career. And then my attitude and stuff started changing. I was like, you know what, I'd be open to it and then sure no, now I'm here. You know, and it's been a great experience. So it's been, uh, it was a mixed emotion because a lot of guys were pirates I was cool with

and love them. And, uh, I think what a lot of people don't know is, you know, before I got trae, I can have to get called up a trip play, so. Well, I mean, you had to go somewhere. You were just dominating everyone you faced for like, well, yeah, too. I wouldn't say that, but then, I mean, when I got traded,

that was the first thing I asked. I was like, where are you guys sent him? They're like, oh, send you a Frisco. Yeah. I was like, oh, I was like, then he gets a memo. Like, oh, that's all right. I mean, but the next season, you start at AAA, and then you make your debut,

which probably isn't the most fantastic memory, since it didn't, it was crazy. I just watched it, and I have one question for you. I won't make you relive it. Just one question. How did you keep your composure when Forsyth drops that ball? I would have screamed so loud.

So you don't have to answer this if you want, but that was my own thing. Oh, no, no, no, that's okay. Did he stay calm right there? It's okay. I wouldn't say I was calm, but I kind of, I was already harder myself because I knew I was injured

and like I was trying my best to get out of it. And when he dropped that ball, you know, I'm sure all you guys know and Trevor knows as well. like baseball is a crazy game in the world. When one thing happens, it's like a domino effect. Sure enough, next pitch, he puts one in the sixth hole and it's just like start running.

I'm just like, well, you know, that's part of baseball. But I was, you know, I was really too upset. I don't even, because like I'm thinking to myself, if he catches that ball, would they have left me out there for another batter? Because I was already at, like, I think 30 or some pitches. So I was like, they probably would have took me out. But, no, I was already hiring myself because I wouldn't even worry about that. So you knew that when you're making your debut that, you know, something's up with your arm?

I had felt, well, I had like technically, because I was supposed to pitch the day before in Iowa. And so I didn't throw at all. So I'm thinking about it something. Oh, you know, maybe I feel fine. So I go out and warm off and everything's feeling good. And I get in the bullpen. I'm like, thank. I'm like, you know, okay.

So like something's tweaking about it. I'm like, maybe it's just nerves, you know, and I go out and warm up. And I spike the first warm up fishing. I think it'll be good. So I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, all right, just get out of the first inning and, you know, try to tell him like, hey, you know, we need to get out of here. So, but, no, it was, I was feeling good up until that, you know. I did, I mean, people, but like, people thought I was nervous.

And I think some of the best advice I got was from Jesse Chavez that year in spring training. Jesse was like, yeah, love him. And he was like, he's like, the big. biggest problem is people when they get called up to the big least they get shocked about it. He's like, don't be shocked from that call. He's like, be expected it. So I wasn't worried about it. I wasn't trying to put a timetable me trying to get called up to the big leagues. I'm going to look.

I'm going to continue taking a day by day in the minor league so that when I do get called up, I'll be ready for it physically, mentally, and everything. So like, you know, people knew people thought I was nervous, but I really wasn't nervous. It felt like a normal game to me, honestly. It did. Like, it felt so normal because I was

already knowing those guys on screen training. I worked out with him before and just played against them, you know, in the minor leagues and stuff. So, like, it felt like a normal game to me. You seem to some weird, weird baseball going on in that half-inning, too. Yeah. It was some weird shit. Like, you show someone that.

It's like, damn. There was, like, a cross-up. There's a beautiful slider or curve. You dropped in there for strike one. Ups decided it wasn't a strike. Leads to a 3-1 count. I was like, this is brutal. Just a domino effect.

He did have a tight zone. So I think that was his little initiation for me to the big league. Who was it? Do you remember? I don't know. I know for a fact like, oh, yeah, we can. Go ahead, please look it up. Jimmy, do you, Jim?

I got it. Jimmy so fast. Yeah. But he had a tight zone because I know for a fact, you know, he had missed, you know, a couple of pitches with me, but I know Delano at the time. He, you know, he had argued with a couple of our players. You know how those umpires are in the people.

was like you know it's their show. Tripp Gibson. Tripp, younger guy. Yeah, it was Tripp. I'm going to make sure to, when the season starts back, I'm going to make sure to go introduce myself, so. Hey, be as nice as you can to these guys. It's only going to serve you well.

I know, I know, and it's so hard, man. You seem like you get it. Like, I don't see you as a guy that's going to let that, like, compound or anything like that. Like, you were injured, had some weird things go on. And I always tell. the story, four guys making their debut if it doesn't go as they want. I plan, you know, like doesn't go as planned. Stephen Vaux. My guy, I love Stephen Vow. He started his career

0 for 32. Yeah. He got traded in the middle of that. Ended up, so the streak was with Tampa, it carried over in 2013 to Oakland. So this guy's 0432 feeling like it's never going to happen for him. Obviously, we know what he's done with his career. He's had a great career. But even that year, 2013, he ended up starting all three games of the playoffs for them in the ALDS and even walked off, had a walk-off hit in game two. So these times don't, you know, they don't last. No, no, they don't. I think you already know that, but that's just a little, yeah, a little story. But if I, but it's like, like I said, like, I told my, I've been telling people this as well. I'm like, if I had it my way to where, like,

They gave me a certain way to, like, hey, you can go on your debut and strike and go seven strong, but not make the Hall of Fame or not get out of the first inning and make the Hall of Fame. So it's like, oh, I'll take that one where that bad outing because I had a bunch of those in my career. So that's part of baseball, you know? Yes. Yeah, and Taylor, a couple quick things. If that slider cutter starts with a nine, don't worry. Don't worry.

The numbers will be there. And by the way, Trevor Plouf, when he starts getting excited about bullpen stuff, screw that, man. Get the pill to start the game, do that for like six, seven years, and then get that bag for like 200 mil. We'll do that. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Hey, there is, let me say, though, there's bags to be had in the bullpen now. That was not the case. That was not the case four or five years ago. The guys are getting broke off now. Yeah. So, dude. I just get excited about when I think about your potential and what's cool about you is you could do a bunch of different things with the ball. So like people, teams especially valued that a ton.

So like whatever happens, I'm a fan. A minute ago you said the first time you saw David Price, you wanted him to stay in the ball. I did. Did you remember what he did for them in the playoffs? Your GM dude? Yeah. It was awesome. He ended up doing, Vandy, go doors.

I didn't actually go there. Taylor, I want to move us on to something, because the show is talking baseball, but we like to get silly and we like to get serious. I think this is going to be a silly part for a little bit. Or maybe I'm totally off, but this is a note I haven't seen about a player in Kelsey who hooked this up. It says that your grandfather, your father, and your uncles, three uncles are all former rodeo cowboys and that you used to compete. I mean, can you bring us into that world a little bit?

because I grew up in Connecticut, man. I'm soft as hell. I got nothing. So what's that world like? So my dad and my other and one of my uncles, one, though they still rope and then another one. Elvin, he said he's going to get back into it as well. But yeah.

So that was, honestly, dude, that was the first sport I ever did. Like, that was like before I picked up a baseball, basketball, football, it was a rope in my hand. So. And then, you know, they put me on a horse when I was four years old, and then it was like just game over after that. But yeah, so my grandpa, he was a, he was on the JFK Honor Guard.

He was like the first African American in that. And first African American to be a professional and just, he did a bunch of stuff, basically, you know. And he, him and just going on roads with my uncles and my dad's as well, and then me competing as well, like it helped carve me into a baseball player and just more of a patient person as well because, you know, like I tell people, it's like baseball and rodeo are like the same thing

as people may not believe with like an event I do like tie-down roping where, you know, you're on a horse trying to run, you know, your horse trying to run as fast as you can try to rope their cats and they run down in time, right? Like, it's like similar to me throwing baseball. It's like when I throw the baseball, I have no idea where it's going to go

and, you know, what's going to happen. But the same thing with, like, tie-d-d-row. So I think just just from learning, them about, you know, going practicing. I mean, staying out practicing, roping cows, kids from, like, early in the morning to late at night, was something that shifted over in baseball for. Like, I had to have that same drive for a sport that's so, like, a tension of detail. So, I mean, I've been as high as, like, Wyoming and North and South Dakota, you know, so it's been,

it's been a crazy journey, but, like, that's something, like, I already said I'm, like, into. That's something I'm going to get back into. And then another, thing is um um i just bought uh three fucking bull what like two three weeks ago and we won on two um two placed and we won um ten thousand dollars total i don't know what what do you what did you do what you bought what so so you know you know like the bull you see it like in the pbrr like rodeo that like the gals get on to like bull riding right so why we i bought i bought me and um potty allen went half and bought three of them. And so you started, you buy them as like yearlings and stuff,

and you take them like these fraternities, what they called. And you take them like tournaments, basically. And they put a machine on their back. It's like a training machine because they're young and their babies. So, you know, like, you know, and then the highest, biggest ones, like, you know, win the most money. And, but yeah, like, these are some big tournaments and stuff. Like, they go for crazy amount of money.

Love it. So how come Madison Bumgarner is in, like, idol. We got lefty pitcher. He's also out there winning 20 grand as Mason Saunders in rodeos. Wait, so wait, this is, this is interesting. Maybe, are you just like better than Madison, but you just never really talked about it? Like, are you the number one roper in the big thing? No, because he does, he does a different event than I do. Like, he does team roping, and I do, I do caprope. So it's a whole different event, you know, but I mean, I'm sure he's a roperer. I mean, you want 20 grand,

those rope and the field are pretty up there. Mine are a little rustic because I haven't done it in a while, but, you know, it's something that will never leave me, and it's something that, you know, that I can pick up and do. So maybe, maybe, I'm sure he's tied down roads as well. So I'd see if he does that, maybe you can just have something off.

I have two questions that are probably going to sound stupid in retrospect, but I got to ask them. Okay. One, are you a, do you rope lefty? Like, is that a thing? Righty. Righty. Like, wow.

Okay. Yeah. So my next question is obsolete then, because I was going to say, do you think it helped you develop arm strength when you were younger, but since you were doing a variety? Yeah, yeah. I don't know about that.

All right. Dumb question, sorry. My mind was spin. I'm like, dude, should we get some roping classes going on for guys? Clearly not. I mean, I don't know. It's good.

wrist rotation work and good shoulder work. So maybe it's something that we can try to incorporate into a thorough program, you know, with Drive line. Hey. It's got to, you know, it's got to help your grip, right? Finger pressure, like that hand strength. I'm just saying a lot of people do things early in their lives that over and over and over.

Okay, I'm going to give a story now. I'm just going off on tangents now. Whatever. Stay with me here. My dad. But your family was ropers. My family were pool men. And my dad still is a pool man.

He's been doing it for 40 years, maybe longer, 50 years. Anyways, going through the pool, sorry, going through the pools, he's dragging a net through the pools, has a pole in his hand going. 40 years over time, his forearms are massive. His hands are so strong. I've never seen him lose an arm wrestling match. And whenever anyone brings out one of those grip machines, he is like, they've never seen anyone grip as strong as him. And it's because of that.

So like built up over time, he just has these massive man muscles in those certain areas. I got to feel like roping probably benefited you a little bit. I think so. I think it probably has. You know, I kind of want to wonder if I was the right-handed thorough or however my shoulder and stuff, like what I ever have armed interest because of that, you know? Interesting. But, you know, I'm interested to see how big a difference. dad's forms are i'm going to check that out because i'm sure he was it griff's trends and probably

crazy it's yeah he's a big boy i'm like the runt of the family so he's uh it's cool though like i i think about that like what has and i feel like a lot of professional athletes probably have i'm not a lot but there's there's some that are they have done things their whole life that they probably didn't even realize that they were doing that helped them in their athletic career you know whether it's something with their eyesight, you know, what kind of work they did. You know, guys in, you know, Latin America, they grow up hitting sunflower seeds with skinny bats. Like, and bottle caps. That stuff right there helps you become a good hitter.

Because, I mean, what does the ball look like after you're hitting bottle caps? Like, who just was doing that? I just saw somebody doing that online. Was it Miguel Cabrera doing that with his son? hitting bottle caps. Oh, poppy. It was poppy. It's really big in the DR, right? Yeah. Like stuff like that. You're just playing

as a kid having fun. That develops your skills immensely. This kid was in some cage bombs. I saw that. Yeah. It's going to be crazy. Jake, did you do something that helped your athletic abilities when you're going up? Clearly, no. I had another moment earlier

in this. Well, I'll run through all the Jake jokes I missed. I also didn't play my senior year, but I did not get drafted. Coach's decision. Nor did you get injured. And the other thing that I was just thinking about, man, it's, like you said, Dantrell Willis and Randy Johnson, two guys with just filth, just like disgusting stuff. Do you ever have a moment?

Like, I don't know. Maybe your head's hitting the pillow at night, and you're like, I do that. shit. I pumped that. Like, that's, that's, I will not know that feeling. So that's why I ask. Um, fair question. Just say yes. I do. I do. I mean, you're not going to lie. I do. But, you know, there's a, there's a, there's a big part of me that's always like, how hard can we really get you to throw? You know? But I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, like, trying to bash or anything but I'm like you know I kind of like from that right now like it's a good spot it's like you know it's enough where I can add and some tracks on it

but you know oh yeah especially like especially like after a day where I have like 10 or 12 strikeouts I go home that night and I'm like I like sitting in my bed I'm like damn I just like gas those dudes up at 97 that's nice I think about there all the time though you know because it's one thing one thing I love seeing and I'm I know Trevor hates it, but anytime I get a guy to swing and miss, and like my, the biggest thing I love is when I hear hitter swing and you hear them make like a noise like, or something like that. I'm just like, he's trying to take me a yard.

I'm like, let me gas him up a little bit more or something, you know. Or like, you foul a ball off, they make that noise. You're like, oh, okay, all right. Honestly, it's like a guy like you, you're saying you're throwing your four seam a lot. I think about a bat's where a guy will throw it. under my letters, you know, right above my belt, and you just fell it straight back. And you're like, okay. But then all you guys have to do is throw it three inches higher.

Our eyes light up like this, and we swing and miss. And that's been my experience with those pitches. It is. I'm sure you're like a lot of joy out of that. And I'm on the opposite spectrum of that. I'm like, wow, I knew that pitch was coming. I knew I couldn't hit it. But like Kit Henson in a league of their own can't hit them.

Can't lay off them. Name drive. How about that way right there? Was that pretty good or what? Wow. It was quick. Well, Donnie Henson said it, but Kit Henson couldn't hit the high heater. Mm-hmm.

Heavy. I got to watch that movie tonight. I love that movie, man. I did. There's a show coming out all about the league soon, I think. Really? Yeah, the comedian, the woman. from Broad City Alley something.

She wrote like a book about it and did like real research. And I think they're, they, they, they yes, like a show all about the female baseball league. It had an awful name. Do you remember the name, Jake? No. What are you watching right now? We've been through quarantine. We've been home.

What's the content you're taking in right now? What are the recommendations for the fan base here? Really. What have I been watching? I don't know if you guys, have you guys seen Lucifer? I've seen it. I haven't. I've always been, I've always been meaning to start it.

You have to watch that. Watch it. Yeah. They're coming out with more season, but Lucifer, Lucifer was one show that I got hooked on. I didn't really think much of it, but one of my buddies from Cali told me about it. And I promise you, I mean, I'm coming home from workouts.

I'm watching three or four episodes a day, like trying to crush because it's that addicting. Okay. But Lucifer. I've seen it multiple times. I'm like their biggest fan, but Family Guy, I've watched all 17, 18 seasons every episode. And every time I get done watching them, I start back over again. And when I come out with a new episode, I can jump to it.

Damn. But like I can sit there and quote Family Guy with people all day. Okay. The league was called the A-A-G-P-B-L. So it is an awful name. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Okay. Wow.

That's a pretty cool. But they're coming out with a shell. I'm excited for the show and League of Your Own. What is the show supposed to be coming on? I don't know. We got like a press. CW. Something about it.

Let me see. What was this? It's on Netflix? Yeah, it's on Netflix. I'll check it out. It was FX. Yeah, but Netflix bought it, though. I'll tell you one movie.

you guys probably disappointed in that I haven't seen it all the way in Bull Durham. I'm not a Bull Durham fan either. Treb doesn't like it. I haven't. I haven't really got into it like that. I didn't really think it was like it was okay. Yeah, because you played the minor leagues and you're like this is kind of stupid. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm like, you know, but like at the time they say it was the best representation. It saved minor league baseball too, which is cool. No one was going to games. But then they made that movie and they saw like the crazy clown and the car and like the carnival atmosphere of minor league baseball and people started going and supporting again and now look at minor league baseball way to go jim that's same way to get the movie tough bull durham's one um trying to think what's what some of what some of those i've seen i mean the ones i have seen like sandlot um both of those um a league of their own uh 42 uh mr 3 000 i'd like mr 3 000

I got to watch that again. That's a funny one. That's a great. That's a great movie. Mr. 3,000. Chattice and what else. There's a good amount of, like,

baseball movies I've seen and I haven't seen, but, you know, man, Mr. 3,000 is a really good one. That is a, that's a hilarious movie. Oh, yeah.

Amazon. It's going to be called a league of their own, and it's on Amazon. Okay. Boom. Really? TV show.

Yeah. So, hopefully it's good. I hope so. I hope it is. I like that stuff, though. The league is crazy. I mean, Taylor, I could go through Dallas food with you.

In my head, I'm back in West Village. Dallas was a weird time in my life. I was single and young and kind of on my own. I had a lot of fun in Dallas. But again, I think we saved that for another time. I don't know, man. We normally wrap up with if there's anything you want to hype up, your own Instagram account.

But I don't know, man. lot of people want to talk about a lot of different things right now. So, I mean, the floor is yours, man. Oh, you know, I'm always open to having any type of conversation like people want to have. So, I mean, I mean, I guess it would be kind of sad or not, not sad, but, you know, it'd be kind of messed up if I didn't, you know, try to say something about what's going on also what's going on right now in the world, you know, and it's a tough time for sure. But I think just as like an African-American guy that experienced racism myself, you know, it's a tough thing to to even, I mean, I guess not try to comprehend, but also just try to explain to people, if that makes sense. Like, and I get it. Like, a lot of people, you know, a lot of white people aren't going to understand it. And like, it's not my, I'm like, I'm not trying to sit there and say, like, you know, I need some when, well, how do I put it?

I guess I know you guys wouldn't understand, but like, you know, like I was trying to tell somebody yesterday, I'm like, you know, but people don't want to have that type of conversation. Like it's hard to even have that type of conversation with anybody, you know, because it's like, you know, nobody wants to, everybody wants to talk, but nobody wants to listen, you know. And it's like, I think that's one thing we need to do is start being more vulnerable with each other and just, you know, being open and just beyond understanding, you know, because, you know, Trevor knows as well, like, you know, you know, you know, in baseball, you meet and you play a whole bunch of different ethnicities, you know, and I love that because that's what helps bring us together. And there's a lot of things I've learned, like learning Spanish and just learning how, you know, guys in Columbia are just different countries that, you know, don't have like what we have, you know. And, like, they go through pretty much sometimes the same stuff, but just different, you know. And so I think just with me being an African-American guy as well, and just playing in a, you know, predominantly white sports that's like there's not that many black

people that play tough. You know, it's pretty hard because, you know, there's a lot of stuff that we can and can't say. We kind of got to be a little careful about it because we're walking a fine line, you know, where it's different if we were playing basketball or football, you know, because it's more of us. But there's only like 6% of lots that are in the major league and it's tough. So I think the biggest thing we can do and something I'm doing as well is trying to get back into the community and community and try to just bring, continue to bring people together and also just trying to just try to have people just understand it, you know, not trying to push.

I hate when people try to push stuff off the side and think, you know, it's just like phase, like, no, it's something that's been going on in the world for a long time. So I'd say just the biggest thing is just, you know, people are starting to wake up and start to see it now and, you know, stop trying to put it under the rug and just realize it and just, you know, just be open to it and just try to, you know, treat. African-American, just black people in general, just, you know, fair as well, you know, because, I mean, I don't know how, I mean, I've talked to a bunch of black players as well. Like, we talk all the time, like, it's hard for us, you know, because I went to, I go to Walmart and go to stores, you know, I have numerous times, especially in Arizona. When I first went out in Arizona, I went to Walmart and surprise, and I had three times where I go in Walmart and coming out, I've seen ladies and just people like lock their doors.

I'm walking by, and I'm like, I'm not going to do nothing new. Like, I'm just walking my truck, you know? So it's tough. It's hard, but, you know, it's something that I think will continue to bring us together as a country as well. But I'm happy and thankful you guys are open to it and just, you know, love talking about as well. But most people, like, shy away from conversations like this. Yeah, last episode we kind of opened with that, like we're not going to shy away from it. And I think the biggest thing, and it's almost becoming a cliche, but it's good.

It's like, I understand that I don't understand. but I know it's real and it exists. And it's crazy. And especially, you know, baseball is a different sport where, you know, it's predominantly white fan base and the percentage of black players has been dropping. You know, as soon as really the NFL took off in the 80s and the NBA took off. And we have a show that we're planning on doing all about this, a guy that works for us, Keith, because so we like research all these scholarly articles

was trying to figure out, like, what happened? Because you watch any game from the late 70s or 80s. There's a lot of black players and they're, like, dominating the sport. Yeah. It's awesome. And, you know, it kind of coincides with the rise of college football and the NBA stardom and just a faster path to stardom and, like, you know, minor leagues.

But it's crazy. It's especially baseball's history and being the sport that it is. and it's crazy. So I'm sure your journey's been harder than the average, you know, minor league player, pitcher. Yeah. I mean, it has been because, I mean, growing up since I started playing baseball, I was the only black kid on every team ever played on. You know, and then when I get to college, it's maybe one or two guys and, you know,

still stuff there. You know, most of the towns that we went to or just played in, you know, there was a lot of racism there. So it's a very, it's a tough thing as well, but also, you know, it helps me think, it helps me personally think about like all the stuff Jackie went through, like, none of this stuff that like I'm going through. I went through with anywhere near as bad as what he went through, you know, but it's the same stuff just not as severe, I think.

But it's, it's definitely a tough thing and like it's hard because that's something I've been doing since I got into professional baseball. I was trying to continue to, I put on a bunch of things. of camps and just, you know, go give lessons to all types of people. But, you know, I drive to go see people and mainly trying to continue to push, you know, black people to play baseball. But it's so hard because they see that it takes such a long time to get money in baseball. They're like, they need it in basketball and football, which is a lot quicker.

But the biggest thing I think that, like, that's frustrating is like they don't want, they don't want to invest and put time into it. They want it, like, quicker and easy. And I'm just like, it's not like that, you know? And I said, it took, it took me, you know, three, four, four years to get to the major because it's worth it, though. You know, and, and, but the one thing that's hurting it is also all these perfect game tournaments and stuff for like stupid amount of money costing parents, thousands of dollars.

It's a billion dollar industry now. Yeah, and that's what's running off a lot of, like, black people. So, I'm trying to, like, I've been working and trying to figure out ways, like, put on tournaments and, like, showcases for, you know, black kids to, like, not just, Not just in Dallas, but just in all inner cities in the world just to showcase their talent, you know, because there's a lot of talent out there. I mean, a bunch of kids that I work with that played baseball. I mean, they pick up on stuff like really quick and a crazy athletic, you know. And it's sagged.

I'm like, man, like your chances of making it the NFL and NBA get slimmer as you get through college. Like, it's only like a 3% chance you don't make to the NFL because it's only a 53-man roster. and it's like 2% to making an NBA because, you know, what, 12 guys on the roster. So I'm like, your chances of making a baseball are a lot higher, you know. And, you know, there's more, there's starting to be more of us coming, but, you know, it's a slow but steady process. And there's some things that are getting put in place, which is better. I know Michigan, University of Michigan, like, they're like predominantly scouting in urban places now

and not from these showcases and all that. and then pitching ninja Rob, his flat ground app is really helping kids get noticed that can't afford these showcases because they just, they priced everyone out, which is so crazy because you just need a ball and a stick to play it. You know? Yeah. It's not like you need a whole football field and all these pads and stuff. Like it should not be an expensive sport to play. No, it shouldn't be, but it's hard to when you have, because, I mean, I was just talking about it with somebody earlier,

but I was like, man, it's so hard and different than whenever I was in high school. There was only, you know, in the Dallas Metro, like there was like 20, 30, you know, good, legit summer league team. Now it's like there's a 50 of them. And it's like everybody's like, well, you pay $2,000 at front that's going to get you in like two tournaments. It's like, you know, it changed so much, you know?

And I got to the point to where I started telling, I started telling a bunch of high school parents and stuff they're asking like, hey, what can I do to get my kid notice so you can get out there. And I tell them, I'm like, if you want to go to these showcases, that's fine. But if you go to these college camps

at a young age, like, that's where most of them are getting them guys. Like, most of the time when I get OBE and stuff, like I would ask him, like, you know, where do you get this guy from and stuff? Oh, he's been coming to Arkansas. He was like 13, I know him. So that's what, you build a relationship in and what, $80, $70

for a camp? I'm like, that's way much better than going a perfect game and running a 60, playing two games and expecting, you know, getting a grade skill and like working off of that. It's like, no, it's like, why not just take it slow and just go to a different college, go to the University of Texas, all these types of schools just to get your name out there. It's a lot. You kind of answer my question, but I've long said that I think baseball can be the most inclusive sport just because it's a skills for, you don't have to be boring to play it. I mean, dude, if you're not six, four, the NBA is probably not a possibility for you. You know, like some guys can. You got to be tall

in the NFL. You got to be big and fast. And that's those are things that guys are, are mostly boring with. But baseball, you can learn how to do something. And you watch the game. And there's little guys, there's big guys. There's black guys. There's white guys. There's Latin guys, there's Asian guys. So it being that inclusive, like what, what can MLB do or what can people do to increase the amount of black players in the game? Because like Jimmy said, I mean, in the 70s and 80s, like things were going perfect for that. And then all of a sudden, now we're looking at it. And like you said, there's like 6%. That doesn't make any sense to me. So like what do you think baseball can do to get more African Americans to play the game?

I think the urban youth academy thing is like is okay. I think it's a good deal. I think it's awesome. But I think in order to really, really get the results that everybody's looking for and like what they keep preaching on is to really get out there. But just having guys like me and just other majorly guys going into these communities talking to these parents and these kids at a young age and just trying to tell them. But also, I think also just if you build like nice baseball facilities in those, you know,

in those communities, like they're going to come to it, you know. And that's where, that's where like I, that's something I want to do is like be able to put nice baseball facilities in these inner cities to let them know because, you know, nice things that always attract people. So it's like, if I put a nice baseball facility and put out on the thing like, hey, come out for baseball trials and stuff. A lot of kids are going to be like, oh, yeah, if I want to play here, like, I'll try out all day, you know. Yeah.

And then, but also just educate the parents on it all the way up into it. My thought is, let's stop selling the dream of millions of dollars in pro sports. Because that, it happens. We see it happens. It's highlighted, but we all know the numbers on that. They're just very slim that that's going to be you. But there's a ton of college scholarships out there for grabs. and that's like what when I was coming up that's all I ever cared about was like dude I want to go to

college and I want to pay I don't want to pay for college like that was my goal the rest of this stuff happened but like I think parents and no one specifically just parents in general that should be the goal if you want if you think your kid has some talent don't think about big leagues don't think about the NFL or the NBA let's think about getting a free education and then we'll see where it goes like that's that's where the focus should be instead of hey I'm not going to play this sport because the payday is further down the road like no forget about the payday dude don't worry about that let's get free education so you're not straddled with you know student loans or whatever you know like that's to me that's the way that people should start approaching it i think so i i 100% agree with you

and that's tough i've been trying to tell parents and kids as well like everybody sees the garret cole get me you know 300 million dollar deal with mike trout 400 million is like you know like did you ever really think and realize like how much stuff and just all they went through just to get to that point it's not like they came out in the NBA or NFL and got 21 guaranteed and then you know played for three years they got another fat contract like no it's like you know it takes it takes time to get that paper you know but it's uh it's I just think it's it's also the definition of just how the world is nowadays you know everybody wants to get like to get rich quick screen you know It's like nobody will take the time to be a patient.

So it's a tough thing. It's a battle like we're trying to deal with as well. But, you know, it's a steady process. All right. Well, tag your Twitter and we'll do it for you too. But if you want to shout it out, Twitter, Instagram. Go follow. Yeah.

What is my Instagram? I think my Instagram is like T-Hern 21 and then Twitter's T-Hern 14. But yeah. Awesome, man. We appreciate you coming on. And, yeah, stay on the mound. Stay on the mound. Stay starting. Don't listen to Trev.

Win 20 games. You get in the Black Aces community. I know Cici said that's like his most favorite accomplishment is being in the black aces better than Salli and all that shit. I got that great, too, man. I want to get in that so bad. I agree. That's awesome.

I want you to do that too, but I want you to be in the, first and foremost, I want you to be in the big leagues, dude. That's get to the show. And then you'll pitch your way into whatever role you pitch your way into. Let us know when you're buying your next buck and bull and we'll just go in with you. Yes, I would do that. Yeah. Let's do it. I got you guys. Uh, one of them. So the funny thing is like the cattle company that they're under is actually owned by, uh, he played the bow mill. And the cattle company is called Red Laces from, you know, Lace of Baseball. Okay. Okay.

Pretty cool thing. I think we're super into that. So tell them he's just, gave them an ad and to hook it up. Oh, I'm sure. Yeah, yeah, hooked that up. Thanks, man. And, yeah, dude, if you need to push any baseball community stuff through us, reach out. We are down and we are in.

Let's get kids playing baseball. Yeah, we need some. Yeah. I appreciate it, fellas. I appreciate you guys having me go. All right, too. All right, man, we'll see you out there. All right, there you go.

Touched on a lot of topics there. Minor leaguers. being drafted a bunch. It's funny that he kept getting drafted without ever pitching. He was like, well, wait till you see me pitch, you might take me higher. And then finally,

I thought it was actually a very interesting nugget that his agent was like, hey, you need to go to a different scout zone. Yeah. Because all these people have seen you before. That's an aspect of trying to get drafted that I never thought about. I mean, come on, scouts.

I mean, how do you not know or see this guy everywhere? Like just to me that that seems crazy. And I talked to a little bit about like my draft strategy. Because I am commissioner of all baseball, I do have a draft strategy in place just in case I need it. It would be embarrassing if you didn't. First 10 rounds, best athlete available.

After that, I'm just going for massive potential upside arms, 6-5 or above. I thought I was being progressive with that. Then I started to think about something you guys are going to like this. That's what the Yankees do. at least that's what they used to do when you come up through the minor leagues every Yankee staff has some big MFer on the mounds

6-5 were above they love to do that I saw the entire minor leagues and I don't know how many guys kind of worked out for them in my mind I don't think a lot Phil Hughes sure big big guy Dellen Betanbatansus

Dellen Batanzas yeah so it's not a foreign concept but man, that's what I'd be doing, especially with all this new technology and new ways to teach guys how to use their body. The kinetic chain is getting activated. I bet on potential all day long now. Okay. That's just for your one strategy. I like it. I like it. And, you know, we did touch on, you know, the issues at large right now at the end there, which is a good conversation. And man, you know, when you look at the numbers of black athletes in baseball, it is crazy. Like, you know, Jake and I did the watching baseballs, and they were a lot of stars, not just everyday players, stars, black stars in baseball.

The Yankees at one point, you know, there's all. And then it just got cut in half the percentage. Keith and I did a lot of research on it because we want to do a, like, an own show on it. What happened, you know? And it really coincides with. Magic and Jordan and then, you know, football, football becomes huge. And like Taylor said, it's that instant,

it's that instant money which these young kids want and need, instead of the, earn your stripes and slow shit of the baseball system. It'd be changing now with the minor leagues, um, shortening up going to three teams or three leagues or wherever the heck they're doing. So, yeah, it might get a little better. It's one step.

So. And Jim, what was the not fun fact, fun fact from that research with Keith? Wasn't it? Who was the last black third baseman? Name a black third baseman. It's very tough. Josh Harrison. Yeah.

Honestly, yeah. Before that, it's very tough. It's a weird position. It's not, you know, a hot corner position. Like, you can name Charlie Hayes and you can name guys, but, like, last like All-Star. It was Terry Pendleton. It's a long time ago. That's a long time ago.

It's very interesting. Yeah, we found this scholarly article that broke down by position and decade. And, you know, at first, it was a lot of pitchers. It was just a lot of pitchers. And I don't want to say, I don't remember exactly what it was. But it was interesting to see the breakdown and the ups and downs and the ebbs and flows. And we got all these scholarly articles and read about. Hopefully we do something with it in the future once we get back to the office

and can kind of like, you know, map out shit. That's cool. Are you in deep thought, Jake? No. Just just fed the dog and it's like before his feeding time and we're just wrapping up and I don't know. It was surprising. All right.

Well, I think this is Friday's show. So have a great weekend. We'll see you on Monday with another guest lined up. That we're recording tomorrow. Have a good weekend. Stay safe.