Feb. 15, 2008
LINKS OF INTEREST
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Why did you return for another season instead of going pro? “The number one factor was that I wanted to finish up my degree. I have already been here (at Vanderbilt) for three years. It wasn’t life changing to take the money (offered by the Milwaukee Brewers) like it was for David Price. I would’ve missed my comrades. I would’ve missed my last year, having fun, being a college student, and everything that surrounds that experience.”
To date, what has been your most memorable experience at Vanderbilt? “It would have to be last year, coming to the field every day, knowing that we were playing for something special. Every time we had a big game, something was brewing. The crowd and the community were behind us.”
What did you do individually that stood out? “I was given my first chance to play. I would come in late in the games to run bases or pinch hit. Not having played the whole game, I would get up in the ninth inning and look up in the stands and people would be screaming. It was crazy, and I thought, `this is a great moment.'”
Talk about some of the role models on this year’s team. “I definitely see people on our team that have a good routine. I love watching Flash (Ryan Flaherty) play. I love him in the clutch. He always looks like he’s having fun out there. I like watching Pedro (Alvarez) play. Every day he comes to the field, he does something special no matter what. Dom (Dominic de la Osa) is a hard-nosed guy. We have a lot of fighters on our team. It’s contagious.”
Who are your best friends on the team? “Last year, it was David Price. Brad French and all the seniors that I’ve played with for four years, we’re all pretty close. It’s good spending time with those guys.”
Describe playing summer ball in Newport, R.I. “Newport was a great place. It reminded me a lot of Vanderbilt. The people and the community were behind us. The town supported us. We got 3,000 people every game. When we came into town, we were accepted like we had been there our entire lives. That’s probably the best place I’ve ever played.”
What do you anticipate your role will be this year? “I see my role bigger than last year. I want to be the guy in the first inning, the second inning (etc.) that makes a difference. However they use me, I’ll accept it. Anything I can do to make the team better, I’ll do it.”
Fans, stay tuned for more preseason Q&A’s on VUcommodores.com
