Front Page: Episode 8: Get to Know RHP Austin Schulfer, C Caleb Hamilton, RHP Nick Anderson

[Seth Stohs]

In this week's episode, we get to know two current Twins minor leaguers and a former Twins minor leaguer who became one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball in 2019. Get to know right-handed pitcher Austin Schulfer, catcher Caleb Hamilton and right-handed pitcher of the Tampa Bay Rays, Nick Anderson.Not all minor leaguers are top prspects,, but once given an opportunity, you never know what will happen. Our guests today weren't first-round picks, but they have found themselves in good positions, worked hard and found success in their young careers. Austin Schulfer and Caleb Hamilton are climbing the ladder, and they're trying to get to the big leagues where our third guest, Nick Anderson reached in 2019. Anderson wasn't a prospect. He came through the independent leagues and gives hope and motivation to all minor leaguers that if they work hard and things break right, the big-league dream is out there for anyone.

 

 

Austin Schulfer was the Twins 19th round draft pick in 2018 out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he set several pitching records. He spent the 2019 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he worked five innings in a combined no-hitter. Off the field, he has developed a large gamer following on his Twitch TV link. (his interview begins at the 12:30 mark)

 

 

Caleb Hamilton was the Twins 23rd round pick in 2016 out of Oregon State. It was the second time he had been drafted, but his journey (which involved a AA All Star appearance and reached AAA in 2019) hasn't always been smooth. Find out about his trek, his long-time relationship with now-former Twins catching coordinator Tanner Swanson, playing at Oregon State, becoming a catcher and working with some of the very hard-throwing Twins pitching prospects. (39:35 mark)

 

 

Nick Anderson's story is pretty incredible. Born in Crosby, Minnesota, he attended Brainerd High School. He played three years at St. Cloud State before heading to Mayville State for his senior year. He was drafted by the Brewers but never offered a contract. He played independent ball until the Twins signed him late in the 2015 season. He moved up the organizational ladder and pitched well in 2018 at Rochester. In his offseasons, he worked construction in Minnesota winters. He didn't receive a September call-up and instead of adding him to their 40-man roster, the Twins drafted the hard-throwing right-hander to the Miami Marlins. He made the Opening Day roster and pitched well. At the trade deadline, he was sent to the Tampa Bay Rays where he struck out 17.3 batters per nine innings. He became a reliable late-inning arm for the Rays in their playoff run.

 

We talked to him about being traded, making the Marlins roster, finding success, getting traded and much more. (1:16:10 mark)

 

 

 

You can subscribe to the Get to Know 'Em podcast on iTunes. or follow Libsyn for new episodes here as well.

 

PAST EPISODES

 

Episode 1: Get to know Niko Guardado (Actor and son of Eddie Guardado)

Episode 2: Get to know Pat Dean, Brent Rooker

Episode 3: Get to know Royce Lewis, AJ Achter

Episode 4: Get to know Devin Smeltzer

Episode 5: Get to know Jaylin Davis, Tyler Wells

Episode 6: Get to know: Travis Blankenhorn, LaMonte Wade

Episode 7: Get to know: Matt Wallner (and Ten Minutes with Tyler Wells)

 

 

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