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Recently Twins Daily caught up with the former Twins outfielder about getting drafted out of a small college, spending many years in the minor leagues, getting called up to the big leagues, and his post-playing career.
A big thank you to Josh Rabe for his thoughtful responses to our questions.
Last week, we shared the draft day stories and memories of many Twins players (past, present, future). We’ll start there with Josh Rabe.
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Seth Stohs: Josh, what were your memories from your draft and what was the reaction from those around you?
Josh Rabe: To answer your question: What was draft day like for me? I honestly thought the Cubs were going to draft me. They came to a lot of my games, and I did well when the cross checkers were there and I did well in the pre-draft workout at Wrigley
A lot of people told me I was going anywhere from the 8th to the 13th round. In 2000, the internet was dial up, and you could not really follow the draft online.
I was at home at my parents’ house in Mendon, Illinois, because that was the phone number I listed on all the draft questionnaires.
Back then they did two days - rounds 1-20 and then 21-50. My college coach called around 11 and told me they were in the 4th round so be ready. I was sitting on my parents’ couch around 12:15 and the phone started ringing. I ran to the phone and on the other end was my mom's dentist. She called to remind her about her appointment the following week. I honestly cut her off and said, "We don't have call waiting. Today I am getting drafted, and I do not want to miss the phone call." I hung up on her after saying that.
About 20 minutes later, Bill Milos from the Twins called and asked me "What are you doing?" I said, "Waiting for someone to draft me. That is what!!" He then told me I was the 2nd pick in the 11th round by the Twins, and he would call in two days to set up a meeting. Short call, couldn't really hear anything after that because my mom and dad were hooting and hollering.
It was a big relief because I did not want to sleep on the fact that I was going to have to wait till Day 2 to get picked. After that, a couple of local news crews came to my family farm and interviewed me. I then went to a summer ball game that night and did a couple of radio and TV interviews. I went out with some friends that night and two days later signed with the Twins.
I flew to Mini-Camp in Fort Myers, and the journey began. It was a long way from Mendon, Illinois, to the Metrodome.
Seth Stohs: What was your development path? You weren't necessarily a top prospect, but you always put up strong numbers that few talked about. What did you think of the coaching you got through the minors, some of the guys that are still around?
Josh Rabe: My development path was... COMPLICATED!!!! You are right. I was not a top prospect, always put up decent numbers, but I guess I wasn't toolsy enough to be on one of those LISTS!!!
You have to remember, I came from Mendon, Illinois, and attended a D2 school called Quincy University. Big fish in the small pond in both spots. When I got to pro ball, that was an adjustment!! I listened to everyone, too many people probably my first year. I was blessed with a quick bat, but I did everything but be myself my first year of pro ball. It went so well for me that six weeks into it, I called my dad asking him to find all the football letters I got out of high school for when I got released at the end of the summer. I could go play college football!!! I had to hustle to hit .221 at Elizabethton!!! I might be the only Twins big leaguer ever to hit under .230 in that league. I was so bad I broke a Baum Bat, which some thought was impossible to do.
I went to Instructional League and broke my hamate bone the second game. Hell of a first year for the kid from Quincy!!!
Somehow, I got sent to Quad City to start my second year. I remember Jim Rantz was in town at the beginning of May. I went 0-4 in South Bend to take my batting average to .201. I was raking once again... I went back to the hotel, and I was pretty much prepared that I was probably a goner. My roommate that trip was having a cigarette on the balcony of the MOTEL we were staying in. He had the door open and saw that I was contemplating life. He takes a drag and said something that resonated with me. He said, "When you first signed, you did everything so natural. You ran around, didn't have a care in the world, had a natural stroke, and had more bat speed than anyone could hope for. Why do you let people mess with you all the time? Why don't you go back to what got you here and quit trying to listen to everyone that speaks? If I am going out, I am going out my way!!" He then got into a cab and went to the casino, which he did five nights a week.
I thought that was great advice. I got to the ballpark early the next day and told the hitting coach Floyd Rayford that I was going to do some things differently that day. He looked at me and replied, "I don't care what you do, but you need to start getting some hits, dog!"
I took some swings, pieced some stuff together and felt ok. We played a doubleheader that day and, thank god, we had some injuries so they HAD to play me and my .201 average. I went 4-6 that day in the 9 hole, hitting a couple of extra base hits and had a couple of RBI's. From that day until the All-Star break, I went from .201 to .311. I got hot and stayed hot.
I never really stopped hitting for three years after that point. I went from a guy that thought I was going to get released in May of 2001 to a guy in Triple A in July of 2003 with two All Star game appearances.
I had some GREAT coaches that made the game fun. Stan Cliburn was the best manager I ever played for. Guy just wanted to win!!! He didn't care about the prospect lists, man just wanted to win which was my style. I was one of his guys so I played everyday for him.
Bill Springman is and was the best hitting guy I have ever had or ever been around. Guy is a damn horse whisperer. He is so positive and so knowledgeable.
Joe Vavra is the hardest working coach I have ever seen. Guy would throw BP till his arm went numb, then switch arms and throw some more.
I wish I had taped the baseball conversations I heard Paul Molitor and Tom Kelly have. When they would hold court in spring training, sit back and listen and learn. They forgot more about the game than about 90 percent of baseball knows.
photo from Rochester Red Wings
Seth Stohs: You spent about six years in the minor leagues, including almost three years in AAA. You probably saw a lot of teammates get that call. So, tell me about how you learned that you were heading up to the big leagues. Who told you? Teammates reactions? Who did you call? What kind of emotions did you experience?
Josh Rabe: Three years? Hey, I spent parts of five seasons in Triple A. I believe I am the second longest tenured Red Wing of all time (Seth Note: Garrett Jones is now #1 on this prestigious list). Have to be infamous for something??? Triple A is hard because there are flame-throwing prospects and veterans who know how to pitch. When I was young and dumb, those veterans wore me out, and I am not ashamed to say that.
(Torii) Hunter got hurt and had to go on the 15 day DL. I had just got done playing in the Triple A all star game. My dad called me and told me he thought I was going to get called up. It was a Sunday day game so I was heading early to the ballpark. I told my dad that I don't know if it going to happen and hung up on him.
I got to the park and started to get dressed for BP. The trainer Tony Leo came to me and said the manager needs to see you. I went into Stan's office and he, his brother Stu and Jim Rantz were in the office. Stan didn't mess around. He said, "I never been so happy to tell someone that they are going to the big leagues than I am right now." He and Stu gave me a hug. Mr Rantz shook my hand and congratulated me.
I walked out of the office and most of the team was waiting to shake my hand and congratulate me. Back then, the culture the Twins had with promotions was something special. They promoted from within and everyone pretty much pulled for each other and were genuinely happy when someone got a chance.
I called my parents first. I called some friends, and then I called the parents of my best friend. My best friend had passed away about a month earlier so that was an emotional call.
Honestly, it was a feeling of relief that I had finally got the call. Happy of course but a huge sigh of relief is all I can remember.
Seth Stohs: While it's still part of the same line of thinking, what was the response when you go to the big league stadium that first day? How were you greeted by teammates and coaches there?
Josh Rabe: I got some calls from some guys on my way. Terry Tiffee and Jason Bartlett called me and told me about the schedule. I had roomed with them for several years. Everyone congratulates you when you get to the clubhouse. The first day is a blur. 7:05 comes and it is THE SHOW... There is a reason they call it that and no other term could describe it better.
Seth Stohs: Firsts... what are your memories of your first hit, and then your first home run in the big leagues?
Josh Rabe: I remember my first at bat. I lined out to center on a 3-1 count.
My first hit, 2-1 fastball, line drive to right center off Edwin Jackson. I remember Travis Lee congratulating me at first base. My mind was all over the place. My mom told me that the crowd gave me a standing ovation, but I didn't hear or see that. A lot of stuff goes through your mind during an event like that.
The ball was in my locker after the game. No one messed with me. I gave it to my dad after the game. He could not believe it. He cried.
First homer was off Nate Robertson. To be honest, I thought it was going to be a double. I remember seeing the second base ump signaling home run as I was approaching second base. I told myself to slow down, but my heart was going way too fast so my home run trot was more of a slow sprint.
Rondell White mobbed me in the tunnel behind the dugout. I do not know what he is doing now, but he and Torii Hunter were two of the best guys for young rookies to be around. Rondell was a great dude and was a genuine, good person.
Seth Stohs: You spent some time in an indy league, but tell me what the transition was for you from player into coaching? Is it something you'd always wanted to do?
Josh Rabe: Time in the indy league!! Might be the only guy to go from the AL to the AL - Atlantic League!!! My back was a mess in ‘07. I had shoulder trouble, had to have surgery. During rehab, I couldn't do the rehab program because my back was acting up. So when you are a hurt mess and do not have a long term contract, they release you!! I thought I could still get healthy, all the other MLB teams thought otherwise that off season.
I went to Indy ball and hit well. Only problem was I could not run anymore, hurt too much. So I could not play outfield everyday, had to DH most days. I had a week where I played outfield everyday and a couple of teams wanted to sign me. Literally was probably going to sign with an affiliated team the next day and my back acted up on me the night before. I sat around for a couple of days, was going to get another injection and go for it again. I was sitting in the doctor’s office, and I said to myself, "Enough is enough." Called the GM and said I'm done. Flew home the next day.
I was 30, single, did not own a house, just moved from town to town and lived life to its fullest. My mom picked me up at the airport and asked if I was ok. I told her I had come to terms with my body just being done and I could not do it anymore.
At that point I had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I sat around for about a week at my parents’ house contemplating my next move. I had bought an LSAT study book and considered going to Law School, which is something that I had always wanted to do.
My college coach called me after about a week of being home and asked if I wanted to be a college coach. So I went to St Joseph's College and became the hitting coach there for two years.
Quincy University, my alma mater, at the end of the 2010 school year fired their coach and hired me.
Seth Stohs: You went to Quincy University in Illinois, and now you're the head coach there. What did you mean for you to get that job?
Josh Rabe: I had not been home for 12 years. West Central Illinois is always going to be my home, no matter where life takes me. I love it here. I met my wife here. We have had our children here. It is a great place to live and raise a family.
Quincy University gave me a chance and to work for them now means a lot. I get to help young men grow up and do the things they want to do in this world. It is a rewarding job to say the least.
And I get to be around my family!!!
Seth Stohs: Talk a little about your team's success in recent years, specifically this year.
Josh Rabe: My first year at Quincy, we started off terrible. Somehow we righted the ship and won the conference and went to a NCAA Regional for the first time in seven years. That was the start of a successful run.
We have won the GLVC conference title twice, been to four NCAA tournaments, and just finished going to the World Series for the first time in program history. We have had multiple draft picks and a ton of great people roll through this program.
We offer a good education and great facilities for college baseball players to flourish at.
photo by Brad Loper
Seth: Finally, what are your goals for your program, leading the student athletes, from a baseball perspective, etc.?
Josh Rabe: The ultimate goal for any program is to win a National Title. The chances of that happening at most programs is slim to none. That is not the case at Quincy. We were very close this year. We have the resources to make that happen. It is a great feeling knowing you have a chance every year to compete for a championship.
The administration at Quincy needs to be commended for making that happen. It takes good people and money for stuff like that to happen, and I am in a fortunate spot that provides that.
We keep it pretty simple philosophy-wise. We surround ourselves with high-character, talented people and turn them loose. That has been the recipe for our success.
Seth Stohs: If anyone reads this and is interested in learning more about your baseball program, what is the best way for them to contact you and the program?
Josh Rabe: Go to
QUhawks.com
for info about the program, or contact me at rabejo@quincy.edu with interest.
Thank you again to Josh Rabe for taking time to answer our questions so well. Please feel free to ask questions or leave feedback below.
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