Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in California, which was your favorite team to follow, and who were some of your favorite players?
Brad Hartong (BH): Growing up my favorite team to watch was the Anaheim Angels. I grew up about 15 minutes from the stadium. Some of my favorite players growing up on those teams were Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon and Erick Aybar. Some people forget that Torii Hunter played with the Angels for about five years, and just like Minnesota, he was the fan favorite in Anaheim. People in Anaheim enjoyed watching him play.
SS: You went to Cypress College for two years before spending two seasons at Indiana. What led to the transfer, and what were some of your favorite moments from your college years?
BH: I started off at a junior college about 10 minutes from my house in Southern California. After two years there, I transferred to Indiana University. My junior college coach, Scott Pickler, had a huge role in helping me decide on becoming a Hoosier. Obviously at Indiana University, you're going to have great memories of the big plays you made and the bigger games you won. My favorite memory was the whole experience. Going to class and practice with your boys, then gearing up for Friday nights to start that weekend series. But one memory will stick out, in the first inning of the opening game in the Vanderbilt Regional, we got out of the jam with the old triple play. Never experienced a baseball play like that.
SS: What was your interaction with scouts before the draft? Did you think you might be drafted or were you thinking to another career?
BH: Before the draft, I had a feeling I would be chosen. I thought I played well enough, and showed enough people that I can play at the next level. However, I had a ton of help from the Indiana University coaching staff and Cypress College coaching staff to get my name out there with the draft. I never really lost sight of what I wanted to do. I made sure I got my degree from Indiana, but my eyes were on playing professional baseball since I can remember.
SS: The Twins took you in the 29th round. How did you find out you had been drafted?
BH: When the last day of the draft came around, I got a call early in the morning California time asking if I wanted to be drafted and after saying “yes, of course”, I was told to expect a phone call. The day continued to proceed and I was getting a little antsy when I finally got the call and found out I became a Minnesota Twin.
SS: You had played at Target Field during the Big 10 Tournament. What were your thoughts on playing there, and did you get any sense that weeks later, the Twins might take you?
BH: Yes, for the Big Ten tournament we got to play at Target Field this past year. When we had our first practice on the field, I tried to just soak everything in. What a beautiful ball field. In that one week in Minnesota, I saw the city, Mall of America, and of course had the privilege to play at Target Field. I had no idea I would become a Twin just a few weeks later. And after seeing Minnesota, it was almost like I took an official visit and got lucky enough to be drafted by the Twins.
SS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make, going from amateur/college season to the pro game, on or off the field?
BH: Going from college to professional baseball, I would say one of the biggest difference is being able to handle your business like a true professional. In college, you have a set schedule for everything, meals at the hotel, a lifting schedule, getting your therapy in, and room checks on the road. In pro ball, you need to be able to make your own schedule by knowing your body, what you need to eat to fuel yourself, what you need to lift in the weight room to be ready to perform, and to make sure to get your therapy done if you need it. It is up to you in pro ball.
SS: In your first year at Indiana, it appears that you and Kyle Schwarber split time behind the plate with the other playing in the outfield. With Elizabethton, you were primarily in the outfield but did some catching too. Where do you feel more comfortable and what do you prefer to play over time?
BH: Yeah, my first year at Indiana University I split time with Kyle Schwarber behind the plate, but mostly played outfield. My senior year, I caught every game. To be honest, I am comfortable at both. In high school, junior college, and at Indiana, I was primarily a catcher. But after working a lot in the outfield, I feel comfortable at either corner outfield spot. In the long road, I will play wherever the organization tells me too, whatever the Twins need me to do.
SS: In these very early stages of your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths as a player?
BH: I would say some of my strengths would be experience coming from an up-and-coming college program. Played a lot of good teams with good arms, and played in a lot of big games. I think knowing the game of baseball is a strength of mine. It helps me process what is going on throughout a game and what decisions to make based on the situation. It helps put me in a position to help my team win. I am never surprised on a baseball field.
SS: What are the things that you feel you need to improve over the offseason and going forward?
BH: As a young professional baseball player, I think I have to work on every aspect of my game. Obviously the fundamentals are a must to work on, as well as strength and conditioning. But also the mental aspect to where I show up in Fort Myers for spring training I am so locked in and ready to perform. I have no distractions.
SS: What are your plans for the offseason? (When do you start preparing for the 2016 season, but also what do you enjoy doing away from the game of baseball?)
BH: This offseason, I have been working out at a workout facility down the street from my house, as well as another local LA Fitness. The junior college I went to is about 10 minutes from my house, and that is where I will be doing my baseball work. I plan on catching an uncountable amount of bullpens before I arrive in Fort Myers. Away from baseball, I enjoy being home with my family after not seeing them for a while. Except my twin sister is pursuing her professional volleyball career in South Korea, so I have not been able to see her. Don't hop on the bandwagon now, but she and Club Hyundai are in first place in their group. Also great being around my good friends and seeing how well they are doing with their lives.
Who are some of the coaches and others who have helped you get to this point in your career?
BH: To get where I am today, I have had great coaching along the way. My Dad introduced me to the game, and growing up always would help me with whatever I needed. All those days with him on the diamond really made me love playing baseball. After high school, once I got to Cypress College, I think that is where I made the most strides as a baseball player. Coach Pick, Pink, and Mahoney really turned me into a solid player. Then at Indiana University, I got help from every coach, but my last year with Coach Lemonis, Bunn, Cheeseboro and Roof, that was a really a great staff and they turned me even more.
Thanks again to Brad Hartong. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the forum below.
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