Skip to main content

Carlos Leon Q&A With PhoulBallz.com

Carlos Leon has become a Phillies minor league fixture in recent years. Leon has played in the Eastern League for 9 seasons. Originally signed by the Red Sox organization, Leon landed with the Phillies in 2004 and has played at three levels with the Phillies since then. Currently playing as a reserve infielder with double A Reading, Leon is batting .218 through 68 games this season. I had a chance to speak with Carlos, the oldest Reading Phillie, last week and here's how that went down.


Tell me a bit about your role on the team.

Well, my role on the team is to help the young guys. Help the infielders, ya know. I play, like, two times a week. Play defense, movie the runners, and just help the young guys, like (Brad) Harman.


I've seen you play a lot of years in the Eastern League. How much longer do you think fans can expect to see you here?

I want to keep playing till my body tells me to quit. I am going to turn 30 years old at the end of this month, and feel like I am 20 years old.


You don't feel like the oldest guy on the team?

No, I don't feel like it. If nobody knew about my age, they wouldn't say I'm 30. I feel like I am still 20's. I feel good, I feel healthy. That's been a problem in my career, I've always been hurt, but this year I am healthy. I feel good. I am going to keep playing.


Who was your favorite player growing up?

My favorite player was (Nomar) Garciaparra. I signed with the Red Sox originally. I like the way Garciaparra played.


What stands out as the biggest moment of your playing career?

You know what? I've been playing for 13 years and the biggest moment was this year, playing at Altoona, because my family got a chance to go to Altoona. And my son, he's 9 years old, and he always asks me like, "I want to see you hit a homerun." That night, they were there and I hit a homerun. To me, I could play for 13 years and that was unbelievable, because he was there in the stands looking at me.


What can you tell me about the coaching staff with Reading right now?

The coaching staff, they're pretty good. The manager Steve Roadcap, he didn't know me. He met me in spring training and he told me, "You're gonna be a team leader guy." He expected me to play hard. And after that we became friends. The pitching coach Steve Schrenk, I've played with him for a couple years, so I know him pretty well. And (hitting coach, Steve) Cacciatore is good. They are flexible. They like to talk, they like to make jokes. For me, communication with the players is the best.


Would you consider coaching once your playing days are finished?

I don't know yet. That's not one of my goals right now. Like I told you before...I'm going to keep playing as long as I can. If I don't find a job here in the States, there are a lot of places to play baseball. I've got two kids and my wife and I like to be with them, but I love this. And this is not for my whole life, this is for a little bit, so I want to keep playing, and when I get to like 38 maybe...(laughs).


What advice would you give to teenagers who hope to play baseball beyond high school, into college or professionally?

Well, you know, first of all- listen to mom and pop. That's the most important thing, because whatever you learn at your house, that's what you take to the field, you take everywhere. Then, listen to the coaches. I've got a son, he's 9 years old, and I always tell him, if you want to play baseball you have to work hard. Respect your teammates and play hard.


Away from the ballpark, what do you most like to spend time doing?

Spend time with my family. That's my hobby because, as you know, baseball players, we don't have too much time at home. We're always traveling, and that's my hobby. When I have one day off, I spend it with my kids and my wife. And my mom and my dad, if I'm in Venezuela, 'cause I play winter ball there too. That's my best thing outside of baseball.


Lastly, I wanted to inquire about the Trenton/Waterfront Park visitors dugout bat boy, who seems to be older than a boy. Have you ever seen a bat boy with a beard before?

(Laughs)...No, that is the first time.


-----------------------------

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!


BallHype: hype it up!

Comments

Jason said…
This is a great site that you have here. I have a sports site myself where everyone can debate freely on controversial sports issues. I was wondering if we could possibly do a link exchange. Let me know if this is possible.

Sincerely,
Jason

Popular posts from this blog

Mike McGuire Living a Dream With Favorite Team

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Every young ballplayer grows up wishing he could play for his favorite team. Mike McGuire has an opportunity to do just that after signing with the Phillies organization in July. McGuire was a 43rd round draft pick taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Delaware. Early scouting reports liked McGuire's abilities, despite some arm trouble. He advanced as far as High A Level Kinston last season. While there, he posted an 0-3 record with a 5.46 ERA in 9 games, 8 of which were starts. The Indians weren't happy with McGuire's efforts this spring and released him. McGuire caught on with the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League, where he stayed in shape and pitched against other formerly affiliated minor leaguers. As a starter with the Skyhawks, McGuire went 3-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 8 outings. From there, just as all players in those independent leagues hope for, the 24-year-old McGuire got noticed. The Phillies wer...

Harry's Plaque Has Misprint

At the ballpark today for the first time since Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame on Friday, I noticed an error in the text on his plaque. Verbage on the plaque reads like this... Voice of Phillies baseball on radio and TV for 39 seasons. Teamed with Richie Ashburn from 1971 until 1997. Harry was on the air for all of Mike Schmidt's 548 home runs, five Phillies no-hitters, seven National League Championship Series, three World Series, the first and final games at Veterans Stadium and the Citizens Bank Park 2004 opener. Received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award in 2002 for "Major Contributions to Baseball" and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His calls were legendary, especially his signature home run call, "Outta heeere." On October 29, 2008, he brought utmost joy to Phillies fans: "The 0-2 pitch, swing and miss , struck him out. The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 Worl...

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...