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Off-season Q&A: Dugan Readying for 2013

Last season with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Kelly Dugan put together a solid season in which he batted .300 while slugging 12 homers and driving in 60 runs in 117 games as a 21-year-old in the South Atlantic League.  Primarily an outfielder, Dugan spent time at first base to assist with recovery from leg and ankle issues during the early portion of the season.

Overall, in his minor league career, Dugan has posted a .292 batting average in 237 games.  He was the Phillies' top draft selection back in 2009 (2nd round) out of Notre Dame High School in California.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Kelly about his off-season workout routine, what his film director dad Dennis has in store for the movie-going public and plenty more.  Read ahead to check out that full interview.


- What is your workout routine like lately and how much time off from hitting do you take during the off-season?

I took about a month and a half off.  I pretty much follow the program that the Phillies have set in place.  I have a trainer and I follow the program.  And I have a (batting) cage at my house and I've been working with an ex-Dodger, Reggie Smith.  We've been hitting together here in the off-season.  I regularly have some other minor league players over, Cody Decker and Jeremy Rodriguez, they come over here at the house and we take some hacks.


- So, you're working with players from others organizations.  Are those guys you've played with in high school or against in the pro's?

Well, Jeremy played at my rival high school, Crespi High School, out here in California.  Jeff Suppan used to play there. And we're all hitting with Reggie and getting things going right now.


- Typically, guys out of Class A Advanced or Double A, which are the two levels ahead of where you played last season Class A Lakewood, might have a chance to play in fall/winter leagues like the Arizona Fall League, or in the Caribbean.  Is that potentially something you look forward to, in the coming seasons?

Yeah.  And I think that would be a great opportunity.  I just hope, right now, I can build on last year and continue the momentum from that season and stay healthy and, you know, hopefully, after the season, I have to be mentally prepared to play in the fall, for a month, or so.  We'll see.  I'll be mentally ready for (something like that) next year.  I'm looking forward to it, if I get the opportunity. 


- Other than hitting and working out, what do you stay busy with, either as a hobby or for fun, to occupy yourself during the off-season?

To be honest, I don't do much.  I do some pilates.  I do running.  But, I'm an exercise geek.  I like to switch it up a lot and do the stairs one day...but I don't do a whole lot.  I like to take little vacations.  Over Christmas, we're in Yosemite, with my family and my girlfriend, to do some hiking and holiday stuff.  

I love watching movies, 'cause my dad is a director, so I go to the movies a lot.  We definitely try to get to the theater as much as we can.


- You mentioned your dad there.  Is he working on anything during the off-season that you can visit the set for, or anything like that?

Well, right now, he's got a movie coming out in the summer and he's working on it.  It's Grown Ups 2, they're doing the sequel to Grown Ups.  So, that'll be coming out next summer.  I think they're mostly in the editing room, right now.  They were shooting during last season, because it's a summer movie.  Everyone's excited and it looks really good.


- That sounds really good.  Now, heading toward next year, as spring training approaches, when do you estimate your arrival to Florida for the spring?  Do you normally go down there early?

I like to get there a little bit early and get adjusted, because of the time difference and I like to get there a couple days early.  I haven't put a date on it yet, but that's usually, what I do. 

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