Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Interview: Top 2011 Draft Pick Larry Green Jr.

Larry Greene Jr., image- Jay Floyd
Left fielder Larry Greene Jr. was selected by the Phillies in the supplementary round of the 2011 draft (39th overall) out of Berrien County High School (GA).  The 6-foot 235-pounder signed late that season and spent some time with the Florida Instructional League team.  He made his official regular season debut last year with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, where he batted .272 with 22 doubles, two homers and 26 RBI in 70 games.

This season, citing concern over Greene's weight, the Phillies kept him in extended spring training to open the season.  However, the 20-year-old was added to the Class A Lakewood roster this week, as his fitness is clearly headed in the right direction.

I spoke with Larry, who is 0-for-5 with five strike outs and two walks through his first two games with the BlueClaws, on Friday about his draft process, his weight, his family and plenty more.  Read ahead for that full interview.


-So, you got the call this week to join this BlueClaws club.  What do you think of the facilities in Lakewood and the town here thus far?

I like it.  It's beautiful here. I mean, the whole team welcomed me with open arms.  It's a lot of my buddies and it feels good to join them.


-There's a level of excitement this week upon news coming out that you were joining this roster from extended spring training, after this team got off to a poor start with a 3-11 record.  How does it make you feel to know that there's a fan base that's so ready for you to join this team and add some pop to the lineup?

It feels good.  It makes me feel right at home, but I mean the only thing we can do is go out there and play.  And hits are gonna happen.  You just gotta work every day and tomorrow's another day. 


-You were the Phils' top draft pick a couple years ago and I think a lot of people got to see you on there, all smiles, and became instant fans of you, as one of the only players to actually go to a draft.  How was that experience for you?

That was life changing.  I mean, especially being the only one there and getting to meet all the hall of famers and all the ex-players and managers, all that.  And Joe Torre was nice.  It was good.  It was just life changing, man. And now, I am living my dream.


-You mentioned ex-players being there, Mickey Morandini was there that night, representing the Phillies.  He's now your manager, here with Lakewood.  What are your thoughts on Mickey as a coach?

Mickey's great.  I love Mickey to death.  He just tells me every day, do your work and work hard every day and you'll improve and catch up.  He's a good skip and I love Mickey to death.



-Last year you made your pro debut as a member of the Williamsport Crosscutters and put up solid numbers there.  And their park has a reputation for being a tough park to hit in (for power).  What do you think you took out of your time in Williamsport?

I mean, just playing the game.  How you have to go out there every day and play every day and just staying on the grind every day.   But, it was good playing in Williamsport.  It was nice there.  I loved it.  But, now I'm here and I'm gonna keep progressing.


-I mentioned people being excited to hear that you were promoted here this week.  In relation, people were also rather disappointed to learn you weren't on the last workout group list for the team that was slated to become the opening day BlueClaws roster.  Reasons for that, according to the team, were fitness related.  Mickey told me (the Phillies) kept you in Florida so you could get more fit.  How disappointed were you by that?

I mean, I wasn't disappointed in the team, I was disappointed by myself, because I know I didn't play this off-season as well as I should have.  I had some trouble with weight and all that.  But, now I'm good and I'm gonna keep going.

I gained ten pounds in the off-season.  It's getting better now and it just varies, but (my weight) is getting down and I'll just work hard to keep it down.


-You mentioned your off-season there and I recall hearing that your winter was pretty remarkable in that you became a dad.  You mentioned the draft being life changing.  I know being a dad is life changing too.  How has fatherhood impacted you?

It has impacted me a lot.  Now I got my family to feed, I got my little son to feed.  It changed my life, I'll tell you that much.  It was fun.  I'm glad to have him here and my wife will be here.  It's good.  She's coming up here, but she's not here yet.  


-That sounds great.  Now, a lot of folks haven't gotten to see you play yet, so, if you were to scout yourself, what could you tell us?

I play the game hard, that's the only way I know how to play it.  But, I run the bases hard and if you hit, you hit, if you don't you don't.  I think you just gotta play the game hard and that's what I'm gonna do.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi