Skip to main content

Austin Listi Interview Excerpts

Austin Listi, image- Jay Floyd
First baseman Austin Listi is enjoying success after he was selected by the Phillies in the 17th round of this year's draft.

Through 32 professional games at two levels, the righty batter has posted a .274 average with five home runs and 21 RBI.

At this rate, it may not be too long before Listi has sports fans everywhere using NetBet, hoping to make his talents work in their favor.

The 23-year-old Dallas Baptist product was the subject of a recent feature I wrote following a chat at Lakewood's FirstEngery Park.  The interview excerpts ahead include Listi's thoughts on earning a promotion, playing in the minors with a pair of college teammates and plenty more.


-With the promotion from Williamsport to Lakewood, what was the jump to the Sally League like for you? 

Obviously, I'm humbled and honored to be here.  I met the team on the road, we were in North Carolina, so what made it an easier transition for me is I have a couple former college teammates here with me.  Darick Hall, David Martinelli.  So with those guy here, just giving me advice on how things work at this level or with this organization, or with this team, this organization as well.  'Cause when I got drafted they were there to lay it out for me with what's going to be going down.  And all the other guys on the team have been great and have welcomed me with nothing but hospitality and a smile.  It's been great.  It's been fun and I'm just happy to be here.
-Can you share more about your relationship with those two guys that were your college teammates?

I played with David Martinelli for three years at Dallas Baptist.  I was a sophomore when he was a freshman there.  And then Darick Hall came there when I return to DBU, I left for a year to go do some stuff.  When I was drafted by the Phillies, 'cause they call me and texted me right away.  They found out and they welcomed me to the extended family now.  They were like, "Welcome to the family again!"
-Coming out of college ball this year, has the transition to the minor leagues been as you expected?

Well, coming from DBU, we have a lot of guys that get drafted, so we'd have guys that come back in the off-season and tell us how it was for them, or tell us what they needed to work on or tell us about what they saw or what their biggest adjustment was, so I took all their advice and kind of put it into myself.  I had to use that to help me to see what I thought and to see if I was kind of like them.
At this level especially, the pitching has been really good, I think.  They're spotting up with different pitches in different locations in different counts.  And they move up, down and it's pretty tough to hit.  You know, I would say it's a pretty big transition from college, where a team might have one guy that can do that.  Or two, a starter and a closer or something.  But here, it's been starter, bullpen, closer, it doesn't matter.  It's been good baseball.

-Now that you're in the pro's, are you keeping souvenirs with all the firsts and landmark moments?

I was pretty lucky.  I didn't get my first hit ball, but I got my first home run ball in Williamsport.  Somebody went and got it and brought it to me.  And then I got my two home runs, I got both balls over in North Carolina, their fans went and got them and gave them to me.  That was really nice, especially for the away team.  Baseball fans, they love the game no matter who it is.  Just, I was really thankful, because- my family, they want it more than I do.  I'm not really sentimental type.  I just give it to my family.

-Coming from Texas, what were your impressions on New Jersey before playing here with the BlueClaws?

Honestly, Jersey Shore.  The shore, the beach, the piers and then the show.  Me and Martinelli are Italian, so we'd joke about it, being Guidos and stuff but...I've never even been to this side of the country other than North and South Carolina till now.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

2021 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #22 SS Casey Martin

Please visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work, get access to material like this before anyone else and get access to interviews as well as other exclusive content you can't get anywhere else.   A third round draft pick last year, Arkansas junior Casey Martin was quickly signed by the Phillies and consideration as one of the organization's top infield prospects quickly began.  The team's confidence in his ceiling is likely evident in the signing bonus he got, which was reportedly $1.3 million, which was considerably more than slot money dictated by his 87th overall draft position ($685K). The right-handed batting Martin tallied a .311/.393/.545 slash line with 30 homers, 24 steals and 112 RBI in 143 games through his college career at Arkansas.  Reports had him falling in the draft as a result of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand prior to his 2020 season.  Prior to the procedure, Baseball America projected Martin as a top ten draft pick.

Slick fielding Sam is the Champion of the (PhoulBallz) world!

Phillies Ball(z)girl Sam Arnone was kind enough to answer some questions for the PhoulBallz site and all of you. Sam will be entering her 3rd season as a Phillies ballgirl and is a junior at Drexel University. Sam hails from the great town of Mt. Ephram, NJ. 1- Since the Phillies are the World Champions of baseball teams, are the Phillies ballgirls the world champions of ballgirl teams? - Of Course!!! There are not that many teams that have Ballgirls, so the competition is a little scarce. I would definitely put my team up against any other Ballgirl team with full confidence! 2- What is your routine to prepare for a day of on-field duties? - Before a game, I am always a little nervous. Once I am ready to leave my house and head to the ballpark I triple check my bag to make sure I have my glove and then I check again. I always have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat because it keeps me full and gives me energy for the entire game. I guess I might have to find a new favorite sa

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal