Fightins Quotables: OF Zach Coppola talks spring training

Zach Coppola, image- Jay Floyd

In an occasional role with the big league Phillies this spring outfield prospect Zach Coppola impressed many. In 10 games, the 23-year-old lefty batted posted a .273 average with two RBI and three stolen bases.

A 13th round draft selection by the Phils in 2015, Coppola has been a steady moved in the team's developmental ranks over the last couple of season.

Coppola, a .290 career hitter in the minors, could be a valuable contributor in years to come for the Phillies.

Last week, prior to opening the season with Double-A Reading, I talked with Zach about his time around the big club this pre-season. Read ahead for that full interview.

-How would you describe your time around the major league team in spring training?

It was really fun just getting to know those guys, being around them, just seeing how they go about their business. It was cool especially with the new culture going on up there. It was an exciting time.

-With that mention of a new culture, you're referring to a more analytics based focus. Is that stuff that you think will really help you guys?

Yeah, I think so. I mean with all the video stuff coming in and all the statcast and all that it’s pretty cool to look at. It’s definitely different. I think it’s definitely going to help us look further into more detailed stuff and get to know other people more, get to know ourselves more. So, I think it’s going to be pretty good.

-Down there in the Phillies complex, it's probably easy for a representative from the big league team to come by and present some information. Do you have any idea yet how meetings might go to review new statistical details during the season?

I’m not entirely sure about that. I know we’ll have our video guy on the road with us this year, so I think that’s pretty cool. That’ll be good to look at the starting pitchers and get tendencies and stuff like that. I’m not entirely sure, in relation to the other stats and stuff like that, I’m not entirely sure how we’ll see those.

-Was there anyone that you picked up a lot from in spring training?

Just being with all the outfielders. You know, like Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams those guys just going about their business in the right way. Seeing how they do their outfield work and Sam Fuld working with the outfield guys, seeing them just talking situations and stuff like that I thought it was really cool just being in the dugout listening to them and (seeing) how they go about their business and stuff.

-Were there any memorable at bats for you during the big league games?

I had one myself, a game-tying two-RBI single which was pretty cool. The crowd was pretty loud, so that was fun. It was against the Pirates. It was just a cool situation, I came in the game in a big situation.

.-The season's starting out for you guys at home. What are your thoughts on getting out here and playing in front of local Phillies fans?

These fans are some of the best in the league. Home games are great. Playing on the road is great. You do see a lot of Phillie fans at all sorts of stadiums. So, it's gonna be fun.

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rol

LHP Brown speaks on recent release and his future

Aaron Brown, image- Jay Floyd Please consider supporting my work and subscribe to my Patreon page . Your patronage will get you exclusive interviews and other prospect related material as well as early access to all of my other content such as this post. Thank you. Aaron Brown was released last Friday after nearly six years in the Phillies organization. Brown, the Phils' 3rd round draft selection in 2014 out of Pepperdine, was primarily an outfielder after turning pro. A two-way player in college, Brown switched to pitching in 2017 after struggling on offense (.224/.313/.360) at the Double-A level. A dominant hurler in college, Brown posted a 13-1 record along with a 1.95 ERA in 17 starts in 2014. A solid performer on the minor league mound as well, the California native notched a 5-4 record with a pair of saves, a 3.82 ERA along with an 11.0 K/9 mark in 45 relief appearances for the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils last season. With free agency on the horizo

Former Phils prospect Cozens stops looters in AZ

Dylan Cozens, image- Jay Floyd Please consider supporting my work and subscribe to my Patreon page . Your patronage will get you exclusive interviews and other prospect related material as well as early access to all of my other content such as this post. Thank you. Last week, as he rang in his 26th birthday, Dylan Cozens wasn't celebrating. Instead, he took to the streets in the midst of rioting to protect local businesses in his native Scottsdale, AZ. After 1:00 AM, Cozens, a former Phillies outfield prospect and current Rays minor leaguer, caught a glimpse of some rowdy happening on Facebook Live. Posts showed violence and thievery and the former second round draft selection wasn't going to let it continue. "When I saw what they were doing and the reason behind it, I decided to try and stop it because it wasn't right. It had nothing to do with Black Lives Matter. It was a hate crime to go and try to destroy businesses and loot and hurt peopl

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog