Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Interview: Off-season Check In with 1b Darick Hall

Darick Hall (left) & Tyler Fallwell, photo courtesy of Darick Hall
Darick Hall continued his ascent toward the big leagues in 2018, flashing plenty of power and achieving success at two levels in the process.  The 23-year-old lefty-handed batter tore through the Class A Advanced Florida State League before earning a promotion to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils.

In 128 combined games this year, the Phillies 14th round draft selection from 2016 tallied a .244 batting average with 26 home runs and 87 RBI.  

Following the regular season, Hall participated in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.  In 18 games there with the Scorpions, the six-foot-four 234-pounder sported a .238 average with four home runs and 12 RBI.  

This week I talked with the slugging first baseman about his successful year, the time spent in the AFL, his workout routine and more.  Read ahead for that full interview.

-What did you take out of your 2018 campaign?  Any key lessons or things to focus on moving forward?

2018 was an amazing year. So many good memories and new experiences on the field! One of the key elements I took away from this year was how to have unwavering confidence in myself and (my) ability. Baseball is a hard game and is especially hard if you don't have full confidence in yourself at all times. I had a few rough patches this year that I was able to come out of. I learned a lot about myself through these times. Moving into the off-season development, I am working hard on being able to refine my approach at the plate. 

-What are some of your favorite memories from the 2018 season?

Some of my favorite memories from this year came early in the year. The High-A Clearwater was a great group of guys and the dynamic of that team was incredible! We always had fun. I believe we started the season 1-10 and I still remember Shawn Williams, our manager, just telling us to keep playing hard and have fun through it all. Not too long after, we started winning a lot of games and eventually worked to a winning record. The lesson I learned is that there's not always a problem when things aren't going your way as long as you keep going about it the right way and working hard it will even out. It absolutely did!

-How do you feel the Arizona Fall League benefited your progress and are there any big lessons your took from your time there?

The fall league was a wonderful experience. We had a great group and an awesome coaching staff! The talent in that league was surreal. I really enjoyed picking the brains or the staff and players from other organizations. Pete Alonso was one of my favorite guys to talk to about hitting. He's got his swing well figured out and it's fun to watch.  I picked up on a swing key during my time in the fall league. It helped with my timing. It really has to do with the timing of my load in the the swing. I've been building on it during this off-season.

-What can you share about your workout routine right now? Or are you still enjoying some down time?

With the fall league cutting into the off-season I really had to hit the ground running. I took about two weeks off afterwards and then started back in. Right now my focus is on getting my body back into baseball shape.


Duce and Hall, photo- courtesy of Darick Hall
-What facility are you using/will you use to get your work in and are there any other pro players of former players that you are working with?

I've been working out with my best friend Matt Duce. He was drafted in the 9th round by the Cardinals this year. We played together at DBU, grew up playing little league and high school baseball together as well. On the days we work out we go back to my house hit in the cage and throw. Hunting season is in full swing right now as well so on our of days we mix in time to go look for deer. There is also a fishing tournament coming up that I am looking forward to! 

-Aside from baseball related work, how are you spending your time this off-season?

When I'm not working out or hitting I'm most likely on my bass boat or hunting! Those are my two favorite things to do when it's not baseball season. I fish bass tournaments throughout the off-season. My source of income really relies on how well I can do during those tournaments!

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

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #24 RHP Cristian Hernandez

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His size, consistent

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 rolle