Skip to main content

PhoulBallz Interview: Off-season Check In with OF Austin Listi

Austin Listi, image- Jay Floyd
This year outfielder Austin Listi stood out as the Phillies' organization's most outstanding offensive prospect, getting honored by the organization as their Paul Owens Award winner.

In the 2018 regular season, Listi split time with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading.  In 123 total games in 2018, the Dallas Baptist product tallied a .312 average with 18 home runs and 84 RBI.  He did all of that in his first full season in the professional ranks, after the Phillies made him their 17th round draft choice last year.

Defensively, Listi played left field, third base and first base, though primarily he spent his time in right field during the season.

In the autumn months, Listi continued his development, seeing action in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.  In 22 games for the Scorpions, the 25-year-old tallied a .250 batting average with two doubles, a triple and seven RBI.

This week I heard from Listi who offered some comments on his off-season, winning the Paul Owens Award and more.  Read ahead for that interview.


-Related to your off-season, how are you keeping busy away from the sport? 

I took two weeks off after I got home from the Arizona Fall League and just played a little golf did a little hunting and caught up on family time. Now I’m working out and enjoying family time.
-What sort of workout routine are you doing?  Is there anything you are working on strength or that sort of thing? 


Strength is always something I want to improve. 

-What facility do you use or do you plan to use to execute your workouts this off-season?  Are there any other pro players that you work with?

I train my speed and agility at Armed Sports and I do my weights at my high school.

-I know before the big league season was over, you got to attend a game at Citizens Bank Park and get honored for the Paul Owens Award.  Can you share some thoughts on that experience and the lasting feelings or memories you took from that night?

It was an incredible experience. The way the Phillies took care of my family was very special. That will be a memory my family and I will cherish forever.

-Does that Paul Owens honor impact your mentality at all?  For example, does the goal of becoming a big leaguer seem more like a reality after getting that award?

I wouldn’t say it really changes my mentality at all. I am still going to work as hard as I can to be the best that I can be. I have never lacked the confidence in my ability, so to be chosen for this award, it was humbling and an honor. I wouldn’t say it gave me anymore confidence than I already had. 

-I know you're a family guy and a parent.  What's the best thing about the off-season for you?

Being with my wife and boy.

-Do you have any sort of big plans or vacations lined up with them?

No vacations or anything.  Beauty in simply spending time with the loved ones, man.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Stats to Ponder: Jimmy Rollins Edition

J-Roll has batted under .200 for a calendar month twice in his career. In April 2004, Rollins went 13-for-71, for a .183 average. The following month, Rollins went 30-for-107, which is a .280 average. And in August 2005, Rollins went 22-for-117, for a .188 average. The month that followed saw Rollins go 49-for-122 for a .402 average. Rollins is batting .171 so far in May 2009. Improvement is not far away for Jimmy. The Phillies are 10-2 in games this year which Rollins scores at least 1 run. The Phillies are 4-12 in games which Rollins does not score. Jimmy Rollins in 6 games against the Braves this year is batting .071 (2-for-28). In 2008 Rollins batted .284 against the Braves in 18 games. In 2007 Rollins batted .347 against the Braves in 18 games. In 2006 Rollins batted .367 against the Braves in 18 games. Jimmy Milestone Watch: 6 more RBI and Rollins will tie Scott Rolen for 25th all time in Phillies RBI leaders. 7 more triples and Rollins will tie Richie Ashburn for 4th all time i...

Crawford's Chronicles: JP Crawford talks Spring Training

JP Crawford, image- Jay Floyd Entering this year as the widely regarded top prospect in the Phillies organization, J.P. Crawford will be taking time each week to provide insight directly from inside spring training in Clearwater, FL, right here on PhilliesNation.com. Crawford, 20, was named the top positional prospect in two leagues (Class A South Atlantic League and Class A Advanced Florida State League) last year, when he combined, in 123 games, to post a .285 average, 11 homers, 48 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He also represented the Phils organization in the MLB All-Star Futures Game last season. As the 2015 campaign approaches, the six-foot-two 180-pound lefty batter is expected to reach the Double-A level and continue to prove why the Phillies selected him in the first round of the 2013 draft. In this initial installment of our weekly check-in with J.P., he shares thoughts on a variety of topics, including his exclusion from big league camp, which member of the big leagu...

Phreestyle Battle & Notes

Unrelated to baseball, really...but it's fun and our Phils are off today. This new kid on the hip hop scene, Charles Hamilton , whose single Brooklyn Girl is ripping up radio and video count downs, was at PSU for a performance recently. A freestyle battle ensued, and as you'll see, the Penn State student held his own. Stay tuned for the ending. It's the best part. Here are some random Phillies-in-idle baseball thoughts and notes- Colbert Hamels is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut tomorrow vs. Team Canada. Shane Victorino is going to wear #50 on his jersey for Team USA, a nod to Hawaii Five-O. Brad Lidge is likely to not see game action till next week, after he throws some more bullpen sessions and works out the tightness in his forearm. Albert Pujols is declaring "respect for his country" as reasoning for sitting out of the Cardinals' exhibition this week against Team Dominican Republic. He told reporters, "I don’t want to play against them...