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

2017 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #4 OF Mickey Moniak

Mickey Moniak, image- Joe Wombough Taken with the top overall selection in last year's MLB amateur draft, outfielder Mickey Moniak has garnered a lot of attention as a highly promising talent in the Phillies' developmental ranks. After signing out of La Costa Canyon High School for a reported $6.1 million, the lefty batting Moniak had a very good professional debut. In 46 games with the Phillies' Gulf Coast League team, Moniak posted a .284 batting average with 11 doubles, four triples, a home run and 28 RBI.  Additionally, he showed some speed, swiping 10 bases in 14 opportunities. Following the regular season, Moniak participated in the Florida Instructional League and spent time at the Phillies' training facility in Clearwater, where he worked to add strength and muscle to his six-foot-two 185-pound frame. At the plate, Moniak, who was committed to play at UCLA prior to the 2016 draft, makes steady, hard contact.  He is touted as a line drive hitter tha...

Chris Truby Speaks on Santana & Other BlueClaws Matters

On Monday, it was announced that the Astros selected outfielder Domingo Santana as the player to be named later in the late July trade that sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies. Santana, a Dominican born slugger, posted a .269 average with 7 HR and 32 RBI in 96 games with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. The 19-year-old is regarded as a five tool talent and has been ranked among the Phillies' top ten prospects by multiple national outlets. I had the opportunity to speak with Lakewood manager Chris Truby about Santana, the PTBNL list of five Phillies prospects that the Astros had to choose from, as well as other matters pertaining to the BlueClaws, as they enter the final few weeks of their regular season. Check out the media player below to hear the full interview. ______________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

Catching prospect O'Hoppe tabbed to join Phillies

Logan O'Hoppe, image- Jay Floyd Please consider supporting my work and via my Patreon page .  For a small monthly fee, 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 feature.  Thank you.   On Friday, the Phillies added a pair of catchers to their 2020 player pool.  Minor leaguers Logan O'Hoppe (pronounced Oh-HOP-ee) and Henri Lartigue arrived in Philadelphia to help catch bullpen sessions for the team's collection of approximately 30 pitchers. The call to O'Hoppe was extremely welcome as the 20-year-old had been staying as active as he possibly could, working out with other players that have been been waiting out quarantine due to the current pandemic at his home on Long Island.  However, he had been very eager to step back onto an actual baseball field. "I just hope I can play soon.  Where ever that is or whatever form that is, that'd be aw...