Skip to main content

Interview Excerpts: Phils pitching prospect Kevin Gowdy

Kevin Gowdy, image- Jay Floyd
HELP SUPPORT CONTENT LIKE THIS AND KEEP IT COMING ALL SEASON LONG BY BECOMING A PATRON!- https://www.patreon.com/phoulballz

Recently, I wrote a feature on talented righty hurler Kevin Gowdy's recovery from an elbow injury and mental hurdles.  Not featured in that piece are the interview excerpts below.

Through four starts with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, the 21-year-old sports a 1.84 ERA with no decisions, a .140 batting average against while striking out 13 and walking 13 in 14 2/3 innings pitched.

Read ahead for my exclusive quotes from Kevin.


-Speaking on his and the team's excitement level for the new season...

We’re really stoked.  It’s a really fun team with really good, really athletic team and we should be able to swing it a little bit and it’s gonna be a really fun year.

-On the group of guys he bonded greatly with during the rehab process...

It was Grant Dyer, who was here a couple years ago and Trevor Bettencourt, J.D. Hammer, Nick Fanti, a good amount of guys.  That was the main core of who I hung out with.  We really just got super close during that time, ‘cause everyone was going through something and you’re going to have a lot of bad days in rehab.  You’re going to have them in life, but when you’re having a bad day, someone will come pick you up.  I definitely formed some really close bonds and relationships with those guys.

-Offering thoughts on his backstops with Lakewood, Abrahan Gutierrez and Rafael Marchan...

I definitely have really good relationships with both and they’re both good pitch callers and they’re always working hard for you.  You have the confidence in them to throw a two strike breaking ball in the dirt or anything like that.  It’s easy to get on the same page with them and they’re always working hard for you.  We definitely have a lot of trust in them.

-Commenting on his pitching coach, former Phillies minor leaguer and Temple hurler, Matt Hockenberry...


He’s awesome.  I think him being in the game so recently, it’s easy to relate to him and he’s just always fired up to get guys better.  He comes to the park every day with a fired up attitude and he’s just ready to go.  There’s always something with him.  You can go up to him and ask him if he wants to watch video or let’s look at these charts or let’s work on my breaking ball and he always wants to help, even if it’s just playing catch with you.  He’s great.  I love working with him. 

-Talking about if he feels improvements to his mental toughness as a result of the difficult recovery path and thinking of moving on from baseball...

By far, for sure.  It’ll test you, for sure.  There were times I didn’t even want to play baseball anymore.  Just so frustrated with rehab and so over it, I guess.  I just wanted to do something else or go to school or go do something and I’m really happy I stuck with it.  I don’t think I would ever (have quit), but I’m really happy I stuck with it and everything’s good now.

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