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| Kevin Gowdy, image- Jay Floyd |
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.
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