My Conversation with Texas Rangers Prospect Brett Nicholas

Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Brett Nicholas against the East during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Nicholas was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 6th round of the 2010 MLB Amature draft from the University of Missouri Colombia. He has since worked his way through the Texas Rangers farm system, going from Rookie League to AA Frisco. He even won the MVP of the Arizona Fall League All-Star game in 2013 (see here). He has played 253 games at first base and 78 games at catcher, but it seems that catcher will be his primary position going forward. I had the opportunity to sit down with Brett this week, our full conversation can be heard on The Ranger Report Podcast, but here are some highlights from my interview with him.

Q: How young were you when you realized you wanted to play baseball for a living?

A: For a living, probably not until high school, but I wanted to play baseball from age three on. I can remember watching Ken Griffey Jr. play and I wanted to do everything he was doing.

Q: I want to say congratulations of being the Arizona Fall League Fall Star MVP…what was that like for you?

A: It was incredible, it really was. I had a lot of family and friends there, you know, if you’re going to pick one game, that was the right one to do it in. It was something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

Q: I know you spent last year in Frisco and you played first base and a little bit of catcher. Is first base going to be your primary position going forward do you think?

A: I think catcher, actually. I’m making the transition over there full time, I’ll probably still play some first base sometimes, but it’s something that I want to do. I want to be behind the dish because I feel like my leadership ability and my control of the game, it works and I think I can help a team better back there than I can at first base.

Q: What is some of the best advice you have gotten from a coach or a fellow player that you have played with?

A: The one that I always stick with control what you can control. That was a big part of this off-season, making sure that I come into camp as in shape and ready as possible because that’s about the only thing we can control in the game of baseball. I can’t control the umpire and all that…It sounds very rudimentary, but it is something that has helped me stay level-headed…

Q: What is the toughest part this time of year getting back into baseball activities?

A: The length of the days. Every guy has put in a lot of work in the gym and with their throwing programs.., so I would the say the length of the days and the standing on your metal spikes. It just takes a couple of days to get back into it, it sounds really strange, but just getting your feet used to standing around for that long, it’s something you don’t train for in the off-season.

To hear the interview in its entirty, listen to the Ranger Report Podcast from February 17, 2014.

Online Sports Radio at Blog Talk Radio with BenDieter on BlogTalkRadio