The Cincinnati Reds have had good fortune developing their
own starting pitching in recent years, churning out the likes of Mike Leake,
Tony Cingrani, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto. There is another hurler emerging who
appears to be on that same track, and his name is Nick Travieso.
The right-hander attended Archbishop McCarthy High School in
Southwest Ranches, Florida. Poised to attend the University of Miami, his
designation as the 14th overall selection in the first round of the 2012 draft
by the Reds was enough to make him change his mind and start his professional
career.
Like many players fresh out of high school, Travieso started
slowing going 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in eight 2012 starts in the Arizona Rookie
League. He won seven games the following years but has truly blossomed in 2014.
Playing for the Single-A Dayton Dragons, the 20-year-old is
14-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 26 starts. He has struck out 114 in 142.2 innings while
permitting just 123 hits and 44 walks. He has been particularly fiery hot of
late, as evidenced by his 7-0 record and 1.22 ERA in his last nine starts. More
information on his statistics can be found here
and here.
This past offseason, Travieso was gracious enough to answer
some questions. Keep reading on for more on this prospect who seems to be on
the fast track for the Cincinnati starting rotation.
Nick Travieso
Interview:
Who was your favorite
player when you were growing up, and why?: Growing up I idolized Roger
Clemens. I loved how he went after every hitter regardless of who was at the
plate. He always had fire in him, even when he knew his career was coming to an
end.
What went into your
decision to go pro opposed to attending the University of Miami?: Throughout
high school I had all intentions of attending the University of Miami. I knew I
wanted to play college ball there since I started playing coach pitch at the
age of seven. The "U" was part of my home, and therefore a part of
me. It wasn't until I got drafted that things got a little tricky. As much as I
wanted to attend Miami, playing baseball was where my heart was. My family and
I sat down and talked about it, and I decided that I wanted to make a living
doing what I love. That’s when I decided I would play professionally for the
Reds.
Can you describe the
kind of attentions you got from teams leading up to the draft?: Everything
was sort of in the air. It wasn't like I was getting more attention from one
team than the others. I had heard that some liked me and some didn't. I wasn't
sure where or even if I would get drafted. I always just tried to go out and
play my game and not worry about the scouts or the draft.
What pitches do you
throw and which do you think you need to work on the most?: I'm a fastball,
slider and changeup guy. My changeup is definitely the pitch I need to work on
most mainly because I hardly ever threw it before pro ball. In high school all
you need is two pitches. But when you move to the next level you need to be
able to have a feel for a third pitch, and I'm in the process of that now.
Who has been the most
influential coach or manager you have had, and why?: In pro ball so far the
most influential coach I've had is the Dayton pitching coach Tony Fossas. He
pitched in the big leagues for 12 years but what a lot of people don't know is
that he spent just as long in the minors. I think it's great to have a coach like
that who knows what you are going through because he was there one day. He's
had the biggest impact on my professional career on and off the field.
Do you follow the
major league transactions? If so, do you a lot of thinking of how they might
impact you?: I like to keep up with it a little over social media, but not
extensively. I wouldn't say that I think about how they would impact my career
but I guess sometimes you have to. When your organization is making moves up
top, it's kind of exciting to know that one day possibly you could be getting
moved up to fill a spot.
What has been your
proudest moment as a professional player?: My proudest moment thus far
would probably be when my parents came out to watch my first game in Dayton. I
didn't get the win, but I pitched well and it just made it a whole lot better
seeing them out in the stands like they have since day one back in tee ball.
What are some things
you like to do away from baseball?: I consider myself a professional
fisherman in the offseason—haha. I usually go out almost every morning and go
fishing whether it be in a lake or even in the ocean. It's always a fun and enjoyable
experience every time I go even if I don't catch anything. I just like to go
out and relax and not have to worry about anything else. It's kind of my escape
from baseball.
You can check me out on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @historianandrew
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