Boston Red Sox Prospect Mike Meyers: Not the First But Aiming to Be the Best

Being the first at something is often awarded great importance in life. However, it should not be considered the end-all, be-all. Hopefully, that’s something Boston Red Sox infield prospect Mike Meyers realizes as he continues his journey to the major leagues.

Meyers isn’t the first Meyers or even the first Mike Meyers to be employed by the Red Sox, as left-handed reliever Mike Meyers appeared in 90 games with the team in 2004-2005.

The most recent Mike Meyers was a star shortstop for Silverado High School in Las Vegas. He was taken by Boston in the 12th round of the 2012 draft (391st overall selection) and signed on, thus beginning his professional career. He got his first taste of pro ball that year, playing shortstop and second base. The right-handed hitter appeared in 30 games in the Gulf Coast League, hitting .337 with a home run and 10 RBIs.

Last season, he moved to outfield but only got into 28 games between the Gulf Coast League and the short-season Lowell Spinners because of injuries. He combined to hit .255 with seven RBIs. Although it wasn’t a great statistical season, it hopefully got his feet underneath him with the position change and primed him for a breakout campaign in 2014.

Recently, the 20-year-old Meyers answered some questions about his playing career. In addition to getting to know Boston’s prospect a little better, make sure to give him a follow on Twitter and keep up with his progress this season.

Mike Meyers Interview:

Who was your favorite player when you were growing up, and why?: My favorite player growing up was Derek Jeter. I grew up watching pretty much every Yankees game because my dad is a huge Yankees fan and because I played shortstop growing up, so it was pretty easy to look up to Derek Jeter.

Jeter could do anything on a baseball field in his prime and was always so humble. I’ve always enjoyed watching him be able to hit the ball to all fields and make amazing plays on defense.

How difficult was it to weigh going to college against going pro?: It was extremely difficult. I was always a good student in school, and with both my parents being teachers, good grades has always been a top priority.

I got drafted a little later than I had expected, so at first I was leaning towards going to college but as I weighed my options I realized that playing professional baseball was my dream, and mentally I felt like I could deal with the hard times of the minor leagues. So once the Red Sox agreed to give me a large amount for school when I was finished with baseball, I decided I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

How did you first find out that the Red Sox were interested in you?: I found out when the Red Sox area scout, Jim Woodward, arranged to come to my house and meet with me and my family, and told us the Red Sox were interested in drafting me.

What position do you believe you will ultimately play, and what are the primary skills you bring to the table?: That is a tough question. I just moved from second base to outfield and I think I can play both pretty well. So for now I believe the outfield, either left or center field, is where I will ultimately play. But I think I will always be able to come back to the infield if needed.

The primary skills I bring to the field every day would have to be my ability to hit the ball to all fields, and speed. I haven't mastered how to steal bases yet, but I believe it will become an important part of my game in the next few years.

What do you like to do outside of baseball?: Outside of baseball I enjoy fishing and golfing. There are not many places to fish in Las Vegas, but whenever me and my dad get a chance to go out on a fishing trip, we take it.

I just recently got more interested in golf, and I’m hooked. It’s a sport I only play in the offseason because I don't want it to mess with my swing. But whenever I get the chance to play I do.

What is the most impressive thing you have ever seen on a baseball field?: The most impressive thing I have ever seen on a field is how talented a player Joey Gallo is.  In a playoff game in high school, Joey hit a home run off us that probably went 500 feet, and then in the next inning he came in to pitch and hit 100 mph on the gun. Pretty impressive.

Have you received any mentoring from players from the major league squad?: I wouldn't really consider it mentoring but when I first signed and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League team, Jacoby Ellsbury was down in Ft. Myers rehabbing and I got to take batting practice with him for a few days. In those days he really tried to help me with my swing and gave me some advice about how to deal with different situations in the game that I will never forget.

What career would you have pursued if not for baseball?: If not for baseball, I would be in school studying to be a doctor.  I’ve always wanted to be an anesthesiologist, and if baseball doesn't work out that is what I will work towards becoming.

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Derek Jeter’s Retirement Should Be Sad News to Fans of the Boston Red Sox

The countdown has begun for the end of one of baseball’s all-time legends. New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter announced on his Facebook page that he will end his illustrious 20-year major league career following the upcoming 2014 season. The decision will undoubtedly be a blow to many, but surprisingly, it should be very sad news for fans of the Boston Red Sox, the team that was his arch rival.

Throughout his career, Jeter has stacked up numbers and accolades like cordwood. With one more year to go, the soon-to-be 40-year-old has hit a combined .312 with 3,316 hits, 256 home runs, 1,276 RBIs, 348 stolen bases, 535 doubles and 1,876 runs scored.

He won the 1996 American League Rookie of the Year Award, placed in the top-10 in MVP voting eight times, claimed five Gold Gloves and made 13 All-Star teams.

As Jeter has gone, so have the Yankees. He has been part of an amazing 16 playoff teams, including five that won the World Series. In 158 career postseason games, he has hit .308 with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs, making him perhaps the greatest October performer of all time.

What do all of Jeter’s numbers and accomplishments add up to for the Boston Red Sox and their fans? He was a giant pain in the ass.

Sometimes a worthy opponent can be as difficult to find as a good friend or teammate. Those wanting to be the best should also want to beat the best to reach those goals. With Jeter as the face of the Yankees for the past two decades, the intense rivalry between the two American League East teams couldn’t have been more fiery.

Although the Yankees took down the Red Sox a number of times during the shortstop’s career, there were also moments when Boston came out on top; with the 2004 ALCS being the most notable, and likely the sweetest.

If you are going to take your lumps in a fight, being able to return a few licks makes the whole endeavor worthwhile. Jeter’s teams usually gave the Red Sox all they could handle and then some, which is why the moments where they were vanquished produced moments of unbridled joy for fans.

It’s easy for one to say that they hate their rival. However, the best matchups come out of taking on those who hold your respect. No matter what offensive t-shirts and “Jeter sucks” chants floated around Fenway Park over the years, a rational Red Sox fan would be hard-pressed to claim with a straight face that they didn’t respect Jeter.

Although the Boston-New York rivalry is played out on athletic fields, make no mistake that at its heart it is a regional beef. Jeter may have grown up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but over time he came to personify the New York big city stereotype with his polished efficiency, elevating the rivalry even more in the process.

His competitive fire, reserved demeanor and consistency were reminiscent of famous Yankees before him like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Don Mattingly. Part of what made the Boston-New York rivalry fun during Jeter’s career was the subconscious hope that he would one day be taken down a peg, be exposed as a fraud, or somehow shown to be less than how he came across publicly. If he wasn’t the classy top-notch player with all the hype, it would be a major victory for Boston fans. He never gave them that satisfaction.

Over the years Jeter has seen a number of high-profile teammates take mighty plunges from grace over connections to performance enhancers—the biggest bugaboo in the sport during his career. Through it all, he has managed to emerge as pristine as the day he debuted in the majors. Certainly, his reputation has likely ratcheted down the intensity of inquiry, but he has also never given anyone a reason to give him a hard look. In today’s day and age that’s a mighty accomplishment in itself.

Despite playing on baseball’s biggest stage and possessing movie star good looks, Jeter has always had an air of humility about him that is becoming increasingly rare in professional sports. Sure, there was the occasional fling with starlets, but he was never an in your face kind of person. He was as professional as an athlete can be in today’s culture that glorifies bad-boy behavior from rich young stars, especially athletes. His headlines were about what he did on the field, not what he was trying to hide off it.

Gratingly perfect to the end, his closing remarks in his retirement announcement precisely display what Boston and every other opponent has been up against over the years. “I want to soak in every moment of every day this year, so I can remember it for the rest of my life. And most importantly, I want to help the Yankees reach our goal of winning another championship.” Those are fighting words, especially because he means every one of them.

It’s true. Jeter is/was an absolute pain for the Boston Red Sox and their fans. However, his skill and love for the game only raised their levels as well. In sports, respect can be disguised as hate. You may not find a Sox fan willing to admit their love for the shortstop, but show me one who says they don’t respect him and won’t miss him, and I’ll show you a liar.

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Preston Tucker: Prospect Slugging Way to Majors for the Houston Astros

The Houston Astros may have lost 111 games in 2013, but make no mistake about it, they are a team on the rise. That optimism is largely based on the strength of their minor league system, with ESPN’s Keith Law even recently ranking them (subscription required) as the best in baseball.

One of Houston’s prospects that has made an ongoing splash since joining the organization is outfielder Preston Tucker. The 23-year-old left-handed slugger has begun his professional career with a bang and has an opportunity to earn a spot with the major league club in the future if he can continue his strong play.

Tucker played collegiately at the University of Florida. The Gainesville Sun reported he was a two-time All-American, and upon leaving school in 2012, did so as their all-time leader in a number of categories, including hits, games played, RBIs, doubles and total bases.

For his Gator career, he hit .329 with 57 home runs (second in school history and 258 RBIs in 265 games.

Tucker was selected in the 16th round of the 2011 draft by the Colorado Rockies but returned to school for his junior season. The moved paid off handsomely, as he moved up to the seventh round and the Astros in 2012.

After signing, he played in 42 games for Houston’s short-season affiliate, hitting an impressive .321 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs.

He was moved up to full-season ball in 2013, and proved he could more than handle the promotion. Appearing in a combined 135 games with the High Single-A and Double-A teams, he tuned up opposing pitchers at a .297 clip with 25 home runs and 103 RBIs. Perhaps most noteworthy was his excellent plate approach, which resulted in a 56/91 walk/strikeout ratio.

It figures that Tucker will start 2014 in the upper levels of the minors. If he continues swinging a big bat, a major league debut may not be far away.

During the 2012 season, I had a chance to chat with Tucker when he was playing on the road with the Tri-City Valley Cats. It’s clear the young outfielder is very focused, and given his results, all his hard work is paying off.

Preston Tucker Interview:

How did you first get interested in baseball?: Obviously baseball is a little slower than some other sports, so it wasn’t my first interest. I liked soccer and some other fast paced sports. I got into it in Little League and found out I was pretty good at it so I decided to continue.

Did you have a favorite team and player when you were growing up?: I’m from Tampa. My favorite team has always been the Rays. Player? Back in Little League and high school I always liked to watch Ken Griffey, Jr. play. He was always my favorite.

What was your experience like playing at the University of Florida?: You obviously see all the talent of the guys who are going to play for a long time around you, so that’s fun. You’re playing intrasquad games and you are watching really talented players develop and grow

What was your draft experience like? How did you find out the Astros were interested in you?: Well you know, teams talk to you in the fall and you see what teams are interested and which teams aren’t. I was actually at practice when I got selected. It was a pretty cool experience. It was obviously an exciting way to get drafted.

Having signed your first professional contract, do you plan to do anything to celebrate for yourself or your family?: You know, my brother plays ball too; he’s travelling around. Actually when I came to terms I was with my mom and sister at home, and my dad and my brother were off somewhere else. So we just went out to dinner. It was something small. I’m sure when I get back we can all do something together.

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Adam Greenberg: MLB's One At-Bat Inspiration

Only a tiny fraction of baseball players are fortunate enough to have a professional career. Even fewer earn the opportunity to make it to the major leagues and achieve the distinction of playing at the game’s highest level.

Even after making it, a player can have everything taken away in an instant, even if it is through no fault of their own. Adam Greenberg discovered that the hard way, but he never quit and emerged as one of baseball’s best kinds of success stories.

An outfielder, the left-handed Greenberg was a ninth-round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs out of the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill in 2002. A strong hitter for average, he possessed good speed and a strong glove; skills that allowed him to move quickly through the team’s system.

Midway through the 2005 season, he was called up to the majors. He made his major league debut on July 9th, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning for pitcher Will Ohman. With his family in the stands, Greenberg faced left-handed Florida pitcher Valerio De Los Santos. On the very first pitch he saw in the big leagues, the rookie took a fastball off the back of his head. Fortunately, he was able to leave the game under his own power, but suffered a concussion and saw his season cut short because of the ensuing symptoms.

Coming back in 2006, he was sent to the minors but couldn’t shake all of the after-effects of his injury, saw his production decline and was released by the Cubs in June. After that, he bounced around, playing in the minors for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Angels and the Kansas City Royals—but he was never able to get back to the majors and resume what had been taken away so quickly.

In 2009 he joined the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League and started a new phase of his career, producing very good numbers.

His brief major league stint remained an unjust memory for many fans. One, named Matt Liston, started an online petition, calling for Greenberg to receive an official major league at-bat. Incredibly, the Marlins stepped to the plate and signed the outfielder to a one-day contract in 2012 to give him the chance that had eluded him years before.

Greenberg, who donated his Marlins’ salary to charity, pinch hit for outfielder Bryan Peterson in the bottom of the sixth inning of a game against the New York Mets on October 2, 2012. Facing knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, he finally got his official major league at-bat after more than seven years in the making. Although he went down on strikes, it was the kind of wonderful moment that makes baseball such an emotional and enjoyable game.

After signing and being released before the end of 2013 spring training with the Baltimore Orioles, Greenberg played in 30 games with Bridgeport, but hit just .220. The soon-to-be 33-year-old recently officially retired, ending one of baseball’s best underdog stories.

In addition to his brief time in the majors, he hit a combined .262 with 43 home runs, 331 RBIs, 261 stolen bases and an excellent .372 OBP in 11 seasons in the minors and independent ball. More information about his career statistics is available at BaseballReference.com.

Last year (before he retired), I had an opportunity to ask Greenberg some questions about his career. It was fascinating to find out a little more about one of baseball’s good guys and great stories, so keep reading for more.

Adam Greenberg Interview:

Who was your favorite team and player growing up?: The New York Yankees and Don Mattingly.

Can you talk a bit about what your draft experience was like?: It was exciting time for sure. This was everything I had worked for growing up. My family and I watched the draft online from home.

How did you first find out you were being called up to the majors for the first time?: I happened to be in a Days Inn in Tennessee when the Cubs called.

Can you explain your feelings after being injured in your first major league at-bat and how it impacted your career?: At first there wasn't any concern. I thought I would have been back right away, but that wasn't the case.  When I realized there were issues with the positional vertigo, there was definite concern for my health and whether or not I could continue my career.  Everything happens for a reason and I have no regrets.  I am currently in the best shape of my life and playing ball at the highest level right now.

What are your current baseball plans?: I played extremely well with the Orioles organization this spring and have no regrets. I know I have the ability to contribute to a major league ball club and help them win games. My current plan is to continue to work out and wait to see if another team calls. 

How did your contract with the Marlins come about last year, and what was that experience like?: The contract came about from the generosity of Matt Liston and his One-at-Bat campaign.  Matt and his team were able to get 25 thousand signatures on a petition to get me back to the big leagues for an at-bat. With the help of social media and the human spirit, they were able to bring tons of media attention. The experience was like no other...a dream come true! Leading up to the at-bat and stepping back in the box on the major league level was amazing. 

I can't thank Matt, the fans, Marlins and Major League Baseball enough!

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