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Be sure to check-out
TopProspectAlert.com for
the latest news on the hottest minor-league prospects! |
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"Missouri's Max Scherzer Off-and-Running," |
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PN Staff |
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Max Scherzer couldn't be too much happier
right now. One of preseason college baseball's most talked-about
pitchers, Scherzer just picked-up his second straight win this past
Friday,
defeating a very talented Florida team at the swamp. Florida entered the game ranked #1.
So far, this top prospect is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 13 IP's holding
opponents to a meager 0.156 batting average, having only given-up 2 ER's
and tossing 14 K's with only 4 BB's. This is one prospect who has
lived-up to the hype thus far. |
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We caught-up with Scherzer at the
University of Missouri where he graciously took the time to talk with
us. |
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1. You performed really well in both
starts this season, but I'm assuming the win over #1 Florida was
special. Tell us what it was like knocking-off a top-ranked and
obviously talented Gator squad.
It was pretty cool to beat a team of that cailber at their place. The
rest of my teammates made it very easy on me by scoring a bunch of runs
in the early part of the game. It was fun because we played our best
that day.
2. There has been talk of the Royals taking you #1 overall in the
upcoming MLB June draft. How would you feel about pitching for the
Royals?
I love baseball. I don't care what team I play for. I have very little
control of what happens in the draft so if they want to draft me it is
on them.
3. Do you have any special pre-game "ritual" that you perform before
each game or inning?
No, nothing unusual. I am pretty serious and focused before the game
because it is the only day of the week when I get to play. Before the
game you can find me listening to music to pump me up.
4. What was it like pitching for Team USA last year?
There is nothing like lacing up your cleats and putting on a USA
jersey. The entire summer was so much fun because of all the players I
got to play with. We all got along so well and I know I made some
pretty good friendships. USA Baseball treated all of us so well and
made my summer a once in a lifetime experience.
5. Did you ever collect baseball cards as a kid? If so, what was your
favorite card?
No, I never was into collecting baseball cards.
6. What's the funniest prank you have ever witnessed involving
another player?
I have a bunch of them, but one that sticks out was we were at the hotel
and we decided to call another player on the hotel phone and act as a
scout. We told him how good he was at first but then started to ask him
some questions that had nothing to do with baseball. We kept pulling
his leg and he kept answering them back no matter how stuipd they were.
The whole team was in the room listening to the phone call, laughing so
hard because we had this conversation last for about 15 minutes. The
next day when we told him it was us, he about killed us all because he
was so mad.
7. What do you expect to be doing this time next year?
Playing baseball. Unfortunately, there are so many different things
that could happen that I can't really worry about what is going to
happen after this season.
8/9. What are you unsatisfied with so far this year regarding your
pitching? What are you most happy about?
I'm not happy with my slider right now. I haven't thrown it as well as
I can, but part of that is due to my finger injury I had right before
the season. The thing that has surprised me the most is how far along
my 2-seam fastball has come. I wasn't able to throw it for strikes in
the fall but now I am able to throw it for strikes in most counts.
10. What advice do you have for kids that want to be successful in
baseball?
You have to work very hard to have success in this game. Everybody has
weaknesses however through hard work you can limit the number of
weaknesses you have.
We would like to thank Max for
taking the time to answer our questions. We wish him and the Tigers the
best of luck this year... |
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Scherzer's College Resume: |
*2006 BASEBALL AMERICA
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
* 2006 NCBWA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
*2006 LOUISVILLE SLUGGER PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
*2005 USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER
*2005 BIG 12 CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE YEAR
*2005 ALL-BIG 12 CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
*2005 BASEBALL AMERICA ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
*2005 COLLEGIATE BASEBALL ALL-AMERICAN
*2005 ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
*2005 CLEMENS AWARD SEMIFINALIST
*2005 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VII TEAM
*BIG 12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK- 5/5/05 & 5/17/05
*NCBWA NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK- 4/5/05
*COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK- 4/5/05 |
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