Interview with Pitching Prospect Matt Harrison

by gondeee on Oct 5, 2006 8:43 AM EDT

Many thanks to Braves left-handed pitching prospect Matt Harrison for taking the time to speak with me several weeks ago. Matt seemed like a really nice kid, although he was a little shy and not too verbose. He's a tall lanky guy who seems to have a very calm demeanor.

Martin Gandy: So are you happy with where you are, with the season you had?

Matt Harrison: Yeah, I wish I could have ended up a little bit better, the last few starts weren't what I wanted. I guess I was getting tired from the long season, and it was pretty hot weather down there in Mississippi, so my body got tired. Still have to make pitches, so it's not really any excuses. I'm pretty satisfied with how the year went though.

MG: Are you playing any winter ball?

MH: No, I'm just taking the rest of the off-season off.

MG: What kind of pitcher are you? How would you define yourself?

MH: Not really a power pitcher, more of a control pitcher - hitting my spots and mixing it up a lot. I'm not really a strikeout guy.

MG: Do you patter yourself after any particular pitcher?

MH: Not really, I just go out there and pitch.

MG: Who was your favorite player growing up?

MH: Probably Randy Johnson, I like him a lot. I like how he goes after hitters.

MG: But you don't consider yourself a power pitcher?

MH: No, I just like the way he pitches and the way he goes out there, especially up on the mound, but I don't consider myself Randy Johnson.

MG: How have you handled the longer seasons of pro ball, you said you wore down towards the end of this year?

MH: It a really long season, so most everyone is really tired by the end of the season.

MG: Do you condition yourself differently?

MH: I'll have to do more running this year in the off-season. It's so hot down there, that trying to run out there in that stuff is not worth it - it's not fun.

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thanks

Thanks... great interview! Matt does seem really quiet and he was like that the whole season. It definitely must be his nature. I enjoyed watching him throw as well this year, and I believe he's got a future.

I see he thought the weather was hot... well he'd be correct. It can definitely drain you. I read somewhere where they'd ask Brandon Jones what his first thoughts of Mississippi were right after he'd been promoted this year... he said it's hot!

...Miranda

by SJsftb27 on Oct 5, 2006 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Pitching

I've heard people say the braves haven't developed a true ace in fifteen years. Well i argue we haven't had a draft pick inside the top 25 in the past 15 years and if you look at the trends almost all the true aces othat have been drafted (and not signed out of international free agency) have been picked inside the top 15 picks in the draft every year. The last pitcher we had with Ace type stuff that we drafted was Avery. So even though it is morbid from a sports sense I am excited about having a decent draft pick this year (14th i believe).

With that said, i am honestly still excited about the pitchers we have in the upper minors right now. I have never given up on lerew and think he just needs some way to stay consistent with his mechanics. His problem has been that he gained a lot of veloctiy very quick and hasn;t quite learned how to harness it all yet. I love Harrison and reyes is someone i know little about but seems to have put it togehter this year. harrison and reyes both were impressive in that they seemed to make adjustments once they were promoted after initial struggles. I also like the fact that all three of these guys have big builds and have potential to be workhorse types. Can't wait for their future.

by yondaime4 on Oct 5, 2006 5:56 PM EDT reply actions