Following the last start of his high school career Daniel Espino was nice enough to give me a few minutes to interview him. In this time I got a chance to see why the character and makeup is raved about by anyone who has spent time with the kid. He was as polite as possible and seemed very genuine in all of his answers.
We got the chance to talk about himself as a pitcher, the style he likes to use on the mound, his daily life, the extra attention from the draft, and plenty more. He also brought up what it is that he has to continue working on to get better.
Note for those who may say he’s undersized- the main photo was taken by me during the interview. I stand at 6’0” tall and can confirm that Espino had a couple inches on me.
Talking Chop: As a pitcher growing up you had to idolize and imitate other pitchers. From their mechanics, to their stuff, to their grips. Who sticks out the most as the pitcher you tried to model yourself after?
Daniel Espino: Since I was little I always liked watching, not only as a pitcher but also as a person, Mariano Rivera. He’s a Panamanian, what he did with the Yankees, the way that he carried himself on and off the field. Now I look up to Max Scherzer, how he competes. He wants it, he’s a competitor the way I see myself.
TC: Do you watch a lot of baseball in your downtime?
DE: Yeah, I like to
TC: Do you have a specific team that you grew up rooting for?
DE: The Yankees
TC: How would you describe your arsenal of pitches, what they are and how you like to use them?
DE: My fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. I feel pretty comfortable with each one of them. Obviously my slider and curveball are behind my fastball as my best secondaries. I’m still working on my changeup, it just takes time. I don’t get to throw it that much(in games) but in practice it looks good and I’m going to be working on that to see at LSU or wherever it is that I can develop it and just throw it.
TC: You mentioned LSU, where you are committed. What was it about LSU that grabbed your interest compared to all of the other schools who tried to get you?
DE: To be honest when I went to LSU, I knew it was the one. The way the coaches are, it’s like a family. That’s a big part of me to feel like home.
TC: What would you say to any other player hoping to follow you here?
DE: To trust in the Lord. We were born with destiny and nothing can stop it. Obviously God is a big part of it. Just trust in the process, every day counts and work hard every single day to get better.
TC: It’s no secret that one of benefits to your delivery is your very strong lower body. How much of that is natural strength, versus time spent in the weight room?
DE: It’s both. I work hard in the gym and legs are the most important thing. They’re one of the muscles that I like to work out. Not only that, my mechanics working, doing the drills, it’s just natural.
TC: On a normal day, when you aren’t pitching, what is your daily routine like?
DE: Wake up pretty early and stretch. I stretch like four times a day because my flexibility is a big part of me. Go to school, obviously breakfast. After school get lunch, at 1 PM go to practice until 6 PM. Just come back, do homework, talk with my family and friends. Before the end of the night I stretch again and then go to sleep.
TC: The draft process is a little crazy and I’m sure that you’re getting more attention than what you’re used to. What’s that like for you as you’re going through it?
DE: (Laughs) I just try to have fun. The draft and the scouts all know that. I gave God all the glory and honor, because without him I wouldn’t be in this position. (Laughs again) That’s all I got.
TC: Is there a specific team that you’d like to draft you? Or does that not matter?
DE: Whoever gives me the opportunity
TC: Do you have any preference for how you like to pitch? Do you look for strikeouts? Do you have a different plan of attack for different hitters? Or is it something that could change based on the moment?
DE: I like to be aggressive. I like to throw strikes. My command works inside the zone and outside the zone. With my slider I like to be aggressive and I like to be on top of the hitter.
TC: What are the things you are working on before the draft as well as what you plan to continue to work on after the draft?
DE: (Immediately answers) My changeup.