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The Pesky Podcast
The Pesky Podcast episode 138 with Caden Rose
following video is brought to you by the Boston Sports Entertainment Network. Please consider liking and subscribing for more Boston SportsCon. Shot to right, slicing toward the pesky pole down the line, and it's got to be up. Lied down the right field line toward the pesky pole, leaping up, and that ball is gone. That's a home run! They're proud of our nascent team as well. I've lied down the right field line headed toward the pesky pole. That one tucked in, and that ball is going to be up against the wall, and in the second base, the number retired in a run by a zebra is trying to retire that baseball inside a pesky pole. Welcome to another episode of the pesky podcast. I'm your host, The Rit. With me like always, we got a full house here tonight. We got the OG, George Sutherland. We've got Mr. Rob Anglin. We've got our producer, Brandon, and with us, yes, it's Sunday. Yes, we have another Red Sox minor league, along with a great list of Red Sox minor leagueers that we have been interviewing these past few weeks, and we will be continuing to do for the weeks to come. Brought to you episode 138 from the Boston Sports Entertainment Network. Before we get to our guests, George, what's going on, man? How you doing? I'm doing really well, man. You know, things are easing up for me, and it's good to be on Sunday Night Talk in baseball. And yeah, ready to rock. Yeah, Rob, what's going on, man? How you doing? I'm doing all right. Kind of be better, long, busy day at work, but I'm happy to be back, kick back and relax and talk baseball, especially what our guests came in today. And Brandon. I'm doing good. My dad just brought down about 3000 baseball cards from the '85 to '95 era that I got to go through and put in books. So I got a winter project to add to me. Wow. Okay. So, and finally, we've got our guests, and I think we're, I think you're number five so far that we did since the off-season, Kayden, but Kayden, man, what's going on, man? How you doing? And what's your off-season look like so far? Doing good. Just got back from Arizona probably about a week ago. Just starting to ramp back into the off-season, putting some weights up in the white room and just getting after it. Yeah. So, I talked to someone that you know very well, which has happened to be our sponsor, Baby and Castorano, which we will be throwing his sponsorship out in this podcast. But, you know, one of the big things that he wanted me to ask you about because when he was introduced to you and got to know you a little bit, you were, you know, injured in sidelines. So, I would love to sit there and talk about, you know, the injury, and then how you came through and just kept staying positive through that development. So, I've been through, I've been through a lot of stuff throughout my career. Can't lie, I've, I had a last-rated spleen when I was in high school. I mean, that's something, I mean, who, who last rates their spleen? I had a bunch of hamstring issues in college, had a separated shoulder this year. I make a dive and play and tear my UCL in my thumb. So, I've definitely been through some tough things, but just being able to stay positive and, you know, I have a lot of confidence in my abilities and I have a bunch of great people around me. And, you know, just knowing that I'm going to come out on the other side better, and that's just what I've done. Yeah, so, Rob, we're going to start off with you then. So, you mentioned about Arizona and coming back from Arizona from the Arizona fall league. What was it like playing in the Arizona fall league and what was the atmosphere like over there? It was awesome. I mean, I was blessed to have the opportunity to go. Like we said, I had the injury this year. I missed a lot of time. And when Abe gave me the call and told me that they were inviting me to go out there, I was fired up. And that was my, that was my first time ever being in Arizona. I'm from Alabama. Very different out there. But I had a blast and met a, met a lot of great people, got to play, play with some really great players and had a great time. And then another thing too, I want to ask you is obviously getting the play down there. What was it like getting to connect with all the other minor leaguers down there? Yeah, it was great. You're meeting a bunch of people from a bunch of different backgrounds. And, you know, we're all, we're all chasing the same thing. We're trying to be, you know, in the big leagues as quickly as possible. And, you know, it's just a bunch of dudes going out and competing. And that's what I love. Oh, gee, that's awesome. So I remember when you, when you got drafted. There were a ton of a Pedroia comps thrown around because of your work ethic. So take me through that. What's your work ethic like. So funny to say that Pedroia was actually probably my favorite player growing up. Went to a Red Sox game when I was probably eight years old, I think. And I remember like, like it was yesterday, Pedroia going three for four, a Homer shy of the cycle actually flew out to the warning track. His last at bat almost did hit for the cycle that night, but that's just a cool story. But yeah, I mean, I've grown up. I'm always been a little bit smaller than everybody else. I've always been doubted a little bit. And one thing I've never doubted myself. And, you know, I've always worked extra hard to, you know, to live up to what I know that I can be. And I think that's something that he did he played the game with a little bit of swagger and he wasn't going to let anybody tell him that he couldn't do something. And I feel like that's something that that I do with my game. Right on. So, you know, you're five nine, you're about a one eighty five, you said you're trying to put a little extra muscle on. You know, I read scattering reports and I see that, you know, you've got. They use terms like sneaky power. You got some speed. You know, so, so what do you think your game is, you know, so the people listening to us, you know, say, okay, when I watch game, what am I going to see when he takes the field. I mean, you're going to see a player in the outfield. The ball doesn't drop. If it gets hit my way, it's an out 100% of the time. And I'm somebody who's going to give full effort at all times. And I'm going to have a lot of fun when I play. And that's just something that I've always done. I play with an energy that is unmatched. And, you know, I'm going to go out and. I can play however I want to. I can hit the long ball. I can steal a base. I can do whatever. And, you know, like I said, it's my favorite thing when somebody tells me that I can do something like. I love the term sneaky pop for that's what that's where people are. He's got sneaky. Yeah, he's got sneaky pop. But, you know, they like, they like throwing out the term sneaky whenever you're five nine. But, you know, I can. You know, I can play with the ball with the best stuff on them. That's what I do. Yeah, you know, looking at, you know, it says you play elite center field, but also, you know, you're able to play some second base. Looking at what the, you know, the Red Sox minor league system. And field is, you know, especially right at the middle shortstop a second. It's kind of crowded out field right now. And the upper levels is kind of crowded. What other positions are you willing to sit there and move to. You know, in or, you know, are you trying to go for a like a super utility role if need be. Yeah, I mean, I personally think I could play any position on the field. I came out of high school as a shortstop. Some things happened and it ended up two weeks before opening day in college. I was just messing around during BP one day and playing center field and I was making some plays and sure enough I ended up playing center field all three years in college. But yeah, I'd always played infield my whole life. So I feel like if that ever happened and I needed to go back to the infield that's something that I would be comfortable doing, but I take a lot of pride in my defense. And I feel like you could put me anywhere on the field might not want to put me in first base because I'm five nine. So, something would tell me you'd be able to jump and get a ball though so I could jump but maybe not stay on the bag if you throw it a little high, but. Yeah, I feel like I could play anywhere on the field and that's something that I've done this year. Like I said in college I did play center field this year so far I've played all three of the outfield positions and I feel like I've played them well. I'm going to go wherever they need me to go. And I feel like that I can help the team wherever that is. I want to ask you on like that specifically when you play the outfield out of all the three positions which ones your favorite to play and then another question I have for you as you said you're from Alabama what was it like playing for your hometown school. Yeah, so in the outfield, I would say I've gotten much more comfortable in the corners this year because I played them a little bit more, but I played center field in college and I would say that's probably the easiest position, just because every ball you're getting is back spun. You don't have to worry about a lot of the things that you have to worry about in the corners, but like I said I've gotten a lot more comfortable there and I can honestly say that I'm pretty comfortable at all three. But yeah, going going to the hometown school so funny thing is I actually grew up in Auburn fan and ended up ended up going to Alabama so that was fun but I love Alabama I'm glad I made the decision wouldn't change it for the world. But it was awesome getting to play getting to play for Alabama for for my home state. It was, it was a dream come true. So I was reading in the story in MLB last couple of days. And one of the more interesting things that happened to you in the AFL was you get to face your buddy from home Dylan Ray. You want to talk about that and that let it be a free crazy game to for everybody. Yeah, it was awesome. He ended up striking me out. Wasn't happy about that he's got the bragging rights on me now. That was awesome. You know we had a battle he got me down 0 to I swung it to fastballs he was sitting about 93 94. I think every pitch to me was about 95 96, which as expected. And he threw me to high heaters I swung and missed Adam battle back got it 3 2 and he threw me another high heater that I swung underneath. But yeah later in the game I came up with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam that was a really cool moment to do that there. That was just great we have he's probably one of my best friends and you know we we've been playing together almost our whole life since we were about 10 years old and you know getting to meet up with each other in the Arizona fall league that's the stuff you dream about right there. Yeah, it sounded like it one of those great one of those great moments. Pretty couldn't hit it off of him. You know that was the noodle and the bragging rights for that one but yeah yeah so he is so grown up Alabama that's a different kind of heat going up to Arizona, it was very different I'm gonna be honest I think it's I think it's hotter in Alabama than it is in Arizona, but it's definitely different I remember when the plane landed it was 113 degrees and I was like oh my goodness. But it was great they don't have the humidity out there so you don't you don't sweat near as bad as your is your sweating down here. So you talked about your speed a minute ago and you know they say that speed never goes in a slump but I imagine it takes something to maintain so like what do you do to maintain that type of cardio that you got to do for the speed. So speed that's something that's always been a big part of my game and it's something that I actually struggled with bad in college because I had some hamstring. I had some hamstring issues my last year of college I actually played on a grade two hamstring strain throughout the entire season. And I can remember having scouts come up to me after the year they're like man you only stole nine bases all year. And I was like yeah well I stole those in the first 10 games of the season and then I played on a ripped hamstring all year. But that's that's something that I have I always like to pride myself on being tough. I play football my entire life my dad's a high school football coach so that's something that I pride myself on is being is being really tough. And you know stuff like that is tough to deal with whenever you know you can't go out and play the way that you want to play because you know you're just not healthy enough to do it. So that that was what I loved about going to the Arizona fall league so much is I finally feel like I had a chance to go play. I was healthy and just really got to go be myself. But the speed thing that's something that I work I work at all the time I'm you know in the weight room trying to stay really strong. And it's also just something that that God bless me with I just always been naturally pretty fast and been able to run. Yeah, I'm sitting there looking over at your prep highlights. Okay, and man, have you looked at these like there is record after record after record that you have. You know only player and Bob Joe's history be named first team all state three times. You know owns the career record at BJ H high school and doubles and run score. And then I'm scrolling down and it's and it's you know you're talking about your elite speed, your your defense. And then also maintain a three and O record with four saves and a point eight nine ERA as a junior. So, you know, let's let's talk pitching a little bit here buddy. So, you know, how did you transit, you know, it seems like you got great numbers. So how did you transition to the outfield from from pitching. So I pitching was never really a thing that I worked at. Just I'm a competitor. That's just, that's what I am I compete and I was our closer in high school. So I would come in. They would normally put me in and, you know, the situation where it's bottom seven were up by one in its basis loaded nobody out. And I would just go and compete mode and just I would, I'm not going to lose that's the mindset that I had. And that's kind of just what I did. I never really was something I worked at. But, you know, in the outfield, I would say I've always been really good at catching fly balls like growing up. Like I told you I played shortstop and, you know, outfielders have priority over the infield all that stuff, but growing up my whole life. If if a fly ball was hit, they would be like, look guys if cadence calls it just just letting catch it. Okay, like I don't care about the priority rules just letting go catch it. And that's something that, you know, I've always just kind of naturally had and I have a ton of fun doing it's it's one of my favorite things to do is go run down fly balls. And, you know, that's something that I think a lot of that comes honestly from playing football growing up like just messing around in the backyard playing wide receiver like learning how to just go make a play. And that's kind of my attitude in the outfield like I'm just trying to go make a play and in my mind if if the ball goes in the air it should be an out 100% of the time. And that's just, that's just how I look at it. And a quick question, you know, you said you just played center and you played the corners a little bit. Looking at Fenway Park. Okay. You got you got that monster. You got that short porch. And then you got that Bermuda triangle out there in center field. Which one do you think for you personally would be the hardest field in the outfield to actually cover defensively. But me personally, I want to get put in the spot where you have to cover the most ground like that's just I have a lot of confidence in myself in the outfield and like I said if the ball goes in the air it's an out. So I want to get put in the spot where you got to cover the most ground and you're stealing outs. That's that's my favorite thing to do I steal outs and, you know, if the ball goes in the air I make a play so me personally I would like to get put in a position where I can go steal the most outs for the team. And, and cool real quick speaking of Fabian right there, Fabian Castorino see Rose what's going on man he's throwing a shout out to you right there. What's up. I wanted to ask you about obviously you mentioned your sweet mentioned your sneaky power and obviously your speed obviously that would make you a five pool players there a certain part of your game that you've been working on in order to develop a little bit better and is there one that you think is your weakest that you want to work on. Yeah, I mean, always the bat is something that I had to continue to get better at. And I think that's something that's going to continue to get better over time. Could always swing it well when when I got to college I made a couple of changes. If you all seen video my swing I have some bigger moving parts. And that's just that's just how I hit and, you know, I made some changes in college had some people tell me like that's not like that's not going to play pictures or too good blah blah blah blah blah. And made some changes that I really wish I wouldn't have. And, you know, I'm just really trying to get back to doing what I do and just really going and competing in the box. And, you know, I think that's something that I'm going to continue to get better at. And that that's the end goal for me. I want to be a five to player. I want to be somebody that can go impact the game in every single facet of the game. And, you know, me being on the field staying healthy that's a huge part of it. I mean, I missed 20 games is a sophomore 20 games is a junior in college. I missed a lot of games this year my first year of pro ball so my biggest thing honestly is just being able to stay on the field and continue getting those routes and continue to get better. And that's something that I have to work at. And a lot of it's something that I put a lot of time into and I'm getting a lot better at in pro ball learning how to take care of my body and doing those things so that I can stay on the field. Because that's that's the biggest I say you got to be on the field and that's something that I've really worked at like I've told y'all I've had this. I play really hard. That's just that's what I do. I play really hard. And sometimes playing really hard is a good thing and sometimes playing really hard is a bad thing like going and running full speed into the wall to make a catch in game 30 of the season. Like yeah sure you made an awesome play and you got an out but now you're out for eight weeks because you just separated your shoulder running full speed into the fence. So little things like that is something that you know I've been working on like still have that edge that I play with but being smarter about it. So I can stay on the field and continue to help the team win because it's hard to help the team win whenever you're whenever you're on the aisle. And then another thing I want to ask you to when you talk about the injuries to what is the hardest thing about the rehabilitation situation is like what's the mentality what is your mentality like trying to get back into the game. So I've always had a pretty good mentality about it. The hardest thing for me is wanting to play like I told you on college I played through a grade two hamstring strain I had an 18 centimeter strain on my left hamstring that I played through like that's an injury that you should shut it down for about four months to be honest and then I played the rest of the season on it. And after the draft in 23 I didn't get to play it all until you know coming back into spring training because of that injury. So it's it's things like that that is tough for me as a competitor like I always want to be on the field. And you know sometimes you got to do what's best for your body and that's like I said something that I've been working on trying to just mature and get better about things like that. Well Kate and real quick we're going to throw a comment up here from Fabian you know he's what's good my guy happy for you looking forward to seeing your development and speaking our development we're going to go right to the word from our sponsor with a quick video. Are you tired of being overlooked by college recruiters and professional scouts. Are your metrics so low that your bad speed doesn't sell you. That's what we have your solution. We have our dynamic bad speed accelerator training program now available by us. And make sure you go over to Castrano baseball development for their plea black Friday deals 50% off evaluations 30% off hitting 40% off fielding and 40% off pitching by Mr Fabian Castrano himself. We'll also have another comment from Vince Wilburx fan club as a native of muscle trolls are you a fan of legendary fame studios if not what music are you into Katie. I'm going to be honest, I am for muscle shows but I do not know much about the studios in muscle shows I know it was there but I don't know a whole lot about it. I don't know if it comes from music I like rap music, you know just kind of depends on the on the vibe and what I'm feeling at the time. And then one thing real quick here, baby and love it train with the pros to play like the pros. Exactly. So what do you like to do you know when you got some free time what kind of hobbies are you know things he into that you know when you just need to get away from baseball and just you know just kind of just get lost in something else. I was big into video games now. I was never I was never big into video games until honestly just passed off season. I got big into it and it's a good way for me to keep up with with my friends from back home and stuff like that and honestly think I like just being on the mic and getting to talk to getting to talk to all the boys and you know keeping up up to date with them but I love getting on there and just competing to be honest with you that might sound kind of cliche but I like getting on the game and whatever game I'm playing I like to do the ranked play of whatever just that's just how I'm wired I enjoy that a lot. I'm going to ask them and I'll let Rob put to the follow up questions on it because he's he's better at so what do you so what games are you into. Right now I'm playing the new black ops that that's the game that's the game of choice at the moment. Rob you don't follow some game stuff. Have you obviously with like the gaming what is what do you think of the new game one and then to have you ever obviously with sports games have you ever gotten to like I will be the show and stuff like that and have your thought okay when I get to the big soon I'll be in a video game. I haven't played a whole lot of you know be the show to be honest with you that would be absolutely awesome to be in a video game get to see yourself have your own card all that stuff that would be sick, but about the new black ops game I mean I love it like I just love getting on there and you know grinding and doing all the all the stuff in the game I enjoyed a lot. Yeah so you talked a little bit ago about that you like to steal outs. And you know when you say that I immediately go to like the famous Griffey catch or the Willie Mays catch or stuff like that so going into your mind what are some maybe underrated catches that maybe got a lot of people know about that you've seen or witnessed yourself. Um, I'm going to be I don't I haven't watched a whole lot of like other outfielders, all that. I've had a couple plays that that I've made that I've thought are pretty cool you could probably pull one up I had one my freshman year of college against Mississippi state. Um, Tanner Allen was hitting for them and he hit a ball in the left center field gap and I went all out full extension and went and called it. I thought that was probably the best play I made during my college career but I love I love the diving place. And that's something that I'm trying to get better about right now because that's how I tore my UCL my thumb this year and was out for a long time. And that's probably the best play I made this year but it's another one of those things like I said like what is what is me still in a single in game 30 of the year and missing three months you know what I mean. So that's something that you know I'm trying to work at but I can I can go get it a little bit and I have no fear like when I when I dive I dive like some people will say that they made a diving catcher you'll hear announcers like say diving catch and you watch the guy and it kind of looks like they just fall down. That's not me I go get it and it's something I enjoy doing like literally my whole life we would always go into a kid's camp or anything like that when you were a little kid and you had the diving place and that was my favorite like I like I like making the big play like when you're when you're in the backyard and you're a kid and you're dreaming of playing in the big leagues and there's 50,000 in the stands like you want to be the guy that brings you into a big league and you know plays like that is something that does that and that's just I love to I love to make the big play. Right, I was just going to say it's something they call like sacrificing your body for the game or something like that but putting your body on the line. So that's something that I do and it's probably a good thing that I didn't go play football I consider going to play football out of out of high school I considered playing both. But it's probably a good thing I didn't because I would lower my shoulder into 64 to 30 pound linebackers because I just that's just what I did. And that's that probably wasn't smart looking back on it. So it's probably a good thing I didn't do that but yeah that's that's what I do I love this game I tell people all the time. And I talk about like I told you about how I last rated my spleen. I came back in the state championship game. After five weeks, five weeks after I last rated my spleen and the doctor told me the last thing that the doctor told me before I left was they were like, look, we, we were going to let you play but you can only make sure that you're at the age you can only jog to first base like you got to get pen tramp or soon as you get on. And the last thing they said was like look if that thing pops open again you'll be dead before you get to the hospital. And something that I tell people like I love this game. And this is like this is what I love to do I love to compete and I'm like, I mean I would die on the field until people at all the time like this is this is what I love. I hope that never happens, but it's something that that I'm willing to do and I know the risks like I put my body on the line every single day, and I wouldn't turn it for the world. Red Sox fans, I just want you to sit there no like I've been watching videos of caden and to compare him to somebody that you see every day when he means put his body on the line. And so we dubbed them here the human highlight reel, but so don Raphael when he we're talking full extension, you know, there's there's body then ground you know impact. That's what caden does in the outfield, full extension body on the line to get that they get that ball. So when he's you know so you guys can get a picture of what caden you know we're talking about when you put his body on the line. You see so done Raphael do this past season, you know, just to get you know even Trevor story at shortstop the play that took them out for you know most of the season but then caden that goes with these with you saying earlier. You know you make one great play then you're out three months, you know, and the team's kind of without you then. Yeah, that's that's what I'm talking about like the highlight reels are great and, you know, I know that those guys are probably wired exactly like I am like they want to go get it, and you know they would do anything to go get it. And it's it's hard to hold back like I want to go full speed 100% get full effort at all times and that's just that's just how I'm wired. So to to reel that in when you're in the game situation and you got 30,000 in the stands and you got your adrenaline pumping like it's something it's tough to do it's tough to it's tough to hold it back. But that's just, you know, part of being a pro and, you know, something that I got to continue to get to better at and keep keep developing like, you know, if it's bottom nine in the world series and you got to make a play you go make a play. But, you know, you got to know you got to know when to pick your spots. I tell my my my someplace high school football, and you know he's on the offensive line, and he does he doesn't think like I wish he played hard every down. But the first couple plays of the game. He kind of lets the defensive lineman, you know get get the like a bandage of him, just so he can see how strong they are because he is freakishly strong. I just know what level that he has to play at for the rest of the game. And I'm, I keep telling them I'm like dude you can't do that because these guys are trying to run through you. Now granted he's 14 years old he's six foot one 293 pounds. So it takes a lot to, you know, go through him. Yeah, but, but I'm like you've got to play every down. You know, don't don't be soft on anybody really. Yeah, it's a mindset thing like, you know it's it's another thing it might sound cliche but it's it's killer be killed like you got you got a bunch of dogs and you know everybody everybody wants to be the best everybody. And the thing that separates the guys that make it and the guys that are great versus the guys that don't make it or the guys that are average it's, it's your mindset it's not, it's not your ability everybody's got ability. It's your mindset and you know what you tell yourself is what you are like if you feed yourself positive thoughts and those types of things and that's what's going to come to fruition also goes the other way. If you don't have that belief in yourself it's going to show. I want to ask you about like the situation obviously being drafted by the Red Sox and growing up your fair player being Dutch and Detroit did you ever get to hear from anybody in the organization or from Dustin himself at all. I haven't that would be awesome. That would be awesome if I could one day meet him and talk to him because I did I looked up to him and you know I loved watching him play growing up. And like I said that one memory that one time I went to family park I mean I remember it like he was yesterday. But I love the way that he played the game and you know he just reminds me a lot of myself like I can remember watching a YouTube video years ago and it's Dustin Pedro is sitting there talking about how he's in the big leagues and he's hitting 70 whatever whatever and he is on the phone he's like I'm about to put you know I'm about to put Boston and this whole city like I'm about to put him on my back and I love that. And then I want to ask you to ask a lot of people who have said they played college ball compared to professional ball what's the one difference that you notice from playing college ball entering professional ball that what was the one of the biggest differences that you noticed. I mean obviously the skill set like you know everybody everybody in a professional baseball is really really good not that they're not in college but it gets up to another level but another thing is the mindset like the dudes who are in professional baseball like they they have that mindset they got that dog mentality they got a lot of belief in themselves and that's what you got to have the ones the ones that don't get weeded out and they get weeded out quick. And it's something that I love though like you know being around guys that won't it just as bad as you every single day it's only gonna make you and everybody else around you better. And that's all you can ask for and that's what's so great and I'm so blessed to be a part of this organization we got a lot of really good players in our minor league system and you know there's nothing better than being around the best every single day because that's only gonna make you better. So I always ask this is when we have players on if you weren't playing baseball what do you think you'd be doing or would you like to do maybe someday. If I wasn't playing baseball I'd probably be playing football but I'd be doing something competitive for sure like I told y'all my dad's a high school football coach. My dream is to after I finished playing I want to go coach somewhere. And it's just what I love I love I love the game whether it be baseball football basketball I just I love to compete and that's that's what I love to do. And you know after after my playing days are over I still want to stay around the game for sure. Cool. I do have another question is it as a parent. So as a kid where you want the kid that you show up and get a little dinged up and the first question out of your parents mouth was what did you do now. Oh yeah I mean I was probably not the smartest I did a lot of you know like I said I had no fear I was always like the daredevil I guess you wouldn't call it. I was always doing stupid stuff but I mean that's just how I am you know I think maybe it was dumb but at the same time like you know I think that mindset even that I had as a kid is is why I'm where I'm at today. Like you had I had a lot of friends and you know it doesn't make you any less of a human being but like you have friends that they're like hey the seasons over practices over like they just they want to go be a kid and you know have fun doing other things but like this is my fun like I can remember having birthday parties growing up and my birthday party was go to the field and play games like I'd get all my friends and we'd go play a baseball game. We'd go play a football game. Oh it's no we get to play snow football today like that was that was my fun growing up. And that's what I love to do so like people will say that you know the long season it's a grind like and it is I mean it's a long season but at the same time there's nothing else I would rather be doing. And that's been awesome. Excellent. So sticking with OG's theme here I got to ask you this so you mentioned no fear, daredevil mentality done a lot of stupid stuff so off the field not sports related what's the dumbest thing you've ever done physically. Don't this thing I've ever done physically. God, I don't know. I mean, we used to go like to the lake cliff jumping I'm doing gainers off big rocks into the water like I don't know just dumb stuff that I wouldn't do anymore. We'd go kid and we had we'd be riding our bicycles and we'd have ramps and I'd be trying to ramp and see how far I could go try to do a backflip on a bike like just dumb stuff like that but And is it the go go back and you know you played in the Arizona fall league this year. So how happy, you know, where you to get that extra time where the Red Sox want to see you, you know, a little bit more out in the Arizona fall league. That was awesome. I mean, when I when I got the call I was I was in Fort Myers I was still rehabbing the thumb injury that I had, and I got the call and I was I was fired up, you know, just, you know, having the organization having the belief in me You know, there's not a whole lot of spots that they give out to go to go play in that league and there's a lot of really good players in that league, and just them them giving me that opportunity was awesome. And you know it's it's something that that I'll cherish forever and I'm blessed that I was able to go play. So anybody you play with out there that, you know, maybe not be with the Red Sox organization but you saw play and say hey look out for this guy, you know. Yeah, there was a there was a lot of really good players. One of the dudes or you have two dudes that were in the outfield with me. Number one Denzel Clark for the Oakland Athletics, that man is a freak of nature I tell you what, he's a really good player. And then Trey Morgan for the race he's a really good player he can he can swing it man he can swing it, but you know it was it was great all those guys out there. It was a lot of really good, a really good players and just being there and, you know, competing with them and it was awesome. You know, we have a lot of pitchers that usually come on our podcast a lot more than we have hitters. I'm kind of curious, you know, who during live BP. Would you say is like that picture that like is hard to sit there and head off of. We got we got a lot of really good arms I tell you what we had a lot of really good arms I mean in the fall league. I think I think the guys that we had from the Red Sox, you know, through it just as well if not better than, you know, most of the other organizations that we were playing against. So we got a we got a lot of really good arms. I don't want to give them too much credit I can't I can't get them hyped up too much before going into spring training but you know we got a lot of really good arms and it's it's a lot of fun getting to compete against those guys. Now I want to ask you to when you mentioned spring training what are some of the things that you work on in the off season to develop your game to get ready for spring training. One of the big focuses this year is gaining strength getting stronger. That's something that's going to just help the game all around, you know, from from the bat to speed to to everything just being a more physical. You know, player out there is going to help in every facet of the game and that's something that I'm really focused on doing this off season. And then there's there's certain drills that help you like develop like your plate discipline because obviously I know obviously facing town it's a little bit harder to have a lot of big plate discipline with a dip in the movement of the pitches is right certain drill that you guys do to work on plate discipline at all. Yeah, I mean we work different things to work on plate discipline but a lot of its reps, a lot of its reps I mean you can do all the training that you want, but there's nothing like stepping in that box and you're under the lights. I mean, you can do whatever, but as soon as you step in that box under the lights and you got that adrenaline pumping it's a whole different ballgame. All that all that training you've done goes out the window real quick. And at that point it's just about competing and you know that's something you know that you got to be able to do you got to be able to compete and you continue to get those reps and you continue to put yourself in those situations. You know, the good ones we're going to find out are going to find out how to win. And you know that's something that you just got to do. All right, well you know you talk about being a dog in a gamer and that's really the sense that I get from every guy that we've interviewed so far this offseason I'm like, oh these guys are in it so what are some of your worst when you're maybe favorite teammates that you play with coming up to the minor That a lot of great friends I mean obviously Christian Campbell he was a great guy we were throwing partners in Greenville before I got hurt and then obviously he ended up in AAA and you know wouldn't surprise me if he breaks camp this year had a great season minor league player of the year. But surrounding myself with guys like that and being able to compete with those dudes every day like we're we're training and You know, we're just as much as we're competing against the other team we're competing against each other just for fun like keeping it light and you know having a good time and all that and that's just making all of us better. And you know we got a lot of really good players that that are in this organization and you know it's you play other teams throughout the season and you're like man I don't I don't know if anybody's got the depths and got the players that we got. And that's really exciting. I got to agree with you on that because a couple weeks ago I made a pick on here for Campbell to break camp with the Red Sox and hit a home run this first bat so here's open. I tell you what that dude is a that dude is a dog right there. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that happens. Yeah, so if you had the opportunity to suddenly they said they came to you said, listen, you know, we know you can get anything you want in the outfield because you know you have the mentality that says, if it's hit I've got it. Yeah, listen we want you to want you to come back in the infield we want you to go play second base or you know something along those lines. Yeah, I know you do it, but what would you do to prep yourself to kind of like turning the clock backwards to not being infielder. Yeah, I mean I just go back to work. Like I said I played infield my entire life. I got recruited to go to Alabama. I had a lot of other offers I had a lot of interest in the draft coming out of high school and I'd never stepped foot in the outfield in my entire life at that point. So if I ever needed to go back that's something that I feel like I could do and even in the off season like I'll still take ground balls and do stuff like that just in case you never know. If they're gonna, you know, ever want to throw me back in the infield and if that's something that that ever happened, I think I will be ready for it. Give a lobby, give a lobby the coach. Hey, you know, and you know, so I'll take a couple of innings you know. I don't know about on the mound anymore. I think I could I think I could throw really hard for one inning. And I don't know if I'd be able to pick up my arm for about a week after that. I tell I tell people that all the time all my friends and her pitchers I'm like guys, I don't know how y'all throw as much as y'all do. I mean, I've got a pretty good arm like you hit me a ball in the outfield like I can I can let it eat. But that's once or twice a game they're doing it every day and then they're doing it for 85 pitches, 100 pitches whenever they got there and pitch I'm like, man, that's, that's different like that's impressive. But, yeah, you never know though. So, you know, some guys, I think I could do this, you know, I was wondering where your head was that. Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to say I couldn't do it. I enjoy, I enjoy getting that box. I think I'd rather hate all of them than have to throw these guys personally. But, but yeah. Katie, you said there and you said that you had some interest from from teams coming out of high school. So what was that like, you know, with the scouts coming, you know, checking you out and, you know, talking to you and your parents. Yeah, that was cool. My draft year was covered coming out of high school. So, you know, a lot of things were were really weird about that year and also I really wanted to go to college to be honest with y'all like going, going to straight into a lot of high school wasn't really something that I even wanted to do to be honest with you. I wanted to go to college. That's something that I wanted. That's something my family wanted. So unless they were throwing me some dumb amount of money my way, like that really wasn't even in in the works for me coming out of high school, but it was cool for sure just, you know, having some interest and, you know, seeing that that some teams care that was, that was really cool, but it was never really something that I even considered at a serious, serious level coming out of high school. Well, what teams were they, if you don't mind? Oh, there was a bunch of different teams. I'd say honestly, one of the biggest teams was the Red Sox and that was something that I think that I'm blessed that they did get to see me in high school because like I said, I did have some injuries in college like to be honest with y'all. When you're your college, I personally feel like I didn't put anywhere near my best foot forward. And it was frustrating for me coming out of coming out of college like I wanted to be I wanted to be a really high draft pick and I felt like I had the tools to be a really big. And I was a seventh round pick like it was great, but, you know, I had dreams and aspirations to be one of those top guys. And with the injuries and stuff that I dealt with and I didn't put up great numbers that year because of those and, you know, that was tough, but the Red Sox, you know, showed the most interest and drafted me coming out of college and I think high school was, you know, I'm not 100% positive on this, but I think that them seeing me in high school really helps me in that in that area. Well, that had to show you a little bit that they kept you on their radar even though, you know, there was a change in the, you know, GM leadership, you know, type of role, but they kept you your scouting report on hand, you know, from then until you know you graduated high school. I mean, graduated college. Yeah, I mean, I, I enjoyed reading the scouting reports on me coming out of college. It's like the guy can run a little bit. He's can play defense a little bit, whatever, whatever. I love seeing that because they're like, they don't, they don't know. Like they haven't seen me play it at 100%. And when they do, they will know. And that's something that's, you know, fueled me. And it still continues to fuel me to this day because I know that I haven't put my best foot forward yet and when I do it's going to be special. Like the lows of lows, when it comes to like, I just want to ask you, when it comes to the mentality of being in a slump ever, do you, what is the one thing that you use to get out of that slump? Obviously, what is that mentality that you could do in order to work back to get to where you want to be. Yeah, it's tough, man. It's tough. But, you know, honestly, it goes back to just having fun playing the game. Like, at the end of the day, that's what this is. It's a game. And when you stop having fun with it and you stop treating it or you start treating it. Like it's more than what it is. It's usually whenever you start to struggle. So that that's something that I really worked through and talked a lot with some of the mental guys with the Red Sox throughout my rehab process. It's just like, I got to be in that mode where, you know, I'm just having fun playing the game and, you know, whatever happens happens. Like, I don't have to force things. You know, sometimes you get in a slump and you try to get eight hits and one at bat. And it's like that. That's just not how it works. You just got to take it day by day. Play the game and, you know, everything's going to fall in line how it's supposed to. And then do you have like any superstitions in order to get out of it? Because I know there's some people like I know a couple of years ago. Mookie Betz was in a slump and he was putting energy shots and his bat that barrel when it woke up. Is there anything that you do in order to like get yourself motivated? Is there anything like any superstitions at all? I would usually find a couple. There's nothing specific. I just like to, you know, feel the vibe of what I think that it's going to do. It's going to do the trick, but nothing like super specific. But we'll mess around with the guys in the clubhouse and, you know, we have fun with it. And we'll figure some stuff out for sure. So you a, um, so describe your, I, you know, I think I'm talking with your eating habits and stuff like that. Are you really regimented or what they've definitely gotten much better. So, uh, with the stuff that I've dealt with the soft tissue injuries like I'm going to be honest. I never really ate very good. And now it's like, okay, like I gotta, I gotta get on top of this. So I definitely eat much better now. I hardly every, you know, fast food, try not to stay away from it as much as I can. You know, just it's not a super strict like I gotta eat chicken and rice for every single meal. But if I can, I would like to, you know, cook most of my meals and just make sure I'm eating good food drinking enough water. You know, all that, all that stuff. And that's really helped. That's really helped my body feel much better. Well, it's good, you know, because you got to take care of yourself if you want to advance. So, you know, that's important. So I asked this one a couple of weeks ago, but I feel like this would be a good question for you to answer as well. Just given your mentality and how much you work on it seems like the five tools of the game. Maybe five years from now when it's all said and done and you're sitting back and you're looking back at it and you pick one of your baseball cards and look at the back of it. What's one stat that you want like to stand out and people to go. Oh, wow, that guy did this really well. Um, I mean, definitely like I said, I take, I take a lot of pride in my defense. Like, I'm going to be a guy who can go make who can go make a play like that's that's what I do. But to be honest with you, looking back 25 30 years, whatever from now, it's not as much as much about the stats. It's about like, how did I impact the game? Like, I tell people all the time. Like, I'm playing for the kid that is coming to the park first for the first time ever. Like, I came to Fenway Park when I was eight years old, and I can tell you all every single thing that happened, and that was however many years ago. And I want to be that guy that some kids going to come see for the very first time. And he can say that's who I want to be like right there. And I want that to be because of, you know, what I'm like is a person, not just because of the stats that I'm putting on a baseball card. That's that's a hell of an answer. I got chills listening to you there. Yeah. Well, we're going to go one more round the questions before we ask, Kaden, the big question again. So Rob, go ahead. So I want to ask you, it is personally, I'm watching all major league players and now all the pitchers. Is there any certain picture in Major League Baseball right now that you would want to face currently and have an app out against. Yeah. I'm going to say, I'm going to say Paul skeins. He got me in college twice. He got me. I think I was like two, two, and he got me with one on one down and away swinging. And then he had me three, two, and through a fastball my eyes and I should have took it, but I swung at it like an idiot. And he got me again. So I want that rematch. I will say from just in college. I would like, I would like that rematch. I mean, he's an absolute dog. Probably one of the best pitchers, if not the best pitcher in the league right now. And it was his first year, like he's only going to get better. And I would love to face that guy again, for sure. Well, the players playing today and besides Paul, who's your favorite current MLB player. I mean, I really like how sedan Rafael plays the game. I feel like we have a lot of similarities. And, you know, he's a guy that I see a lot of myself in. And he's somebody I really like to watch play the game. He's another dude. He's not very big. And, you know, has the opportunity to hit 20 30 homers a year. Same with Mookie Betts. Mookie Betts is five, nine 160 pounds and, you know, hits 30 homers a year. They probably like to say he has sneaky pop too. But not anymore. Yeah. Both of those guys, like, especially Mookie. Mookie actually his, I don't know how exactly they're related. But, um, I don't know how exactly it is. But my sixth grade science teacher is his aunt. I guess it would be maybe. And so when he was coming up through the minor leagues, I was in her class. And I think that's funny that, you know, he's who he is now. But yeah, his his aunt or how I'm not. Last. Wi-Fi. Possibly or. Oh, here he comes. He might have got a phone call also. Oh, there he is. Yeah. Sorry, I'm on my phone. I got a phone call and it like. Yeah. That's what we were saying. Something like that happened. But yeah, anyways, however exactly they're related. He was my sixth grade science teacher. So I thought that was pretty cool. Yeah. Alright, so you've talked a few times about that game that you went to at Fenway at eight years old. And wanting, you know, and you can tell me everything about that game like it was yesterday. What is a favorite moment or moments from that game? I mean, like I said, I was a big Dustin Pedroia fan and he went nuts that night. He let off the game with a triple hit the very top of the center field wall. That was sick. And like I said, his last at baddie came up hit a fly ball to left field. The whole park thought it was gone. The dude ended up catching it on the track. And that was for him going for the cycle right there. But that was just an awesome night and something I'll never forget for sure. Okay. Can I ask you the big question that we ask every player it's on here, but I'm going to kick it up a notch for you. Alright. So hot tub time machine. Okay. Part one of the question is you can go back in the time and face any major league pitcher. Bottom of the ninth, you versus him. Who wouldn't be and why. And then part two. Your big guy on defense, your layer body on the line. Last out in the World Series. Who is the one guy you would like you would love to lay your body out for and steal a hit to win the game. Well, I mean, I guess we got to go with the best. So number one, I'm going to say Mariano Rivera. That's somebody that would would be awesome to face in the crunch time like that. You got, you know, one of the best closers, if not the best closer ever on the mound. That would be a sick at bat to have right there. And then, you know, right now. I guess I'd have to say Shohei Otani right now. You know, that would be pretty sick if he hit a ball in the gap and I went and stole it for the last out of the World Series. I think that would be that would be a pretty cool story right there. But that's going to be my answer. I'm going to say Mariano Rivera and Shohei Otani. Yeah, but we always only asked, you know, the one if you're a pitcher, what hitter you would face. But no, I had to ask you that one just for the fact that, you know, of what you do, you know, put your body on the line. And you're willing this to, you know, take that run away. So I had to extend the question, you know, overall with everything. First here. So, but, Kaden, first off, I want to thank you for coming and giving us some of your time to come on our podcast. You know, we love building relationships with the minor league players. So that way, you know, as you're rising through the ranks, you know, we sit there and build and grow with you and, you know, keep track of you guys and, you know, bring you back on as you're going up into the minor league. So that's one thing we love is building relationships with you guys. For sure. I appreciate you all having me on had a blast. So, okay guys, what we're going to do is, you know, you know, the drill. This is going to be out all day, tomorrow morning on wherever you get your podcast, Spotify, iTunes, iHeartRadio. It's on YouTube now, you know, so head on over to BSE and 617. That's our YouTube channel. Subscribe. Also, check out our, you know, our welcome video for Juan Soto when he signs with the Boston Red Sox. Get got to sit there and check out that video. Also head on over to our store BSE and 617.squared.site. Check out all the merchandise over there from all of our Boston sports teams, the Red Sox, our podcast to cover the Celtics, the Bruins and the Patriots. So, but until next time, I am the RIT, Rob for the OG for Brandon and for Caden Rose. Thanks for stopping by the PESP podcast. I'm going to tell you a story. I'm going to tell you about my town. I'm going to tell you big fat story baby. I talk about my town. [MUSIC] [ Silence ]