DBacks_Goldschmidt_MagSeven 5/8/12 7:46 PM Page 4
AZSAL: How did your spring training go? Are you ready for the season? Goldschmidt: I got to play a lot and take a lot of at bats, I got to work with the different guys here to try to improve and get ready for the start of the season. It went well. I feel good, but it’s a long season so we’ll see how things go. AZSAL: Did you have to prepare differently for this season knowing you’re staying with the Diamondbacks this time? Goldschmidt: Honestly it wasn’t as different as you would think from the years past. Especially last year I was able to come in as a non-roster guy and was able to learn and work with a lot of the players. There are a lot of great veteran guys here, and I got to work with them again this spring. I knew when the start of my season was going to be last year, and was just trying to prepare myself for that. It wasn’t like I was competing for a starting job last year. I knew they already had their guys that were staying and this year ended up being pretty similar, I know where I’m going to be. Although I’ll start in a different place, this year is pretty similar. AZSAL: What advice do you have for the younger guys trying to make the major league roster? Goldschmidt: I couldn’t really tell you. I wasn’t really in that position last year. I was going back down to (AA) regardless if I did horrible or awesome during spring training. My mind set for whatever situation I’m in is just to try to do my best and try to help my team. We had a lot of great players here this spring and I know they said to the guys who don’t make the opening day roster that it could change at any time. We will have a lot of guys that go up and down. So they just have to be ready for whatever happens. AZSAL: How has it been working with Lyle Overbay at first base? Goldschmidt: Having Lyle here has been awesome. He has been around for a long time; he knows how to play first base really well. He’s been a great guy to get to pick his brain. Not just about fielding, but he knows a lot about hitting too. He’s there for me when I’m struggling, or when things are going well. I’m able to talk to him and ask him what he would do in certain situations, so he’s been a huge help for me.
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38 AZSPORTS&LIFESTYLE
MAY/JUNE 2012
AZSAL
FAST FACTS
• Goldschmidt became the first Texas State position player to make it to the major leagues when he made his debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 1. • He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 49th round (1,453rd overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft, but chose to play college baseball. • He is the first Non-Yankees rookie to hit a grand slam in the post season. • He played on the same high school team as Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kyle Drabek, the Woodlands High School in Montgomery County, Texas. • He hit a three-run homerun last spring, in the first ever Diamondbacks game at the new Salt River Fields. • Goldschmidt had a finance internship lined up for this past summer as a backup plan to baseball, but was forced to cancel it after being called to the majors.