Now a member of the Nashville Sounds, Brendan Katin is hitting .246 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI. He’s been an All-Star at every level he has played at and hopes to get the call up to the big club soon.
You’ve been gone from Miami for three years and in that time have reached the highest level of Minor League Baseball. Looking back at 3 years ago, could you have seen yourself so close to the big leagues this quickly?
“Yeah. You’ve got to set high goals for yourself and one of my goals was to every year go up a level and I’ve done that.”
What has been the key to your success as a pro?
“Staying healthy. I haven’t had any serious injuries. Staying healthy year in and year out helps you maintain some consistency. Just taking care of my body has been the key for me.”
What was the biggest adjustment when you first entered pro ball?
“Playing everyday. It is a grind. We get two days off a month. Even when I was at Miami , we practiced every day and played on the weekends but we always had that Monday off. You don’t realize how big it is to have that one day off a week. That was the biggest adjustment, getting ready and mentally prepared every day for 90 games.”
You did not come to Miami out of high school. What was your recruitment like coming out of high school and again after your sophomore year at Lake Sumter?
“Out of high school, I really didn’t have that many options. I had an opportunity to go walk on at Florida , try for the draft, or go to junior college. I ended up getting drafted in like the 29th round so I decided to try junior college and see if I would get picked up after a year. I went to two different junior colleges. I was at Okaloosa-Walton my freshman year and then my sophomore year I transferred to Lake Sumter . Out of Lake Sumter , my only options were Oklahoma State or Miami and I choose Miami.”
You played in the College World Series in your first year at Miami . What was that experience like?
“It was unbelievable. I wasn’t even an everyday guy at that point. I ended up getting two at bats and going 2 for 2. It was nerve wracking being in there. It was my first time ever playing in front of 25,000 or 30,000 fans. It was amazing. It was absolutely unbelievable.
Were you able to watch any of the Miami games in the College World Series?
“Everyday there’s games on the TV in the clubhouse but I didn’t get to see any of the Miami games.”
Was it beneficial to enter pro ball in the same organization as your Miami teammate Ryan Braun and what would it be like to reunite with Ryan at the next level?
“It’d be awesome. He’s a real good guy. As far as being in the same organization, I really didn’t have a choice haha. It was nice to go into pro ball and already knowing somebody. Right out of the gate, I had a friend. My first year we played together at Helena and he went to West Virginia and I went there a month later. My second year, we both started out in Brevard County . He was there for the first half and then went up to AA. I went up to AA with about 15 games to go. Last year and this year were really the only years we didn’t play together. We roomed together in Brevard County and again when I moved up to AA.
Is there a current or former major leaguer you would compare you game to or maybe model your game after?
“That’s a tough question. I don’t know. I’m a power guy so I guess somebody like McGwire. Obviously he put up ridiculous numbers so it’s hard to do that. That’s who I hope to be like so I’ll say Mark McGwire.”
What’s your favorite memory of your time at Miami?
“100% the College World Series. Going to the College World Series was ridiculous.”
Besides power, what do you consider your best tool?
“I have a good arm. Power and my throwing arm.”
What do you think your chances are of being called up this year and what do you think needs to improve for you to get the call?
“It all depends on what they need come August or September. I just need to improve with my consistency, my power consistency and cut down on strike outs. I think I may have a legitimate shot but it all depends on what they’re looking for. You have no idea what they’re thinking so it’s tough to say.”
Coach Gino DiMare resigned recently after 12 years coaching at Miami . You played for two years under Gino and worked closely with him. What do you think Gino brought to the program and do you have any favorite Gino stories or memories?
“That guy is very passionate about the game. He’d probably be upset if I told you this. It was Super Regionals my senior year and we’re getting ready to play Nebraska . We were going over game tapes with our hitters. His emotions get the best of him sometimes. He was yelling at us and then all of a sudden he’s crying and you don’t expect a guy like that to start crying. We didn’t know what to do. His passion for the game is ridiculous and I think that’s what he brought to Miami . He really loves the game. I think he’ll make a good head coach. He definitely loves the game and he brings a lot of fire to the field every day.
What one person has been most influential in the development of your game?
“Wow, that’s another tough question. I guess when I first got into pro ball, my manager, Eddie Sedar. He’s the first base coach in Milwaukee right now for the big league club. I only played for him for a month and then I was with him again the next year in spring training while he was roving. He just kind of broke me into minor league baseball. He showed us all the ropes and the dos and don’ts and things like that. He just taught me how to be a professional. It doesn’t really have to do with improving my ability but more with improving my knowledge of the game and the way I go about things and learning how to be a professional.”
Who was the best opposing player you played against in college and who was the toughest pitcher you faced in college?
“Probably Alex Gordon from Nebraska . We went against him in the 2005 Super Regionals and that guy, he knew what he was doing and the toughest pitcher was probably his teammate Joba Chamberlain.”
Have you played against anyone in the minors that just wowed you with their ability?
“Not really, I played against Jay Bruce a little bit last year and he was good. Actually, Justin Upton. He was a phenom. I played against him a few times last year. At 19 years old he was a grown man. I was 24 years old last year and at 19 years old he was at the same level as me and doing better than me. He was unbelievable.”
Who do you think was the best player at Miami while you were there?
“You’ve got to say Ryan Braun. That guy is amazing. He’s got some serious ability.”
Do you go back to Miami often to workout in the off-season or visit?
“I’ve been to the past two alumni games. Two years ago, I went to a couple of games. I really haven’t been back there to work out because I work out at West Palm Beach . Other than going down for fun, I don’t really go down to get any work done.”
Do you keep in contact with any of your former UM teammates?
“Yeah, I’m really good friends with Dan Touchet and Brandon Camardese. They were both pitchers for us. Ryan Braun, I’ll text him every once in a while. Andrew Lane a little bit. There are probably a handful of guys that I keep in contact with.”
You did some catching in your junior college career. Have you caught some while playing in the minors?
“No, but it’s tempting to tell them that I can do it because it seems like a lot of catchers make it to the big leagues pretty quick. I actually came to Miami as a catcher and ended up having knee surgery and then they put me in the outfield. It’s tempting to tell them but I’m already in AAA as an outfielder so I think it might be taking a step back in order to do that. I mean I’ll mess around and catch bullpens every now and then to give these guys a break. It’s fun for me.”
What is the biggest difference between the pitchers in the minor leagues and the pitchers you faced in college baseball?
“I’d say the biggest difference is the relievers in the minor leagues are all quality guys. In college, they might have three good starters and a good closer and the middle relievers are kind of spotty so you might be able to get to those guys. In the minors, middle relievers all have dominating stuff and throw every pitch for a strike.”
What’s the biggest difference between playing the college game and playing in the minors?
“It’s more about development than actual winning. You’re out here working on things to try to get to the big leagues but at the same time you’re trying to win. In college, it’s based solely on winning percentage. Here, to some point you’ve got to be selfish and care about your own numbers. You’ve got to take care of yourself. Hopefully, the plan is that everyone takes care of their business and you win too. In college, if you win, who cares how you did. Another big difference is that in college you see the guys yelling and screaming while here everyone is just sitting in the dugout. In college, if you hit a homer, everyone surrounds home plate and every homer seems like a walk off. Here, if a guy hits a homer, everyone just sits there.”
Why is it that you don’t see that type of celebration in pro ball?
“I think it’s because the season is so long and it happens so much that it gets kind of tiring going out there every single time.”
Would you have any interest in coaching after you retire from playing?
“I don’t know. I can’t really say right now. We’ll see how old I am and what my options are. If I have the opportunity to get a good coaching position, I’m sure I would take it. I’d probably be interested in coaching.”
What do you want to do when you retire from pro ball?
“Hopefully just fish everyday. That’s the plan. Have enough time in the big leagues so I don’t have to work and I can just fish and golf all day.”