Q: Which position player on the Cyclones team do you think has the highest ceiling and why?  What do you like about his game and what do you think he needs to work on the most in order to develop into a big leaguer?

A: “I’d say Sean McCraw. He’s seems like a really good kid and a good ballplayer. He’s one of the younger guys on this team and he’s such a great athlete. By the time he’s by age, he’s going to be much better than I am now. I think he just needs more experience; learning how to handle himself in different situations and some get some repetition and regular playing time. He’ll be fine.”

Q: Which pitcher do you think has the highest big league upside and why?

A: “I’d say Ruckle for the same reasons why I like McCraw, because he’s so young. He’s only 20 years old and he’s had success at higher levels. He’s smart and ahead of his time as far as being intelligent and being able to pitch. I’m anxious to see him improve and further his career.”

 Q:Who do you think is the biggest sleeper prospect, position prospect or pitcher?  Who do you think will fly under the radar, doesn't get the attention he deserves, but will become a quality big leaguer?

A: “Rip Warren is definitely a sleeper if you ask me, because he’s goes out there and he gets it done. You don’t know how in the hell he gets it done sometimes; I’m sure he doesn’t even know sometimes, but he does. Plus, he’s very smart and he knows how to pitch; I’d like to see him get more chances out there too.”

Q: Heading into the off-season, what do you need to work on the most to be ready for next season and what will you be doing to work on it

A: “Well I just have to stay in shape, work hard and try and learn as much as I can. I’m doing to do that by working out and staying sharp.”

Q: What would you say is your biggest strength as a ball player?  What do you bring to the field and to your team?

A: “I never really thought about that. I think my mind is probably my biggest strength, but sometimes it’s my biggest weakness too. It gets in the way sometimes; it’s something I have to learn to control. I’d say that I’m a smart baseball player that makes the right decision most of the time.”

Q: What did you think of your season this year?  How do you think it went for you?

A: “I think it went ok for me, I’m pretty satisfied with it overall. It could have been better, but could have been a lot worse. There’s nothing that I could really think of that I regretted doing this year, so I guess that’s good.”

Q: To give our fans a better idea of the type of player you are, who would you compare your game to at the Major League level and why?

A: “I like Jason Varitek and Michael Barrett a lot. Varitek’s a leader and a captain that doesn’t really talk or anything like that, he just leads by action. Barrett’s just a good southern boy that had to persevere a lot to get where he is. He was drafted as a shortstop and they turned him into a catcher; he didn’t know how to put the gear on and look at him, he’s in the big leagues now. He came and worked out with my team when I was in college and I just really like the way he goes out there and does his job.”

All photographs taken for this article were taken by Conroy Walker.