VMI baseball SID Brad Salois recently sat down with alumnus, and Chicago White Sox prospect, Adam Lopez to discuss his recent progression in the ChiSox farm system. The Q&A session is below.
Q: First off Adam, with the offseason now having been in full swing for a couple of months, what has your schedule been like recently? Did you attend instructs this year?
A: The offseason, for most, starts the day of your last game. As soon as you collect that 27th out, it's time to let your mind relax. For me, I was fortunate enough to be invited back to the Instructional League ran by the White Sox for my second straight year. Any time you're extended that offer it's a tremendous blessing and opportunity to refine your game, and show the big wigs in the front office your mettle. After Instructional League, I started out doing active recovery. Only light cardio and no lifting (which for me lasted about two weeks before I was having withdrawal from the gym). I had met with a nutritionist and a personal trainer to organize and design a workout and eating plan designed to help me improve the physical aspects of my game in hopes of returning and improving on my previous year. Unfortunately, during a workout I tore my ACL and required surgery. Surgery went well and has done nothing but make me hungrier for my return to competitive play.
Q: Tell me about what it's been like to get increased attention for your performance, like the fangraphs article we put on VMIKeydets.com a couple of months back.
A: The attention I received from the feature on Fangraphs wasn't too different than the attention I was receiving before. Of course I would see my name across social media sites and websites more often in relation to my prospect status, but really, not much has changed and that is fine with me. I've never needed recognition for what I do, because I get to do what I love on a daily basis and that's more than enough for me. If it did anything, it put a target on my back, which is also welcome. I enjoy the pressure that sort of thing brings.
Q: You were a starter for a long time…What was it like working out of the bullpen so much these past couple of years, and were you particularly focused on wanting a chance to start again?
A: Initially, relieving was something that I didn't know I would be capable of doing. Throughout college, my recovery time between outings was awfully slow. I would spend numerous days between outings sore and tired. But I learned that it was all about familiarity with the role. Once my body became accustomed to those kinds of demands, pitching on a day or two rest it was essentially the same as starting. Because of that, I wasn't especially focused on returning to the starting role. I've always wanted to be in the role that best suited me, and at the time I was moved from the bullpen to the rotation I was enjoying a bit of success backing up our starters so it didn't really matter to me either way. You eventually learn that starting and relieving are the same job. Throw strikes, get ahead, and put away batters. The only difference is that the starter is asked to do it for at least six innings.
Q: Tell us about one of two well-known prospects you might have faced…Raul Mondesi, Jr. in the KC system? Joey Gallo in the TX organization? Bubba Starling of KC? Who has really impressed you?
A: Having played in the South Atlantic League, I've faced a slew of top prospects. Names such as Joey Gallo and Lewis Brinson (both 1st round picks with the Rangers) became very familiar due to how often we played the Crawdads. Of course, I've had to face others, such as Mondesi and Starling, but due to only having played them a limited amount of times it was hard to get a true read on them. I will say, on Mondesi's behalf, he can bunt and proceed to fly down the base paths at will. He's an absolute burner. If I had to give a title of "Most Impressive Player" though, it would be between Gallo with the Rangers and Rosell Herrera with the Rockies. Gallo may have some swing and miss to his game, but, being 19 years old and having as much raw power that he does...It is absurd. Herrera, on the other hand, was also on the young side being 20, but his game was all around. He hustled on and off the field, could switch hit with power from both sides, ran well, had a great glove and could really impact games.
Q: Out in the baseball world, what is the reaction when people learn you're from VMI? Positive, negative, indifferent?
A: Every once in awhile, I'll have a guy in the clubhouse ask where I went and then proceed to ask questions about the school. I respond to them the same way I would respond to recruits. A majority of the time they would laugh and ask, "why would you ever choose that school?! I could have never done that man, that's crazy!" And although it may not have been easy, I always tell them it was one of the best decisions I made and that I'd choose the same path all over again. When people hear you speak with that kind of respect for an institution as difficult as VMI, it almost instills a sort of respect. I've never received any negative remarks in regards to VMI. It's always either incredibly positive and uplifting (from those who have a firmer grasp on what VMI is) to the typical response, "Oh, that's pretty cool."
Q: Any stories, amusing tales, etc from the pro game that you want to share?
A: A ton of stuff happens in the season but I think for me, the most memorable thing that happened was just after the ASB. We had a pitcher who had been designated to our Rookie Team in Great Falls after spending the entire first half in Kannapolis, and when he got there quite possibly one of the funniest things ever happened. This pitcher has an awkward leg kick and every one gives him flak about how he's going to fall or get hurt because of how weird it is. He would always deny it and just shrug off our playful banter. Well, maybe two weeks into the second half, I get a text from a guy in Great Falls with a youtube video titled, "______ Takes a Tumble." In the video, he is pitching and as he makes his move towards the plate to pitch his foot gets caught, and he literally does a front flip down the mound and throws the ball into the opposing teams dugout. Naturally, being the mature adults we are, we spread that video like wildfire until the entire organization caught wind. Even now when he texts me, I make a reference to the video. It was just that funny. And, for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDe9uk4SWTQ
Q: What has VMI come to mean to you?
A: VMI has become a place I can call home. A place I have come to respect, revere and be proud to tell others that this is where I went to school. In pro ball, you meet guys from huge baseball schools such as LSU, UNC, UCLA etc., but in my eyes I don't think any of those schools put out the all around product that VMI does. Not only does it produce amazing athletes, but amazing students as well. Looking back now, I remember hearing a phrase from an alumnus that, at the time, made no sense, but now is perfectly clear to me. "It's not a great place to be, but an amazing place to be from," and I agree wholeheartedly.
