Q & A With Top Prospect Nicky Delmonico

The 26 ranked prospect according to Perfect Game, Nicky Delmonico, just finished answering questions for the site. He is listed at 6-3 208, attending Farragut High School in Knoxville, TN.

1. What are some expectations for this spring with your high school and this summer with travel teams and showcases?

I think we have a good shot to win another state championship. We have a lot of good guys that know how to win. In the summer I plan on getting stronger and quicker for my Senior year.

2. At what point in your life did you know you were gifted in baseball and could do something special with the sport?

When I played for the 16u USA team. It gave me the confidence that I could compete with anyone on the field.

3. Whats your favorite personal baseball memory?

Being the Bat Boy for my Dad at the University of Tennessee. Greatest time in my life.

4. As a top ranked player in the nation, does it affect your daily life or how you go about playing?

Baseball is what I love.. It doesn't effect my daily life but makes me push myself to be the best.

5. Who is your favorite player and favorite team to folllow and why?

Derek Jeter and the Dodgers. Derek jeter plays the game right and is a great teammate. He always gives his teammates the glory rather than himself. The Dodgers have a lot of good guys that like to play the game.

6. Last question. Have you given a verbal commitment to any school yet? If not, what are some of your favorites high on your list?

No. Growing up, being around the SEC. I would like to play in that conference.

Q & A With Top Prospect Archie Bradley

Archie Bradley, the number 3 prosepct in the nation for the 2011 class, recently answered some questions for me. The 6-4 210 RHP pitcher is at the top of his class and will be at the top of the draft as well in 2011.

1. When did you realize that you were an above average player and could do something special with the sport of baseball?

1. i realzed that i was special at baseball probally around my freshman year when i was slected to go to the area code games

2.What player and team do you follow and why?

2. i follow the atlanta braves....dont really have a areason i just bobby cox and the braves

3.Any decision made on college yet, any front runners or are you going to wait to see how things pan out this year? Is football and baseball in college a possibility or are you going to focus on one sport?

3.i have no clue about college yet,or at least where im going. every school is a front runner right now and football will play a bih role on where i attend college. i plan to be a dual sport athlete in college

4. What are your pitches and where do they sit?

4. i throw a 2 seam and 4 seam fastball that sit anywhere from 88-94 sometimes touching 95-96

5. Being a top nationally ranked prospect, how does that make you feel and does it have an

impact on your life?

5. being a top prospect is pretty cool and the only impact it has is it makes me want to work harder to be the very best prspect in the nation i just like to thank god for the abalities he gave and keep working harder and harder

Q & A With Top Prospect Dillon Maples

I just talked to top draft prospect Dillon Maples, a 6-1 170 RHP out of Pinecrest High School in West End, NC. According to Perfect Game's lastest rankings, Dillon sits at number 11 respectively.

1. What are some expectations for this spring with your high school and this summer with travel teams and showcases?

Expectations are pretty high for me this year in high school because we are supposed to win states and the conferance. With showcase just keep on devloping pitches and learn the chang up.

2. Whats in your pitching repitoire and where do they clock in at? What's your favorite pitch to throw?

Fastball, curve, slider, and chang up witch I hardle throw. My favorite is the slider or curve I feel like I can throw it at anytime and it gets me out of a lot of jams.

3. Whats your favorite personal baseball memory?

Winning the World Wood Bat this summer with the canes, it was crazy.

4. As a top ranked player in the nation and number one in your state, does it affect your daily life or how you go about pitching?

Well as far as pitching, no I attack hitter the same way. It dosent effect my daily life at all, you cant think about that kind of stuff. The people that do are going to get passed. I just try to work hard each and every day.

5. Who is your favorite player and favorite team to folllow and why?

Mariano Rivera by far is my favorite. I just love the way he goes at hitter with no fear. They know what is coming and they still cant hit it. I dont really follow a team I just follow players.

6. Last question. Have you given a verbal commitment to any school yet? If not, what are some of your favorites high on your list?

Well this is in no order but ECU,UNC,SC (south carolina) Clemson, and VT and where ever I go I wnat to kick for football. I have already talk to a some of the coaches and they have said I have a spot on the team to kick.

Q & A With Top Prospect Adam Griffin

The other day I talked with Adam Griffin, a 6-1 175 RHP out of Forsyth Country Day High School in North Carolina. He recently commited to the Tar Heels and currently sits at number 12 in the class of 2011 respectively.

1. First off, congrats on signing with the UNC Tarheels. Being a NC kid, was this an easy decision for you to make? What were some of the things that geared you more towards UNC then to some of the other schools that wanted you?

1. it was a easy decision because i have always wanted to go there since i was a kid.

2. As a pitcher, what pitches do you have in your repitoire, where do they clock in at and what is your favorite pitch to throw?

2. fastball, slider, and change up. favorite pitch is fastball. topped at 95 and consistently at about 88- 92

3. What was your favorite personal baseball memory?

3. there are to many

4. Being a nationally ranked pitcher, does that have an effect on how your pitch and on your daily life outside of baseball?

4. no not at all just try to have a good time with my friends and family.

5. Who's your favorite baseball player and favorite team?

5. favorite baseball player is big papi, and favorite team is the Red Sox

6. Last question. As you are a future Tarheel, do you try to get in touch with other players who have commited there, as I know there have been a few others in your class already. And do you keep in touch with other nationally players you have played with and against?

6. Yeah i do, i talk to them all the time, yes i talk to some friends that are nationaly ranked players to.

Q & A With Top Prospect Preston Tucker

I recently talked with Preston Tucker, a sophmore at the University of Florida. Preston is the first college player to complete a Q & A with me and had a great season last year. The 6'0 215 first basemen out of PlantHigh School in Florida, batted .364 with 15 home runs and 85 RBI's on his way to becoming a First Team Freshman All-American. I project Preston to go in the first round, with his name being called sooner then later.

1. First off, a little belated, but congrats on being selected to the 2009 Freshman All-American Team. Did the year go as you expected or was it even better? What did making this team mean to you?

1. Thanks. I set very goals for myself in the beginning of the season so when I struggled in the beginning, it did not go how i would have liked. But at the end, my stats were where i hoped they would be.

2. The Gators seem to have a good core of players from last years team and the coaches brought in one of the better recruiting classes in the country for this year. What are the expectations of the team this year and what are you guys doing to accomplish them?

2. This year's team looked great during the fall. We are not nearly experienced as we were last year but there is a ton more talent on this team. We have a bunch of freshmen who are step in and become impact players from the start of the season.

3. Was commiting to Florida out of high school an easy decision for you?

3. It was a very easy decision. I wanted to be close to home so it was convenient and coach O'Sullivan was very enthusiastic about having me become a part of the program so i felt very comfortable from the beginning. Some other schools I considered were FSU, Miami, Clemson and Duke

4. What is your favorite personal baseball memory?

4. My best memory is the 3-run HR at georgia to tie the game in the 9th. We had won the first two games in dramatic fashion and were on a big win streak. It allowed us to sweep the series and was a huge swing in the SEC east standings.

5. What are you plans for playing ball this summer?

5. I am playing for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League.

6. Being one of the top players nationally for your class, how does that make you feel and what effect does it have on your dailly life?

6. Obviously there's a bit of a sense of pride but football kinda overshadows everything else here at UF so not much in my everyday life has changed haha

7. Last question. Who is your favorite player and your favorite team to follow?

7. I've lived in Tampa my whole life so my favorite team is the Tampa Bay Rays. A couple of my favorite players are Ken Griffey, Jr. and Justin Morneau.

Q & A With Top Prospect Hudson Boyd

I just finished talking with nationally ranked RHP Hudson Boyd out of Fort Myers, FL. The 6-2 230 pitcher from South Fort Myers High School currently sits at number 24 nationally, but that is sure to go up as the spring and summer circuits approach.

1. First off, congrats on signing with the Florida Gators. Being a Florida kid anyway, was this an easy decision for you to make? What were some of the things that geared you more to Florida then to some of the other schools that wanted you?

1. I went to Florida for a prospect camp and fell in love with everything. I just knew I wanted to be a Gator. I really love the city of Gainesville and just knew I wanted to spend my college years there.

2. As a pitcher, what pitches do you have in your repitoire, where do they clock in at and what is your favorite pitch to throw?

2. I have a fastball that will be anymore from 88-94. A change-up that's anywhere from 83-85. My curveball is about 79-81. I don't really have a favorite pitch because I think they all are equally effective in certain situations so it's hard to have a favorite that I always go to.

3. What was your favorite personal baseball memory?

3. I can't say I have one favorite baseball memory. I have a lot! But if I had to choose I would have to say this past summer that I spent up at Midland. It was a lot of fun because the only thing we really did was play baseball and hang out. I made a lot of friends that I still keep in contact with and hope to see this coming summer when I go back!

4. Being a nationally ranked pitcher, does that have an effect on how your pitch and on your daily life outside of baseball?

4. It doesn't effect how I pitch that much. I know what pitches I need to execute to be successful. As far as outside of baseball it's still the same pretty much. Just when I go out with friends I'm introduced as "This is Hudson; He's going to UF to play baseball." My family keeps me grounded and my friends still rag on me so life hasn't changed too much.

5. Who's your favorite baseball player and favorite team?

5. My favorite player is Scott Rolen. He's out there everyday playing through pain. He's a good guy to copy in my opinion. I like to watch the Cardinals play because they play as a team and they have a blue-collar approach to the game.

6. Last question. Have you talked to any of the other recruits, as there are a lot, that have already signed with Florida? 11's Kelly and Harris or 12's McCullers Foody, Winker, Kendall?

6. I have only met Michael Kelly a couple of times. He seemed really cool and I'm excited to play with him in college. I did play with Lance McCullers this summer and I like Lance a lot. He's a good player and was a good teammate. He was also just a cool guy to hang with off-the-field.

Q & A With Top Prospect Andrew Suarez

I recently talked with LHP Andrew Suarez from Miami, FL and was able to ask the 6-2 190 pitcher some questions about baseball. As of Perfect Game's latest rankings, Andrew sits at number 14 respectively for the class of 2011.

1. First off, congrats on signing with the Miami Hurricanes. Being a Miami kid anyway, was this an easy decision for you to make? What were some of the things that geared you more to Miami then to some of the other schools that wanted you?

1. yeah it was an easy decision, its been my dream school since i was little.

2. As a pitcher, what pitches do you have in your repitoire, where do they clock in at and what is your favorite pitch to throw?

2. i have a 4 and 2 seam fastball, change up, curveball, and a slider. im 87-92.

3. What was your favorite personal baseball memory?

3. winning cooperstown.

4. Being a nationally ranked pitcher, does that have an effect on how your pitch and on your daily life outside of baseball?

4. not really, i still work hard to improve myself as much as possible.

5. Who's your favorite baseball player and favorite team?

5. im a big fan of clayton kershaw and cliff lee, and i have no favorite team, i like them all.

6. Last question. As you are a future Hurricane, do you try to get in touch with other players who have commited there such as 2012 grad Albert Almora, who is number 7 in his class respectively? And do you keep in touch with other nationally players you have played with and against?

6. yeah most of the miami commits are my buddies that ive known since i was little. yeah i still talk to most of the players.