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Q & A With Top Prospect Nick Burdi

A member of the 2011 class, Nick Burdi is a 6'3 175 RHP out of Downers Grove South in IL. A commit to Louisville, Burdi is currently the 48th ranked prospect, respectively, in his class and a strong spring/summer will only better his cause.

1. Congrats on signing with the Louisville Cardinals. Was this an easy decision for you and what were some of the other schools that were recruiting you and at the top of your list?

1. Louisville is a great place and I am truly blessed for the opportunity that they have given me. When I first drove into the campus I knew this is the place I wanted to continue my baseball career. Coach McDonnell has done a great job down there turning the program around, also Coach Williams has a great track recorded of getting his pitchers to the next level, Coach Lemonis is a great guy and has treated me great ever since we first met. Overall this program is going in the right direction and that's what made me make the decision of choosing the University of Louisiville. Other top schools that were on the top of my list were LSU, FSU, UNC, and Clemson.

2. At what point in your life did you realize you were a gifted player and could do something special with the game of baseball?

2. Baseball had been apart of my life since I had been growing up, but I didn't think that I would be in the position that I am in today. I was just an average player my whole until my freshman summer when I saw my fastball jump up to 86 mph. This is when I realized that I was given a special talent for the game of baseball.

3. What is your favorite personal baseball memory?

3. My favorite baseball memory would have to be getting 3rd place in the state tournament this past summer.

4. Who is your favorite baseball team and your favorite player?

4.My favorite baseball would have to the Boston Red Sox and I enjoy watching Josh Beckett and John Lester pitch for them. My favorite baseball player would have to be Josh Beckett.

5. What pitches do you throw and where do they usually clock in at?


5. I have 4 pitches that I throw a fastball, change up, curveball, and slider. My fastball goes any where from 89-92 mph, change up 78-80 mph, curveball 75-78 mph, and slider 80-83.

6. What are some of you expectations this spring with your high school team and this summer personally, with showcases and tournaments?

6. This spring are high school team is counting the days down till the season starts. We feel that we have the chance to do something special and get our name out there. We expect nothing but perfection this year and want to win a state championship. This summer will be pretty busy for me, I will be attending Area code showcase, silver and black showcase, and PG Nationals. Also my goals for the summer is to be apart of Team USA, Aflac and Under Armour All-American games. I will most likely be participating in the WWBA 18u and 17u Georgia tournament.

7. Being a nationally ranked player, does it make you want to strive harder and how does it effect your daily life and how you go about playing?

7. The way I look at being nationally ranked is that there is 47 kids out there that have been working harder then me and I need to get to there level. Kids at my school like to give me a hard time for being ranked nationally but I just laugh and let them have good time with it. I play even harder being ranked because people are looking at you do the right thing on the field so I try to do everything right and set a good example.

Q & A With Top Prospect Tyler Greene

Tyler Greene, a 6'3 175 SS out of Lassiter High School in Boca Raton, FL, recently answered a few questions for the blog. Heading into his junior year, the Georgia commit currently ranks at number 40 in Perfect Game's latest rankings.

1. Congrats on signing with the Georgia Bulldogs. Was this an easy decision for you and what were some of the other schools that were recruiting you and at the top of your list?

Thank you, and yes this was a very easy decision for me. I always loved the University of Georgia and wanted to be a bulldog the minute I saw the campus. At the time I had a lot of SEC scools after me and USF which was where my brother had signed to. But for me I always wanted to go to Georgia so there was no other schools I had in mind.

2. At what point in your life did you realize you were a gifted player and could do something special with the game of baseball?

I realized my 7th grade year when I started on the Varsity team at Coral Springs Christian Academy that I had a chance to do something special with my life.

3. What is your favorite personal baseball memory?

I dont really have a favorite memory yet Im just thankful that I get to go out and play the game of Baseball everyday.

4. Who is your favorite baseball team and your favorite player?

My favorite Baseball team is probably my hometown team the Baltimore Orioles. My favorite player is Alex Rodriguez.

5. Have you talked to any of the other players committed to Georgia or with other nationally ranked players?

Yes, I have talked to Sam Bragg, Ralston Cash, and Hunter Cole who are all going to Georgia. I also talked to a lot of great nationally ranked players as well I try to surround myself with people who want the same thing that I do.

6. What are some of you expectations this spring with your high school team and this summer personally, with showcases and tournaments?

Im expecting to have a great High School season and try to help Roswell High School and Coach Mike Powers win a State Championship. Throughout the Summer my goals are to make the Aflac and Under Armour game and also help East Cobb and Coach Baldwin win another National Championship.

7. Being a nationally ranked player, does it make you want to strive harder and how does it effect your daily life and how you go about playing?

It defiantly makes me work harder trying to show everyone that I should be Nationally ranked. It really doesnt effect my daily life I mean I do have a chip on my shoulder cause I not only want to be the # 1 player in the nation but also want to be the #1 2011 Draft Pick.

Q & A With Top Prospect Harold Martinez

Harold Martinez of the University of Miami just completed some questions for us here at the 2011 MLB Blog. Coming out of high school, Harold was being raved for his talents on the field and rather then signing with the Texas Rangers, he accepted the scholarship from the U, where he is today and is still considered a top prospect.

1. Were your summers with Team USA and down at the Cape some moments in your baseball career that helped you grow? I'm sure they are also times you'll never forget.

1- yea absolutely they gave me a great experience and playing with some of the best players in america really makes you rise your game.

2. What's your favorite personal baseball memory?

2- probably playing on national television in the Aflac game.

3. When choosing colleges, was Miami an easy choice for you being from around the area?

3-i never even considered another school. i've been a die hard hurricane since i've been in the country.

4. What are the teams expectations for this spring and what do you plan on doing this summer?

4-well we always have extremely high expectations at Miami. and our goal every year to become a national champion. and i'll play summer ball in the cape again.

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

5- my favorite team is the marlins and i have a lot of favorite players but Arod is probably the player i would like to be like the most.

6. Playing short stop in high school and 3rd at Miami, what position do you prefer?

6- well i love both but i really dont care which one i play. i just want whats best for the team.

7. Last question. 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?

7- well it just makes it nice to know people have me ranked good for my class. but it also gives me more motivation to hopefully make it one day to the MLB.

Q & A With Top Prospect Harold Martinez

Q & A With Top Prospect Daniel Norris

Hailing from Johnson City, TN, 6-1 170 Daniel Norris finds himself sitting atop the rankings for the class of 2011. He recently answered some questions for me and we will continue to track his progress through out the spring and summer.

1. Being not only the number one pitcher in the state, but you are the number one player in the nation, how does that make you feel and how does it effect your daily life?

1. It truly is a great feeling. It gives me a lot of confidence, but at the same time i have to remain on track and work harder everyday... "It is easier to become number one than to remain number one."

2. At what point in your life did you know that you were a gifted player and could do something special with the game of baseball?

2. Baseball has always been my life.. I realized i could do something special with baseball when i was baptized last year. I was baptized in my baseball uniform but not because i love baseball but because i realized the gift god has given me to reach out to other people that may look up to me.

3. What pitches does your repitoire consist of and where do all your pitches clock in at?

3. Fastball- topped at 96..consistant low to mid 90scureball-78changeup-82

4. What are your expectations for this spring with your high school team and this summer for travel ball and showcases?

4. for the upcoming high school season i would obviously like to win the state championship but if that doesnt happen i would like for our team to be respected by others by the way we play the game and our character.Summer ball- i would set my goal to make myself a better player and help lead my team to a national championship

5. What is your favorite personal baseball memory?

5. my favorite personal baseball memory is probably last summer playing in the connie mack world series in farmington, new mexico.. we had the opportunity to play in front of thousands of fans which is an experience that cant be matched until the next level

6. I've seen you have not committed anywhere yet. What schools are at the top of your list which ones have you liked the best so far?

6. just taking the decision to heart and making sure i make the right one but at the top of my list right now is probably clemson, vanderbilt and north carolina.

7. Last question. Do you keep in touch with other nationally ranked players that youve become friends with over the years?