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One On One with Mark Podlas

04/01/2010, 4:27am (EDT)

By Jen Jaeger, Photos by Ellen Schuerger

Westhamptons’ Best Kept Secret

A 6’3 lean, lefty ball player is a very rare find, but out east in Remsenberg, NY, you'll find Mark Podlas, one of Long Island's top and perhaps most unrecognized talents. Podlas started playing baseball when he was just a little boy. Taking swings and having a catch with his dad in the backyard was his favorite way to spend the afternoon. Little did he know that just over a decade later all that backyard fun would pay off and he’d be hitting .488 at Westhampton Beach High School and shagging fly balls at Yankee Stadium. Podlas is now training for the journey that lies ahead. The question is, “Will that journey be at UVA or with a professional baseball team?” We won’t get an answer until mid June, but for now let’s meet Mark Podlas, the four year starter from Westhampton Beach High School and early signee at University of Virginia.

“Mark is a great kid and has drastically improved. He has that attitude that he knows he can play and that is a great quality. He hasn’t come close to his potential, but he’s a lot further along than most.” - Mike Spiers, Director ABD Academy

BPM: We want to know where it all started. Take us back to your early (earlier) baseball days. Where did you play?

Mark: I’ve been playing baseball since I was really young. The first teams I played on were through the local Little League in Westhampton. I played for the Giants my first two years and the Dodgers, with Coach Dan Elitharp, my last year. It’s funny the things you remember; when I was on the Giants we didn’t win the championship, and when I went to the Dodgers, my team won. I remember it being so much fun!

BPM: You're a senior at Westhampton Beach High School and you decided to sign early and play at University of Virginia. Congratulations! What made you choose UVA?

Mark: UVA is an excellent school and has great opportunities for me to succeed as a student athlete. They have a great academic support team, an athlete’s cafeteria, an amazing campus and it’s surrounded by a great town. I was really impressed with Coach Mac, my future outfield coach, who was just named 2009 ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year. I’m very excited about learning from the best.

BPM: Is there a certain number you’ll be looking to wear at UVA?

Mark: I always wore number 15 because my birthday is September 15th. When I was in seventh grade I changed my number to 22 because it was Roger Clemens number, but that didn’t last. I was moved up to varsity in eighth grade and 22 was taken. Now I usually wear anything between 21-24. To me it doesn’t really matter much. I just want to be out playing, no matter what number is on my back.

BPM: Prior to meeting you I scoured the internet to find out what travel organization you played with on Long Island. I later found out you spent a short amount of time playing baseball here in the summer. Where did you play?

Mark: Locally I played for the Long Island Tigers and the NY Nine. Last summer, and the summer before, I played with the ABD Bulldogs out in California. Last summer I also took part in the Perfect Game Northeast Sunshine Showcase, the Perfect Game National Showcase and Area Code Games. With all of that going on it would have been very hard to be committed to a local team.

BPM: ABD? How did you get involved playing all the way across the country?

Mark: ABD stands for Amateur Baseball Development and plays out of San Bernardino, California. If I’m not mistaken they are rated the number one travel team in the country. It was a really weird story on how I got involved with the team. I did a Perfect Game showcase in December of my freshman year (2007) in Fort Myers, Florida. I was then invited to another Perfect Game showcase out in California. My dad called Mike Spiers, Director of West Coast Perfect Game, and head of ABD. Spiers said they needed an additional outfielder for their 16U USA Trials in Peoria, Arizona and for the WWBA Perfect Game Tournaments in Marietta, Georgia. He checked out the scouting report on me and invited me to play with the ABD Bulldogs. This past year I played two weeks at the WWBA Perfect Game Tournament in Marietta, Georgia and for the WWBA World Championships in Jupiter, Florida. I played for the OC Boxers, which was a team with players from the ABD Bulldogs, ABD Boxers and ABD Orange County.

BPM: After two summers playing for ABD Academy, what would you say was the biggest challenge you faced when you started playing with them?

Mark: Playing with ABD was definitely an eye opener for me. Playing on Long Island and in the city was great, but I wasn’t exposed to players from other areas of the country. When I was going to play with them, I didn’t think they were going to be any better than I was. When I got out there I was shocked by how many could really play the game, and play the game well. The team I was playing on included many AFLAC All Americans and future potential first round draft picks. I didn’t play that well my first year. I was intimidated by all of the other great players. Back at home I was one of the top players on the team, but when I got out to California it was a different story. It was such a great experience though. It showed me that to be better than these guys I needed to work harder. It’s been an unbelievable experience to be able to see what kids I am up against throughout the country.

BPM: After your experience out west you realized you had to work harder than before. Being that we’re in the Northeast and don’t have the luxury of being outdoors year round, what have you done to keep yourself in prime physical condition?

Mark: First off, I decided to focus solely on baseball as my sport choice. I also played basketball, but chose to stop. In the off season I swing everyday either at All Pro Academy or in the basement of my house. I have a batting tee and a hitting machine that shoots plastic golf balls, so I never have an excuse not to swing. I throw two to three times a week to keep my arm in baseball shape and do tons of band exercises to keep my shoulder in shape. On Mondays, my high school team, the Westhampton Hurricanes, practices at All Pro, so I field ground balls and take pop flies. On Wednesdays our team is in the gym at school. On Tuesdays and Saturdays I work out at Infiniti Performance working on speed and strength training. The other, days I work out at the local gym.

BPM: Your dedication is incredible Mark. How about influences in your life, so far, both academically and athletically?

Mark: I always liked Derek Jeter because he’s an intelligent person and carries himself well. He plays the game with class and lives his very public life the same way. My parents have also had a great influence. They push me to do the best that I can in everything I do. They encourage me to get the best grades possible. They always told me that by working hard on academics and athletics more doors would open for greater opportunities.

BPM: What accomplishments outside of baseball are you most proud of?

Mark: For a week I went on a mission trip with my cousin’s church. We traveled to Mexico to build a house and a church for a family. I have also made the Principal’s Honor Roll for every quarter in high school.

BPM: Can you share with us your favorite moment playing baseball?

Mark: I have to share two moments. First was when I was twelve. My travel team went to Cooperstown Dream Park. During the week I hit seven homeruns in ten games. The other moment was the WWBA World Championship this past October in Jupiter, Florida. The WWBA is the best amateur tournament in the world. It has the best sixty-four teams in the nation. The team I was on, the OC Boxers, beat the number one ranked team in the tournament. The team we beat was full of the best high school players in the country. We ended up losing in the championship game, but it was an unbelievable experience.

BPM: Looks like you’ll have some tough decisions to make in the next couple of months. Do you mind if BPM keeps an eye on you the next couple of months. Can we talk again, say around June 9th?

Mark: Absolutely. It should be an interesting and exciting next few months. You can definitely check in on me!

BPM: Mark, this has been a pleasure, we are looking forward to following you this season and seeing what happens June 9th.

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