One On One with Jeremy Baltz
11/04/2010, 8:17am EDT
By Steve Sidoti, Photos Provided by St. John’s Athletic Communications
Baseball Player Magazine (BPM) was able to sit down with sophomore sensation Jeremy Baltz of St. John’s University. His freshman season he lead the Red Storm with a .393 batting average. Although a very accomplished athlete in high school, and now on the Division I level, Jeremy’s a team player and excited for the upcoming challenges. With the goal of playing in the College World Series, hard work and dedication are what lie ahead for this young baseball player.
BPM: How did you get started playing baseball?
Baltz: I used to play soccer when I was younger, but all my friends played baseball. At about the age of nine I stopped playing soccer and I started playing Little League Baseball.
BPM: At what point did you realize that you had what it took to be playing at the Division I level?
Baltz: It was always my dream to play Division I baseball, but I didn't really realize it was possible until my sophomore year in high school. That year I started getting some attention from some schools, so I thought that I might have what it took to play at that level.
BPM: What colleges were interested in you, and which ones did you consider?
Baltz: Just some local schools were interested in me. Binghamton University, LeMoyne University and then St. John's began to contact me. I considered Binghamton University because it is in my backyard back in my home town and I grew up watching them play. But I knew that St. John's presented the best opportunity to play top caliber baseball, so I pretty much knew I wanted to play for the Red Storm.
BPM: What was it like to be drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school?
Baltz: Being drafted by my favorite baseball team was a dream come true. I have watched the Yankees my entire life and I have idolized players like Derek Jeter. I've always wanted to wear pinstripes. Even though I knew I wanted to go to college it was still a great experience for my family and I.
BPM: That’s awesome. Did you attend workouts for any other organization?
Baltz: I went to a pre-draft workout at Yankee Stadium for the New York Yankees and at Citi Field for the New York Mets. Those are really the only workouts I attended.
BPM: Last season, you were named the Louisville Slugger Freshman Player of the Year. In other words, they considered you the best freshman player in the nation. What was it like to receive such an honor?
Baltz: It was such a great honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life. But what was most important about last year was the great run that our St. John's baseball team went on. We were only a game away from making a Super Regional which left a sour taste in all of our mouths. The accolades were great, but I just wish the season ended in a different fashion.
BPM: Well said. That really was a great run. How did you guys pull off the defeat against then No. 1 Virginia in the Regional?
Baltz: We played together as a team and we really believed in ourselves. We didn't worry that they were the #1 team in the nation. We just went out and played baseball the way that we knew how to play.
BPM: Any reason behind wearing the number 18?
Baltz: No reason at all. It was just the number that was given to me when I came to St. John's.
BPM: You step up to the plate to “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine. Any particular reason why you chose that as your at-bat song?
Baltz: I listen to Rage Against the Machine a lot and it always gets me pumped up. I figured it would get me pumped when I walked to the batter's box, so I decided to use that for my walkout song.
BPM: In a game at Louisville in May, you hit four homeruns. Talk about that performance.
Baltz: I felt the best in the batter's box that day than I ever (had) in my entire life. I was real excited for that game. Louisville, under the lights on Friday night is something that I will never forget, but most importantly that performance helped my team to a win against a top ten team in the nation.
BPM: That power display really put you on the map. You were originally listed as a participant for the 2010 BIG EAST Home Run Derby. What happened?
Baltz: That event would have been a lot of fun to take part in, but I was looking at the bigger picture. I did not want that event to possibly affect my swing for the actual games in the tournament. Plus I wanted to give that opportunity to Paul Karmas who has been on the team for two more years than me. I thought he deserved the opportunity to participate in the event. He did a great job.
BPM: That was a real kind gesture and I’m sure no one could blame you as far as the possibility of the event affecting your swing. What did winning that Big East Tournament mean for the ball club?
Baltz: That was great for our team. We knew we needed to win the Big East Tournament in order to earn a bid for the NCAA tournament, and we really pulled together and beat some great teams on route to the title game. That was a huge confidence booster for our ball club.
BPM: You’re entering your sophomore season at St. John’s. After your junior season, you will be draft-eligible. Do you ever think about that and where you might go in the draft?
Baltz: I try not to think about that. I try to just enjoy the time here at the university. If I worry too much about the draft, or impressing scouts, then it might put too much pressure on myself and it could possibly effect my performance on the field.
BPM: Very true. How do you deal with having scouts at games, and how do you make sure that it won't affect your performance?
Baltz: I try to just play 100% all the time and do the correct thing on the field. I try not to worry about it too much and just make sure I'm having fun because in the end baseball is a game and it should be fun.
BPM: That is an excellent way of going about it. Are there any specific players that you try to model your game after?
Baltz: I've always tried to model my game after Derek Jeter because he plays the game the way it should be played. He is so well respected by his teammates, coaches, and opposing players.
BPM: What’s it like playing for Coach Blankmeyer?
Baltz: Coach Blankmeyer is a great coach and he definitely gets the most out of all of his players. He expects a lot out of his players, but we all love playing for him.
BPM: Who are the pranksters on the team?
Baltz: Hmmm...Matt Wessinger is probably the biggest prankster on the team. He's always joking around and making us laugh.
BPM: Do you have any nicknames?
Baltz: My teammates and coaches call me Baltzy. That's about it.
BPM: Not bad. Last season you finished with 24 homeruns and 84 RBI’s, both St. John’s records. Does it ever hit you just how sensational your season was?
Baltz: I guess it hasn't really hit me. I expect so much out of myself that I guess I am only concentrating on getting better and improving my game. I try not to focus on my past accomplishments.
BPM: What is your greatest baseball memory?
Baltz: The outstanding run that our St. John’s Baseball team went on, winning the Big East Championship, and making a lot of noise in the regional’s.
BPM: Where did you play this summer, and how did it work out?
Baltz: I played in Keene, NH, in the NECBL. It was a great experience. My teammates and coaches were awesome.
BPM: What the biggest difference between the Jeremy Baltz of this time last year and the Jeremy Baltz of today?
Baltz: Confidence and work ethic. I am extremely confident as a player right now and last year I was nervous and very unsure of myself. I’m also working that much harder this year, because I know it will be much more difficult to have another year like I had last year.
BPM: We wish you the best of luck. Before we let you go, how do you think the team will fare this season?
Baltz: We lost some key assets from last year's team but we are also returning some important players. I think that we will fare just fine, but it is not going to come easy this year. Teams are going to be gunning for us and we’re going to have to work that much harder to prepare for it.
BPM: Again, best of luck this season Jeremy. Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you and the Red Storm have another successful season!
Tag(s): Home One On One
