Good morning everybody. Today we're going down under to talk with Adam O'Neill, who just finished up his second season with the GCL Mets. G'day, mate.
O'Neill :
G'day, Mack. How are you?
Mack:
First, and most important, I know there was a devastating earthquake in your region this week. Our prayers go out to the people of New Zealand and anyone in Australia that was also effected. Adam, first of all, let's go back to that day you were first old that you were going to be signed by the New York Mets. What was that like, and, on a personal note, was "my man" Jarrett in on that one?
Adam:
Thanks Mack for the care towards those suffering. I can remember the whole process like it was yesterday. I was competing in a nation wide tournament where states and territories enter a team and compete for the championship. The tournament was In Western Australia and i was playing for the New South Wales team. There are Australian scouts who represent most teams from all over the major leagues and they all come to these tournaments to scout and hopefully sign some of the Australian players at these tournaments. Yes you are right to say Mr Jarrett was involved in the whole process he represented me as my agent for my signing. After the tournament I found out about the Mets being interested in signing me and a couple days later some more major league teams started to get interested. This was all news to me as a year before that i was just playing park baseball on a Saturday afternoon with friends for fun. I was at home when i got the phone call from my agent saying i think its time your decisions were made. This process happened all so quickly but it was one of the happiest moments of my life. So i agreed to sign with the Mets and that night we sat down and signed the papers and the rest is history.
Mack: - Adam, you had 11 appearances for the GCL Mets last year, and 11 appearances for the same GCL Mets this year. First of all, your ERA improved from 6.38 to 3.52... any adjustments or was it just more experience?
Adam: - Yeah, there were definitely some adjustments made this year. Last year for me was such a shock to the whole life of minor league baseball. I never really got comfortable on the mound last year which definitely showed in my results. This year I focused a lot more on the aspects of mental preparation as well as the physical preparation. And this helped me with leaps and bounds. I started to perform the way I had been before. Off speed was working for strikes and my fastball was locating down in the zone for the most part. Also my pitching coach, Hector Berrios, helped me out a lot this year with some minor mechanical adjustments to help with all of this. But I put a lot of it towards mental preparation. Also, the experience helped as well knowing what I had to come in and set out to do everyday.
Mack: -
Adam, you only turned twenty this past May, so there's no big rush. That being said, there is no log jam of relief pitchers ahead of you. What are your goals in 2011 and which team would you hope to... finish... the season with?
Adam: -
Well, it's anyone goal who is in the minor leagues, to break with any long season team from spring training so they don't have to go through the two months of extended spring. That being said, I really just wanna focus on getting better everyday. My goals for right now are to put on some weight and hopefully get some innings in with the ABL (Australian Baseball League) which is starting this year in November. To get myself ready for the 2011 season.
I cant really put a finger on a certain team as to which I would like to finish the year with because that's so far away. I just like putting spring training in focus and then after that the start of the season. Cause at the end of the day its the front office who make the calls as to where I move, I just need to keep throwing well constantly and see what happens from there. Focus on my off season training after enjoying some time off.
But my mains goals for this year are to keep my walks down and keep a consistent level of performance in everything I do and of course stay healthy.
Mack: -
Bring us all up to date on what you're throwing these days....
Adam: -
I throw a four-seam fastball, a breaking ball and a change-up. This year was a much more successful year for me in using off speed pitches. Especially with my breaking ball.
Mack:
Last question... who are you rooting for in the ABL? Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne,Perth, or Sydney?
Adam:
It could be a mixture of two teams this coming season. I might start the season with Sydney and then be moved to Canberra due to pitchers coming back from rest and needing innings. The pitchers who are coming back are currently playing in A ball all the way up to the big leagues so I'm going to play where they put me. But hopefully everything goes to plan and I'm available to throw for the Sydney team. If not then I should hopefully take my chances with the Canberra team. Just hope that I get selected first and then take it from there.
Mack:
I'll be watching your progress, reporting your successes, and we'll catch up on the back fields in the spring. Have fun, mate.
O-Neill:
Cheers, Mack. All the best.
Old Adam stuff:
O’Neil was signed by the Mets in January 2007 as an international free agent. He’s from Australia.
Mets scount Tony Harris commented: " I watched him pitch and I was immediately interested. He had a great arm action, was fluid, had that perfect pitcher's body and kept the ball low with a hard curve that was fooling the hitters. I am standing next to his agent thinking - not only do I want him at the Academy but I want him for the Mets," said Tony at Adam's home where he was inking in the professional contract that made him a Met. "I was tempted to make an offer there and then but thought it best to wait till he played in Perth."
O’Neill said at the time of the signing: "Now that I have signed with the Mets it’s a great feeling, but I know that the hard work is just beginning. I know I have 12 months of dedication to the Mets now getting ready for the 2009 season, but i'm over whelmed with excitement and i'm ready for the challenge. I am happy with my decision to become a Met and cannot wait for 2009 when I get to put the uniform on as a professional baseball player for the New York Mets."
O’Neill pitched for the GCL-Mets in both 2009 (1-2, 6.38) and 2010 (1-0, 3.52, 11-appearances).
2011 Forecast: - O’Neill has earned a bump to either Brooklyn or Savannah. My guess, because of the limited amount of innings pitched this past season, he probably will start first as a Cyclone.
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