Mack - We're talking today to one of the members of the nation's regular season number one team, North Carolina (59-12) RHP Benton Moss. Hey Benton, first of all, congratulations on a wonderful 2013 season.Benton - Thanks! It was a great run, and it was a complete team effort from start to finish.Mack – Okay, as in most things in life, so much for the past. I was told early in life, ‘don’t look back and don’t look too far forward’. Are you playing any summer ball we all need to know about so all the scouts who read us know where you’ll be?Benton - Actually my coaches and I decided to shut it down for the summer.Mack – Good for you. It’s probably the first summer you have had ‘off’ since you learned to walk J. Are you going to work on anything new on your own or are you just going to chill and work on your tan?Benton - Yep! Going to work hard on my lower half and core! The tan comes secondary.Mack – Let’s go back again when someone first put a baseball in your hand. Who were the people that were there for you along the way and helped you get to where you are now?Benton - There have been many coaches and supporters along the way, with a couple sticking in my mind, but my parents were always there to support my efforts both on the great days and on the less than great days!Mack – I’ll let you go… anything you want to say to the readers out there?Benton - Whether you play ball or not, do what you do, to the best of your ability, at all times, because we're never guaranteed tomorrow and it only gets as good as today.
Mack – Continuing in our interviewing of top prospects available in the 2014 draft, we move on to Klein Collins (Spring, Texas) High School’s 6-0, 185-lb Jake Jarvis. Hey Jake. I assume you’ll be watching the draft coverage tonight?Jake - Yes sir I will be!Mack – Jake, I see your coach has you playing a bunch of positions (3B, OF, RHP), but I was especially attracted to what PG said about the potential of your bat. Do you have any plans this summer for leagues/showcases that all of us can keep an eye on you at?Jake - Yes sir I will be in Minnesota for the Perfect Game Nationals, I will be in Georgia for Perfect Game and hopefully I’ll be in California for Area Code.Mack – Good. We may run into each other in Georgia. I don’t have to tell you how important your senior year is going to be to your baseball future. Are there any things you can share with us that you’re working on this summer to strengthen your game?Jake - I'm really focusing on getting stronger, faster, and staying healthy. Also really concentrating and getting focused while I'm at the plate and just playing the game hard.Mack – Have there been any specific people who have influenced and helped you to where you are today with your game?Jake - Yes sir my dad. He has always been there to throw to me, drive me to practices, games, tournaments etc. and my coaches Ray and Robert Deleon. Those guys have been there for me since I was 7 years old and they are like Dads to me. They always help me out with anything when I am struggling and know how to get me going.Make – Last question Jake. Is there anything you want to say directly to the readers of both Mack’s Mets and Big League Futures?Jake - I'm lucky to play this game and ill always play it hard. I consider every game to be a gift.Mack – Jake, thank you or your time, good luck on the season, and we’ll check back with you before the draft.
Mack – Our next 2014 prospect is the latest in a legendary list of great Rice University starters, RHP Zech Lemond. Hey, Zech, thank you for spending some time with us here and I assume you’ll be hanging around the television starting tomorrow watching the College World Series?Zech - I actually couldn't bring myself to watch any of it yet, due to the fact of what happened at NC State.Mack – Those of us that do this for a living consider Rice University as the premier producer of quality Friday starters over the past two decades. What’s it going to be like for you to add your name to the list of all-time greats that have walked out to your mound?Zech- Well if I become the Friday night next year it would be pretty amazing, but Stephens did such a great job this past year as Saturday he may be the guy next year, then I may be behind him on Saturday. But being up there with names like Kenny Baugh and the big three with Neimann, Townsend, and Humber it would be pretty amazing to have my name mixed in with those Rice legends.Mack – Zech, tomorrow is the first day of summer. Where are you playing this ‘off season’, if anywhere, or are you lying low?Zech- I'll be playing for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod baseball league. I took a short break, I didn't pick up a baseball all last week but I started throwing again this week so I'm ready to go out and pitch some more.Mack – Will you be working on anything new while you’re with Falmouth?Zech- Just try to continue to get better, more accurate with every pitch, and better velocity with those pitches as well.Mack – Last question, Zech. Is there anything you want to say to your fans and our readers out there?Zech- I just want to thank everyone for their support and I hope to keep their support by playing well.
Mack – We’re talking this morning with the pride of Damien High School (Pomona, California), 6-3, RHP Grant Hockin. Hey Grant. How are things going out there and bring us up to date on your senior year.Grant - Well things are good out here! This year went great for us, but we fell short in playoffs. And for my senior year, it feels like it is just right around the corner, but this summer I'm doing a few very prestigious events that I'm truly honored to be a part of, and for the high school season it’s the same goal we have every year, were just trying to get ourselves and our school a CIF ring!Mack – Grant, let’s go back to the day someone first put a baseball in your hand. What were the steps you took getting to where you are today (teams, schools) and who were the people that influenced you the most?Grant - When, I was little my grandpa, Harmon Killebrew, was a huge influence on me playing baseball because of his successful Hall of Fame career. But, the person who taught how to throw a ball, was Dennis Powell, a Dodgers pitcher. I never really started playing travel ball until my 8th grade year.Mack – I have a lot of problems getting accurate high school stats on line from the high schools. How did your junior year turn out?Grant -My Junior year stats were: 7-3, 1.96-ERA, 75.0-IP, 94-K, with 20-BB.Mack – Obviously, you are playing some kind of summer ball. What do you have going this month?Grant - Well my schedule for this summer is pretty crazy! I've already been to Minnesota for the PG National Showcase, I'm in Cary, North Carolina for the TOS, then I have Area Codes, and then the Under Armor All-American Game at Wrigley Stadium.Mack – Well, thanks for a few minutes Grant. I appreciate it.
Mack – We’re especially excited here at www.bigleaguefutures.com and www.macksmetsreport.com to be talking to one of the projected top picks in the 2014 draft, soon to be junior RHP Tyler Beede. Hey Tyler, I assume you’re all College World Series consumed right now.Tyler - Well actually we are preparing for Game one vs. a VERY good University of Louisville team. We have our hands full and really just focused on game 1 that is slated to start on Saturday.Mack – It’s funny… I’m interviewing Nick Burdi at the same time. He says ‘hey’. (out of the interview… don’t let this interview get in the way of your focus on the game… it will not post up until everything is over and I would update it based on how the team does). Putting the CWS aside, I don’t have to tell you how important next year is going to be to you as baseball player. Have you signed up for any showcases or summer leagues we can look forward to following you once the series is over?Tyler - Nick is a good friend and fellow "VELOCITY" family member. Please tell him I said hello and will see him Friday. I have been blessed to have been asked to be on the College National Team for TEAM USA. This is truly a DREAM come true. Other than that I will prepare my body at Cressey Performance in Hudson Mass with Eric Cressey. Eric has been helping me since 2008 so I stick with him during the off season.Mack – Nick also passes on his hellos to you. Your game seems quite complete right now, but will there be anything new you’ll be working on this summer or is it just some more pounding the zone?Tyler - This summer , both during TEAM USA as well as off season, I will be working on commanding my fastball to both sides of the plate. I will break down video and make adjustments with Coach Bianco and Coach Brown. I have a lot of faith in what coaches see both live and on video.Mack – Tyler, I want you to go back to the day you decided that baseball was going to be the sport that you concentrated your abilities on. How old were you then, was there a certain person that helped you with that position, and is he or she still helping you now?Tyler - I played three sports growing up and into high school. I feel that both basketball and football really help my mental ability as to how I handled what I consider impact moments. Example of that would be as a Quarterback staying poised and composed in a huddle and leading teammates and within the game of basketball, learning how to slow the game down and work to execute game plans. I would say after my Sophomore year in high school is when I knew baseball would be my path in college although I would REALLY enjoy the opportunity of playing football at the college level. As to a specific person that has helped me, there have been many. My father has been there for me since day one, but my biggest mentor would be Eric Cressey. He truly has taught me how to manage emotions and understand the strength and conditioning that it takes to play at the highest level. I have had outstanding youth coaches in my life, Mr. Tim Backlin and Mr. Doug Flink were my football coaches, Mr Jack Barry and Tim Cummins were my little league coaches that really taught me the game of baseball and Mr Bill McGuirk was my basketball coach. I would never be the athlete that I have become without these people. I have been blessed to have my academic life truly altered by Mr Chris Margraff. He is still to this day not only a former coach and advisor from my High School, Lawrence Academy, but a great trusted friend. Lawrence Academy altered my future and has allowed me to be a successful student at Vanderbilt UniversityMack – (BTW, Dan Kirby, who just mocked you #1 in the 2014 draft, wishes you good luck next year). That’s awesome. Your father has done a heads up job touting you for the Golden Spikes Award. I’m going to leave it here and let the rest of the pundits ask all the same boring questions. I’ll check back with you before the 2014 draft and we’ll do this again, but, for now, is there anything you want to say to the readers of both Mack’s Mets and Big League Futures?Tyler - Thank you very much for taking the time to interview me. I would simply like everyone to know that I am extremely grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to attend and play at Vanderbilt University. It has truly helped me become a better man and more prepared for my future both within and out of the game of baseball. I will continue to work hard and whatever may happen in a year from now is up to GOD and many many baseball scouts and executives. My only focus over the next twelve months will be to get better each and every day in hopes of being a better teammate and help Vanderbilt win a National Championship.Mack – Class act!
