November 12, 2025 • 22 mins
Hosted by Darren Headrick and Darren Williams.
Darren and Darren talk with Carson Hansen. and Ryan Schwartz.
Darren and Darren talk with Carson Hansen. and Ryan Schwartz.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to Behind Kentucky Baseball here on the UK
Sports Network. Last time you heard from us, we had
a couple of pitchers with us. Now we're going to
make Daran Williams talk to some hitters, his favorite thing.
Welcome back, Bud.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I got to get in there the psyche, like what
is wrong with them?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
You know?
Speaker 4 (00:15):
Hey?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
You know what though, this lineup is going to be
really good this year, so we got a small I agree.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
You guys on the show with us. This time.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We've got senior outfielder Carson Hanson with us. He's from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, sir.
And then we've got Ryan Schwartz as sophomore out of
Indian Trail, North Carolina. He's played some outfield and I
understand you're also looking at some other positions this fall.
We'll dive into that, but we'll say outfield by trade
for now. Guys, welcome to the show. Thanks for being
with us. Ryan, we'll just dive into it. What has
(00:45):
this fall been like your number two?
Speaker 5 (00:48):
I mean obviously a lot different. I mean last year
I was in a cast the whole fall, so it
wasn't really doing much. So it's a lot different being
on the playing side of things. But also I feel
like I learned a lot last year. Just being able
to just kind of watch everything made it easier to
go into things this year.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Carson, you've had your tour of the SEC. What's this
second year? What have you learned that you can take
into your number two?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (01:09):
I think last year I came in and the adjustment
period definitely took a minute, and I was just kind
of getting my toes By this year, I'm coming in
a lot more confident, for sure.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah, we had to.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I mean we dove in with our guys before, you know,
the psyche of being the new guy versus the psyche
of being the old guy. You two are obviously our
old guys now, so it has to be a lot
more calming. But at the same time, you guys are
getting after it. I mean, you're working six seven days
a week at this thing, and uh, just take me
in the mindset like last year, Carson, obviously you from
the portal, Ryan, you from high school. The first fall
(01:43):
can be tough. You got to prove it to everybody.
Now everybody in the building knows who you guys are.
That you know Carson's going to ball out for us.
Ryan's gonna ball out for us.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
We know that.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Now it's about you know, let's get better. Let's prove it,
show everybody in the country that that's true. What's your
psyche been like this fall?
Speaker 6 (01:58):
From that perspective, yeah, I think definitely you carry that
confidence from from your success that you've had in the past,
but also you have to wake up and prove that
you have it every single day, and nothing is guaranteed
and we have to earn everything still.
Speaker 7 (02:11):
That's a fact.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Yeah, I feel like, I mean kind of like what
you said, just it's a lot easier to play free
after having that success. Like, come out of high school,
I haven't proved anything. I was like kind of still
trying to figure out if a belong or not, like
even coming out of a cast. So definitely helps having
that success and carrying over to the season and then
even summer ball kind of helps you build off.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Of that ran because you were a little bit behind
having the cast and unable to play in the fall
into the spring, finally made your debut. You finished with
a flourish. I think you reached safely in your last
twenty games. You hit the ball well. How much confidence
and momentum. Did that build for you going into the
summer and working on your number two?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, I mean just building off that.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
I mean that really really helped a lot, just knowing
like I can compete with the best and really do
it at a high level.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
So I mean just I mean knowing I belong.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
And yeah, it really helped for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
By the way, before we go any further, we need
to send the congratulations to sports because he had a
big summer, not only on the field, but off the
field as well. Tell us a little bit about getting
married this summer.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
A little thing on my finger, for sure. You gotta
we gotta cord you too, so little little family starting on.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
That's great, that's great.
Speaker 7 (03:18):
Do you hit in the ring?
Speaker 5 (03:20):
No, I take it off. I have a rubber one,
but it kind of it kind of rubs a little bit.
But I wear this one just because it's it's a
lot of comfier, but it's also kind of hurts to
hit in because just because it's.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Not sure whatever whatever it takes to get on base.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Right, right, that's right?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Or yeah, Ryan, a little bit rough year. I would say,
before you showed up, like you get hurt. Obviously you
flip commitments and come to Lexington. Then you get hurt
and then you're out for the first part of the year,
and then you're the freshman who gets thrown in the
opportunity you run with it, you know, the mindset through
(03:55):
that tough part of the baseball career. I mean, I'm
sure you were a top talent in high school and
then you know, it doesn't go right for the first time.
How did you stay with it? You know, because you
you hit the ground running when you got the opportunity,
how did you stick with it last fall not.
Speaker 7 (04:11):
Being able to play?
Speaker 5 (04:13):
It was honestly pretty hard. There was a lot of
ups and downs. Like coming out of high school, I
had a ton of confidence coming in out, like I
was ready to like hopefully be the guy as a
freshman start right away. And then I came in, I
was supposed to play in the draft league, got to
high school and hopefully had a bunch of interests there,
and then got hurt.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Obviously couldn't do that.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Then kind of the stock went down in the draft,
and then obviously you know I was coming here, and
then yeah, I was just in a cast and then
rehabbing out of the cast. It was like just really slow,
Like my wrist was still lingering even through like February
early March.
Speaker 7 (04:42):
You got a heck of a scar there on.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Yeah, it's pretty crazy, but yeah, it was still lingering
like February, and I was like, couldn't even break like
a hundred eggs of you other Like it was kind
of really demoralizing to the confidence, Like I was like,
can I even play here? And then they gave me
a couple of chances, like first couple of weeks against
I think it was Belmont and lipscumb I think I
had like two at bats. Yeah, I think I struck
out both at bats. So it's like it's like geez,
(05:04):
this is rough. And then like really turned a corner,
like a few weeks after that. It was like towards
the end of March, right before that Tennessee series, like
started hitting balls consistently over one hundred, like doing well
in like the midwek live at bats that like the
Red Shirts they were in and I was crushing that,
and then that really helped the confidence. And then they
threw me on Friday night against Doyle and yeah, you.
Speaker 7 (05:26):
Figured it out quick.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, you were a lot of fun last year making
that run man like it's inspiration, Like it's inspiration will
be this kid hurt no chance and then to take off.
Speaker 7 (05:39):
So it was sick to watch.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I'm fired up to see what you do with an
actual offseason, get hit it into next year.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
I'm excited to see second go around for Carson Hansen. Man.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Let I want to talk about and brag on this
young man what he did in the Clemson Regional. Just
a little bit all region selections. He was hit five
hundred seven or fourteen. Five RBIs five runs scored. And
I've been going back to your first at bat as
a Wildcat, you hit a grand Slam.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
What have you got in store for year number two?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Hopefully a lot more of those.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Tell me a little bit about the experience of competing
at the Clemson Regional. Obviously you guys wanted to win
the thing and you were so close, but just the
overall experience and what you gained out of that.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Yeah, I mean it was completely surreal.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
I know, my first two years at a men major
you don't get a chance to play in those games
and play with crowds like the like the Clemson Regional,
and so getting that opportunity and just just having fun
with it and just being completely in the moment was
huge and I had a ton of fun playing that regional.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
What was the mentality for the team bouncing back tough
loss and then you had to come out of that
loser's bracket to force the final game, but you came back,
You bounced back against USC Upstate and then you clobbered
Clemson to get that other shot at West Virginia. What
was that mentality like of just bouncing back And how
had the season prepared you all for that sort of scenario.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
Yeah, I think we had been in that kind of
situation pretty much every weekend, and just like like leading
up to that Oklahoma series where everyone kind of thought
we were down and out and we came back and
we swept them at home. And I think just embracing
that underdog mentality has really been big for us as
a team over the last couple of years. Do you
(07:20):
see that carrying in on because I know last year,
at the end of the year, I feel like from
just the outside perspective I had, it was like after
we beat Texas, it kind of clicked, and now the
team's getting hot and you talk about the Oklahoma series
a little bit obviously, you know, Hoover happens, and you know,
you get a little rest and then you go to Clemson.
We lose the first one, but then we make a
(07:41):
good fight. But the offense especially, I feel like after
Texas clicked, what was the adjustment there that made you guys,
you know, get this thing the ship righted?
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Yeah, I feel like it kind of started like practices
after that, like everybody kind of started to really buy
into just the approach and everything.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Every but he was a coach.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
Minj is big on like trying to be late with
two strikes and being on time or early with less
than two strikes. And I feel like a lot of
people were just buying after that, And before that it
was kind of we weren't. We're doing the opposite of that,
and it wasn't really going our way. So kind of
started to realize, like what was working.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Level the baseball that's it level the baseball barrel.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
Come on.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Three straight seasons now, this Kentucky baseball program has been
in at least a regional first time in program history.
It's just continuing to roll. So many guys, you're back,
so many additions to this year's team, so let's talk
about this year. You guys have played West Virginia in
an exhibition. Carson, I'll start with you. How would you
describe this lineup of hitters this year? I know there's
(08:39):
not a definitive lineup yet because it's only the fall,
but just this overall group, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
We're deep, as coach Sloan calls us. He says, we're
alley kats.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
So we're gonna we're gonna hit a lot of doubles,
We're gonna steal a lot of basses. We have a
ton of speed up and down the lineup and a
ton of power, dude, So I think this is gonna
be a fun offense to watch.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
How about you?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
What words would you use to describe Kentucky's offense this year?
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Yeah, kind of like what he said, like really deep,
Like we got five guys that could truly like start
in the outfield, like it's a lot of contenders for sure.
And then I mean even in the infield, we got
a couple freshmen that could for sure start with Cloud
and Jenkins, like they got a true shot at I
think as well. Just really deep line up and like
you said, we're gonna hit a lot of doubles and
I feel like we're really fast team.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
A lot of bags.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You just said a word that I want to hit on,
and either one of you can expound on this. But
deep line up because the two of you sitting here
have contributed big time. Then there's Tyler Bell, there's Luke, Lawrence,
Scott Campbell's now with the program. You mentioned Jenkins and
Cloud Like I just named off eight of a nine
man lineup there, positions regardless, and then you got guys
like Huddy that you can throw in there. So tell me, Carson,
(09:48):
how much fun it is to play in a deep
lineup like this and how it helps make you better
because everybody's pushing each other.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Yeah, definitely, there's a ton of competing and I mean
when you have that many guys that can go into
a game like that, it's just it's huge for an
offense because I mean, you're you can match up based
on pitchers and based on like Friday, Saturday, Sunday, have
different lineups every single day and just match up with
the guy as best as possible.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, I gotta ask you a little bit about my
MANU coach Sloan. We've had him on before and uh,
He's a real fiery guy.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Man.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
You guys are both a little more relaxed, I would say,
and even watching guest play like you both are very mature, Like, Okay,
I get out, who cares not to the next one?
Let's go make a play in the field, or you know,
I have a bad at bet? Who cares next at
bet is gonna be a good one. Sloan's very fiery,
Like you can just tell how passionate that dude is
about this offense and he I think he really got
(10:43):
into his bag at the end of the year, man,
and like the offense took off. What have you seen
from year two under him? Because that's the offensive coordinator
quote unquote definitely year two, you gotta be a little
more relaxed and know the system a little more. What
you what's coach Sloan really emphasized for you guys, And
how's it working with him?
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Yeah, I mean, I think just having a year under
his belt, he's starting to realize kind of like what
works as well, so he's kind of emphasizing like making
sure those things are a priority. Sure, just in like
the hitting groups and everything, even like in the inner squads,
just telling us to like hit the one side of
the ball because he knows what wins for sure, and
you just firing bullets on the bases like he's doing
really good at that. Just a bunch of different things
like hit and run, de lease steel, yeah, play.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Call sheets deep. Oh yeah, I've seen that thing. I've
seen that thing. What you got, Carson? What's Coach Sloan
really been working with you? You know this fall on what
kind of do you want to get better at as
an offensive? As an offensive player?
Speaker 6 (11:37):
Yeah, offensively, I mean through the summer, I really took
a focus to the summer trying to cut down on
the strikeouts.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
Sure, and I think I was.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
Just kind of throwing away some at bats that are
leaving them on the table and I could definitely take
advantage of some of those. So that's been big for
me this fall and just like just maximizing the number
of quality at bats I can get.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So is it more like when you say cut down
on strikeouts? Obviously pitcher here, So I'm trying to get
the strikeouts, But as an offensive player, is it more like,
all right, I do have to like be latent on
top of two strikes or it's like I don't even
want to get to two strikes, Like I'm trying to
hit the ball in the gap as soon as I'll
walk up there and not get to two strikes. Is
(12:20):
it a mixture of both?
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Yeah, I think it's definitely a mixture of both. And
just like really working on that two strike swing is
the thing too, where you can take some effort out
of it and still be able to put it in
play or do whatever the game is demanding. Sure, run
around second, just moving them over with a ground ball
the second.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
That kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yeah, changing subjects a little bit. Carson, being from Wisconsin,
how did baseball get on your radar and how did
you first fall in love with the game.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Yeah, I just playing for my local select team. I
guess when I first tried out for that, and it
was I think I was eight years old. That's when
I really loved it. And then once I got to
like about twelve years old, I was like, Okay, I
want to start taking this seriously, and I found the
nearest travel ball organization and just kind of things fell
(13:13):
into place after that.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
You grow up a Brewers fan, I guess, yeah, you bet.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Sorry, Deb Well rais daonus too. It's an are you
feeling down to? Oh right now, you're nervous man.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
As we're recording the NLCS or the Yeah yeah, the NFCA.
Speaker 6 (13:28):
Yeah, down to in LA big game tonight. I think
you got it. At least get one or two in LA.
It's gonna be tough, especially with glass now and they
gotta show Hay throwing the next two days.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So put yourself in the Brewer's shoes. Right now, you're
walking up to face you know Show hey, And obviously
you you hitting in the SEC, so you're seeing a
first rounder every weekend. What's that mindset like when you
see a big dog up there on the mound, like
you you're a big dog in the league too, So like,
what's your mindset for that?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (14:00):
I think you have to go into it thinking that
you're better than him, yeah, and thinking you're the best
player in the world. Otherwise you're not gonna have a chance.
And if I'm heading off Show, I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Try to be early to the basketball.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
Probably tough to be. He's tough.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Like, even if you look stupid on the breaking ball,
because you're geared up for a hundred, that's your only
shot right when you see somebody like that. Yeah, for sure,
like either I time this fastball up or like whatever
it moves on.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
You guys had faced last year several arms that could
have been first rounders or were first rounders just Friday
night aces in this league. It's what you signed up for,
It's what you came here to do. But Ryan, how
much fun was it to compete against some of the
best arms in the country that this league offers.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Oh, It's it's unreal. It's like, I mean, you see
those guys on TV all the time, like on ESPN,
like on the highlights or of everything, Like you know
they're going to be top picks in the draft, and
I mean, you just gotta trust your preparation, like what
Carson said, just believing you're better than them, Like I mean,
it might not be true, but you just got to
believe that when you're in the box.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, and two, the way you guys play offense. And
we just had a Jackson sussion on our last show
and he played for Southward Pitch for South Carolina last year,
and he was talking about the mental wear that your
style of offense can put on pitchers. That's also got
to be in the back of your mind too, like
I'm going up there, especially if there's a man on
first nobody out, Like Coach Sloan can call just about
(15:28):
anything he wants right here, and I'm ready to execute it.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Oh yeah, yeah, I mean, it's just the preparation.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Like we literally work on everything, like all the situational hitting,
base running every day in practice. It's like Coach Minch
takes a priority to that. It's like we make that
the first thing we do every day, so it's like
we're ready for it.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
I was never in one of those hitting meetings to
go down the play sheet, like obviously I was working
on you know, pitching, but for the in the offensive
you know, when you go in the classroom as in
the on the offensive side, what are those meetings like?
Because that play sheet is actually crazy. We have so
many things that we can do and it does it
makes other teams think about it. On this offense, it's
(16:06):
one of our biggest strengths and it's the reason we've
you know, been where we've been in the last three years.
So what are those offensive meetings like, you know, do
you go down through every detail of every play and
like zone it out what any.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
I mean They don't try to make it too complicated.
I mean, sure we have meetings, but it's more like
video review just seeing like what works and like whenever
we execute things right and just so we see it
in like the video review. But they don't really make
it too complicated. It's just we work on the details
in practice and just the repetitiveness of getting those reps.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
I feel like that's just what helps all. It's all
pretty much engraved all of our heads and.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, like it has to be though, So what's your
favorite play call on Actually, what's the what's the deepest
in the bag?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
There's one on there.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
He's like it's three numbers and it's like says, I'm
him on there. It's like I like that.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I like that, Carson along those lines. With all the
information that give you, you guys get such detailed scouting
reports and then like they have the video review and
all that, how do you pair that down to what
you need to know to face whatever picture they're throwing
at you on a particular night.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Yeah, you looking forward, there's a.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
Ton of things to look at. Kouzi does a great
job helping us out and like building our approach on
deck and that kind of stuff I know for me personally,
like if I see over twenty inches of vert like
I gotta really get on top of it. Or if
there's a lot of horizontal move up in the box,
or just pretty much like shifting my sites or where
(17:33):
I'm in the box is pretty much what I'm looking for.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
I like that.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
So you're number two in the SEC.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
As we start to wrap things up on the show
for this go around, you're number two in the SEC.
What are you guys looking forward to the most it
can be? You know, new ballparks, environments, crowds, whatever, Carson,
what are you looking.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Forward to in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
I'm looking forward to getting on the field with this
team we have this year.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Good answer.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I'm excited for.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
This group Opening Day, specific dates scheduled or circled over there?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Uh, probably just when SEC played it gets going.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I'm pumped for that. Yeah, I'm fired up.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Don't need to make a trip to Baton Rouge.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Let's go Rod. What about you, man?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
Yeah, like what you said, I mean, I'm excited to
go play at LLC alex Box. I think that'll be
pretty unreal. But I mean also just having a full
season hopefully. I mean, just staying healthy and be able
to play every game.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
You guys will man, you guys will come on. It's
it's that's gonna happen. I gotta ask, Uh, you just
mentioned my man Coozie. Obviously he wasn't here when I was,
you know, a player. What was it like getting recruited
by him? Because he's, uh, he's one of our best
guests on the show.
Speaker 7 (18:38):
He's the man. We've had him a few times now.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
What was the recruiting process like for both of you?
Speaker 4 (18:42):
With Koozie?
Speaker 5 (18:43):
I mean, he just seems like he seems like he's
one of the boys. Like, yeah, I was talking to
him on the phone. He's like just super chill, like
he's just like knows what he's talking about too. Like
you feel like you like fully trust him. Yeah, yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
We call him the.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
Vibe guy, and I mean he's he's just like one
of the homies and like.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Just one of the brothers.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I'm glad you said that the vibe because there's an
intensity about him.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
How does that rub off on you guys in the dugout?
Speaker 5 (19:08):
I mean, he just he's a he's a ballplayer, so
I mean he knows the game well. I mean he
was a high draft pick. I mean he's one of
our best players in the program's history. But like having
the good vibes, he brings that and then I mean
he knows what he's talking about too serious.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
There is definitely a switch though. Man, I'm telling you,
I've seen him in that dugout. You know, I've seen
some highlights like Goosey's the man, but like when it
comes down to play some balls, he's getting after and
I love that. You got to you gotta have that personality, uh,
because when you step in between the lines, it's it's competitive.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Now, come on, as we wrap things up, guys, looking
forward to the spring. Obviously there's still a lot of
competition this fall on positions and all that stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
So Ryan will come to you.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
How is this competition pushing to make you better as
a player and and just getting ready for the spring?
Speaker 5 (19:54):
Yeah, I mean just kind of like what we said,
having all that depth in the outfield, it just really
pushes you to just play your best every day, Like
you can't really take a day off just because there's
so much competition. I mean, everybody's fighting for a spot,
so it's really every day. I mean I've been bouncing
around positions too. I've been going from outfield to first
base too, even that.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
What's that been like?
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Trying to get used to first base, learn it and
be comfortable there.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
It took a few days. I mean, Carson's been over
there with me. They got him playing over there too,
just because Huddie's our only guy over.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
There right now.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
So I mean, if anything were to happen to him,
hopefully not. But we got no other first basements. They're
trying to get a few guys to learn the position.
But I'm getting starting to get comfortable over there for sure.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Carson. What about you? This this competition, you guys keeping
it mostly friendly out there right?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, except when there's down in backs.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Yeah you gotta lock in.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
I think, just just making myself as versatile as a
player as I can, just getting comfortable and laughed right, uh,
even center and playing first and I mean dhing. Just
just taking care of business wherever I can and doing
what takes to help the team.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
You guys have mentioned the bodies, like as a pitcher
up know, I pitch one day a week in the fall,
you know, the rest I'm working to.
Speaker 7 (21:04):
Get right for that one day of the week. For
you guys, you play.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Three days a week for three four hours and then
you practice the three other days of a week pretty
intense for a couple hours. You know, how does coach
Jones the training staff here, you know helped you guys,
because I for one, didn't do it, wasn't a position player,
couldn't imagine doing it as me a pitcher. I'll show
them on one day of the week for you guys, man,
(21:27):
you're in the thick of it right now. How are
you keeping to the bodies fresh? Because you still do
it to computer at a high level. When that when
the lights come on?
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Oh yeah, I mean I think he's got it pretty
figured out. I mean, we're on the three day a
week plan right now, so it's we're just lifting three
days a week and it's not on the inner squad
days either, so we kind of get a break after those.
But it's nothing to get you too crazy sore, but
it's like enough to just keep your body primed kind
of those lifts and then the four days.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
A week before.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
I feel like he'll just build that like kind of
foundation yeas to it. But I mean I've been pitching too,
so that's kind.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Of whoa, whoa, now, whoa what we got here?
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Just casually drop it in there at the end of.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
The show, all right, Well, yeah, the body has been
feeling it a little bit. But I mean just taking
those lifts and taking them serious.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
I feel like that's just helped.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
What's the mindset when you get on the mound, I.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Mean, just just throw it in the zone. I feel like,
just trusting my stuff. I don't know about that, especially
coming in from like first base or the outfield.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Just do Hey, we have you seen it in the past, man,
That's right. It's two way for him yesterday to quality pitches,
cross count when needed. What are we talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
We got we got the game, we got pictures pinch running,
and we got position players pitching. Hey, I love it.
I trust them with the ball.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
There you go. Come on, guys, we appreciate you joining
us here on the show. Thanks for being here. We'll
see you down the road.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
That's Ryan Schwartz. He's Carson Hanson for Darren Williams. I'm
Darren Hedrick. We'll get you next time. Right here on
behind Kentucky Baseball. This is the UK Sports Network,
Welcome back to Behind Kentucky Baseball here on the UK
Sports Network. Last time you heard from us, we had
a couple of pitchers with us. Now we're going to
make Daran Williams talk to some hitters, his favorite thing.
Welcome back, Bud.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I got to get in there the psyche, like what
is wrong with them?
Speaker 3 (00:14):
You know?
Speaker 4 (00:15):
Hey?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
You know what though, this lineup is going to be
really good this year, so we got a small I agree.
Speaker 4 (00:19):
You guys on the show with us. This time.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We've got senior outfielder Carson Hanson with us. He's from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, sir.
And then we've got Ryan Schwartz as sophomore out of
Indian Trail, North Carolina. He's played some outfield and I
understand you're also looking at some other positions this fall.
We'll dive into that, but we'll say outfield by trade
for now. Guys, welcome to the show. Thanks for being
with us. Ryan, we'll just dive into it. What has
(00:45):
this fall been like your number two?
Speaker 5 (00:48):
I mean obviously a lot different. I mean last year
I was in a cast the whole fall, so it
wasn't really doing much. So it's a lot different being
on the playing side of things. But also I feel
like I learned a lot last year. Just being able
to just kind of watch everything made it easier to
go into things this year.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Carson, you've had your tour of the SEC. What's this
second year? What have you learned that you can take
into your number two?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (01:09):
I think last year I came in and the adjustment
period definitely took a minute, and I was just kind
of getting my toes By this year, I'm coming in
a lot more confident, for sure.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Yeah, we had to.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I mean we dove in with our guys before, you know,
the psyche of being the new guy versus the psyche
of being the old guy. You two are obviously our
old guys now, so it has to be a lot
more calming. But at the same time, you guys are
getting after it. I mean, you're working six seven days
a week at this thing, and uh, just take me
in the mindset like last year, Carson, obviously you from
the portal, Ryan, you from high school. The first fall
(01:43):
can be tough. You got to prove it to everybody.
Now everybody in the building knows who you guys are.
That you know Carson's going to ball out for us.
Ryan's gonna ball out for us.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
We know that.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Now it's about you know, let's get better. Let's prove it,
show everybody in the country that that's true. What's your
psyche been like this fall?
Speaker 6 (01:58):
From that perspective, yeah, I think definitely you carry that
confidence from from your success that you've had in the past,
but also you have to wake up and prove that
you have it every single day, and nothing is guaranteed
and we have to earn everything still.
Speaker 7 (02:11):
That's a fact.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Yeah, I feel like, I mean kind of like what
you said, just it's a lot easier to play free
after having that success. Like, come out of high school,
I haven't proved anything. I was like kind of still
trying to figure out if a belong or not, like
even coming out of a cast. So definitely helps having
that success and carrying over to the season and then
even summer ball kind of helps you build off.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Of that ran because you were a little bit behind
having the cast and unable to play in the fall
into the spring, finally made your debut. You finished with
a flourish. I think you reached safely in your last
twenty games. You hit the ball well. How much confidence
and momentum. Did that build for you going into the
summer and working on your number two?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, I mean just building off that.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
I mean that really really helped a lot, just knowing
like I can compete with the best and really do
it at a high level.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
So I mean just I mean knowing I belong.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
And yeah, it really helped for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
By the way, before we go any further, we need
to send the congratulations to sports because he had a
big summer, not only on the field, but off the
field as well. Tell us a little bit about getting
married this summer.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
A little thing on my finger, for sure. You gotta
we gotta cord you too, so little little family starting on.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
That's great, that's great.
Speaker 7 (03:18):
Do you hit in the ring?
Speaker 5 (03:20):
No, I take it off. I have a rubber one,
but it kind of it kind of rubs a little bit.
But I wear this one just because it's it's a
lot of comfier, but it's also kind of hurts to
hit in because just because it's.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Not sure whatever whatever it takes to get on base.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Right, right, that's right?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Or yeah, Ryan, a little bit rough year. I would say,
before you showed up, like you get hurt. Obviously you
flip commitments and come to Lexington. Then you get hurt
and then you're out for the first part of the year,
and then you're the freshman who gets thrown in the
opportunity you run with it, you know, the mindset through
(03:55):
that tough part of the baseball career. I mean, I'm
sure you were a top talent in high school and
then you know, it doesn't go right for the first time.
How did you stay with it? You know, because you
you hit the ground running when you got the opportunity,
how did you stick with it last fall not.
Speaker 7 (04:11):
Being able to play?
Speaker 5 (04:13):
It was honestly pretty hard. There was a lot of
ups and downs. Like coming out of high school, I
had a ton of confidence coming in out, like I
was ready to like hopefully be the guy as a
freshman start right away. And then I came in, I
was supposed to play in the draft league, got to
high school and hopefully had a bunch of interests there,
and then got hurt.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Obviously couldn't do that.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Then kind of the stock went down in the draft,
and then obviously you know I was coming here, and
then yeah, I was just in a cast and then
rehabbing out of the cast. It was like just really slow,
Like my wrist was still lingering even through like February
early March.
Speaker 7 (04:42):
You got a heck of a scar there on.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Yeah, it's pretty crazy, but yeah, it was still lingering
like February, and I was like, couldn't even break like
a hundred eggs of you other Like it was kind
of really demoralizing to the confidence, Like I was like,
can I even play here? And then they gave me
a couple of chances, like first couple of weeks against
I think it was Belmont and lipscumb I think I
had like two at bats. Yeah, I think I struck
out both at bats. So it's like it's like geez,
(05:04):
this is rough. And then like really turned a corner,
like a few weeks after that. It was like towards
the end of March, right before that Tennessee series, like
started hitting balls consistently over one hundred, like doing well
in like the midwek live at bats that like the
Red Shirts they were in and I was crushing that,
and then that really helped the confidence. And then they
threw me on Friday night against Doyle and yeah, you.
Speaker 7 (05:26):
Figured it out quick.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, you were a lot of fun last year making
that run man like it's inspiration, Like it's inspiration will
be this kid hurt no chance and then to take off.
Speaker 7 (05:39):
So it was sick to watch.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I'm fired up to see what you do with an
actual offseason, get hit it into next year.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
I'm excited to see second go around for Carson Hansen. Man.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Let I want to talk about and brag on this
young man what he did in the Clemson Regional. Just
a little bit all region selections. He was hit five
hundred seven or fourteen. Five RBIs five runs scored. And
I've been going back to your first at bat as
a Wildcat, you hit a grand Slam.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
What have you got in store for year number two?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Hopefully a lot more of those.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Tell me a little bit about the experience of competing
at the Clemson Regional. Obviously you guys wanted to win
the thing and you were so close, but just the
overall experience and what you gained out of that.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Yeah, I mean it was completely surreal.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
I know, my first two years at a men major
you don't get a chance to play in those games
and play with crowds like the like the Clemson Regional,
and so getting that opportunity and just just having fun
with it and just being completely in the moment was
huge and I had a ton of fun playing that regional.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
What was the mentality for the team bouncing back tough
loss and then you had to come out of that
loser's bracket to force the final game, but you came back,
You bounced back against USC Upstate and then you clobbered
Clemson to get that other shot at West Virginia. What
was that mentality like of just bouncing back And how
had the season prepared you all for that sort of scenario.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
Yeah, I think we had been in that kind of
situation pretty much every weekend, and just like like leading
up to that Oklahoma series where everyone kind of thought
we were down and out and we came back and
we swept them at home. And I think just embracing
that underdog mentality has really been big for us as
a team over the last couple of years. Do you
(07:20):
see that carrying in on because I know last year,
at the end of the year, I feel like from
just the outside perspective I had, it was like after
we beat Texas, it kind of clicked, and now the
team's getting hot and you talk about the Oklahoma series
a little bit obviously, you know, Hoover happens, and you know,
you get a little rest and then you go to Clemson.
We lose the first one, but then we make a
(07:41):
good fight. But the offense especially, I feel like after
Texas clicked, what was the adjustment there that made you guys,
you know, get this thing the ship righted?
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Yeah, I feel like it kind of started like practices
after that, like everybody kind of started to really buy
into just the approach and everything.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Every but he was a coach.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
Minj is big on like trying to be late with
two strikes and being on time or early with less
than two strikes. And I feel like a lot of
people were just buying after that, And before that it
was kind of we weren't. We're doing the opposite of that,
and it wasn't really going our way. So kind of
started to realize, like what was working.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Level the baseball that's it level the baseball barrel.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
Come on.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Three straight seasons now, this Kentucky baseball program has been
in at least a regional first time in program history.
It's just continuing to roll. So many guys, you're back,
so many additions to this year's team, so let's talk
about this year. You guys have played West Virginia in
an exhibition. Carson, I'll start with you. How would you
describe this lineup of hitters this year? I know there's
(08:39):
not a definitive lineup yet because it's only the fall,
but just this overall group, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
We're deep, as coach Sloan calls us. He says, we're
alley kats.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
So we're gonna we're gonna hit a lot of doubles,
We're gonna steal a lot of basses. We have a
ton of speed up and down the lineup and a
ton of power, dude, So I think this is gonna
be a fun offense to watch.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
How about you?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
What words would you use to describe Kentucky's offense this year?
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Yeah, kind of like what he said, like really deep,
Like we got five guys that could truly like start
in the outfield, like it's a lot of contenders for sure.
And then I mean even in the infield, we got
a couple freshmen that could for sure start with Cloud
and Jenkins, like they got a true shot at I
think as well. Just really deep line up and like
you said, we're gonna hit a lot of doubles and
I feel like we're really fast team.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
A lot of bags.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You just said a word that I want to hit on,
and either one of you can expound on this. But
deep line up because the two of you sitting here
have contributed big time. Then there's Tyler Bell, there's Luke, Lawrence,
Scott Campbell's now with the program. You mentioned Jenkins and
Cloud Like I just named off eight of a nine
man lineup there, positions regardless, and then you got guys
like Huddy that you can throw in there. So tell me, Carson,
(09:48):
how much fun it is to play in a deep
lineup like this and how it helps make you better
because everybody's pushing each other.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Yeah, definitely, there's a ton of competing and I mean
when you have that many guys that can go into
a game like that, it's just it's huge for an
offense because I mean, you're you can match up based
on pitchers and based on like Friday, Saturday, Sunday, have
different lineups every single day and just match up with
the guy as best as possible.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, I gotta ask you a little bit about my
MANU coach Sloan. We've had him on before and uh,
He's a real fiery guy.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Man.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
You guys are both a little more relaxed, I would say,
and even watching guest play like you both are very mature, Like, Okay,
I get out, who cares not to the next one?
Let's go make a play in the field, or you know,
I have a bad at bet? Who cares next at
bet is gonna be a good one. Sloan's very fiery,
Like you can just tell how passionate that dude is
about this offense and he I think he really got
(10:43):
into his bag at the end of the year, man,
and like the offense took off. What have you seen
from year two under him? Because that's the offensive coordinator
quote unquote definitely year two, you gotta be a little
more relaxed and know the system a little more. What
you what's coach Sloan really emphasized for you guys, And
how's it working with him?
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Yeah, I mean, I think just having a year under
his belt, he's starting to realize kind of like what
works as well, so he's kind of emphasizing like making
sure those things are a priority. Sure, just in like
the hitting groups and everything, even like in the inner squads,
just telling us to like hit the one side of
the ball because he knows what wins for sure, and
you just firing bullets on the bases like he's doing
really good at that. Just a bunch of different things
like hit and run, de lease steel, yeah, play.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Call sheets deep. Oh yeah, I've seen that thing. I've
seen that thing. What you got, Carson? What's Coach Sloan
really been working with you? You know this fall on what
kind of do you want to get better at as
an offensive? As an offensive player?
Speaker 6 (11:37):
Yeah, offensively, I mean through the summer, I really took
a focus to the summer trying to cut down on
the strikeouts.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
Sure, and I think I was.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
Just kind of throwing away some at bats that are
leaving them on the table and I could definitely take
advantage of some of those. So that's been big for
me this fall and just like just maximizing the number
of quality at bats I can get.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
So is it more like when you say cut down
on strikeouts? Obviously pitcher here, So I'm trying to get
the strikeouts, But as an offensive player, is it more like,
all right, I do have to like be latent on
top of two strikes or it's like I don't even
want to get to two strikes, Like I'm trying to
hit the ball in the gap as soon as I'll
walk up there and not get to two strikes. Is
(12:20):
it a mixture of both?
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Yeah, I think it's definitely a mixture of both. And
just like really working on that two strike swing is
the thing too, where you can take some effort out
of it and still be able to put it in
play or do whatever the game is demanding. Sure, run
around second, just moving them over with a ground ball
the second.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
That kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yeah, changing subjects a little bit. Carson, being from Wisconsin,
how did baseball get on your radar and how did
you first fall in love with the game.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Yeah, I just playing for my local select team. I
guess when I first tried out for that, and it
was I think I was eight years old. That's when
I really loved it. And then once I got to
like about twelve years old, I was like, Okay, I
want to start taking this seriously, and I found the
nearest travel ball organization and just kind of things fell
(13:13):
into place after that.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
You grow up a Brewers fan, I guess, yeah, you bet.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Sorry, Deb Well rais daonus too. It's an are you
feeling down to? Oh right now, you're nervous man.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
As we're recording the NLCS or the Yeah yeah, the NFCA.
Speaker 6 (13:28):
Yeah, down to in LA big game tonight. I think
you got it. At least get one or two in LA.
It's gonna be tough, especially with glass now and they
gotta show Hay throwing the next two days.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So put yourself in the Brewer's shoes. Right now, you're
walking up to face you know Show hey, And obviously
you you hitting in the SEC, so you're seeing a
first rounder every weekend. What's that mindset like when you
see a big dog up there on the mound, like
you you're a big dog in the league too, So like,
what's your mindset for that?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (14:00):
I think you have to go into it thinking that
you're better than him, yeah, and thinking you're the best
player in the world. Otherwise you're not gonna have a chance.
And if I'm heading off Show, I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Try to be early to the basketball.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
Probably tough to be. He's tough.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Like, even if you look stupid on the breaking ball,
because you're geared up for a hundred, that's your only
shot right when you see somebody like that. Yeah, for sure,
like either I time this fastball up or like whatever
it moves on.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
You guys had faced last year several arms that could
have been first rounders or were first rounders just Friday
night aces in this league. It's what you signed up for,
It's what you came here to do. But Ryan, how
much fun was it to compete against some of the
best arms in the country that this league offers.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Oh, It's it's unreal. It's like, I mean, you see
those guys on TV all the time, like on ESPN,
like on the highlights or of everything, Like you know
they're going to be top picks in the draft, and
I mean, you just gotta trust your preparation, like what
Carson said, just believing you're better than them, Like I mean,
it might not be true, but you just got to
believe that when you're in the box.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well, and two, the way you guys play offense. And
we just had a Jackson sussion on our last show
and he played for Southward Pitch for South Carolina last year,
and he was talking about the mental wear that your
style of offense can put on pitchers. That's also got
to be in the back of your mind too, like
I'm going up there, especially if there's a man on
first nobody out, Like Coach Sloan can call just about
(15:28):
anything he wants right here, and I'm ready to execute it.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Oh yeah, yeah, I mean, it's just the preparation.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
Like we literally work on everything, like all the situational hitting,
base running every day in practice. It's like Coach Minch
takes a priority to that. It's like we make that
the first thing we do every day, so it's like
we're ready for it.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
I was never in one of those hitting meetings to
go down the play sheet, like obviously I was working
on you know, pitching, but for the in the offensive
you know, when you go in the classroom as in
the on the offensive side, what are those meetings like?
Because that play sheet is actually crazy. We have so
many things that we can do and it does it
makes other teams think about it. On this offense, it's
(16:06):
one of our biggest strengths and it's the reason we've
you know, been where we've been in the last three years.
So what are those offensive meetings like, you know, do
you go down through every detail of every play and
like zone it out what any.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
I mean They don't try to make it too complicated.
I mean, sure we have meetings, but it's more like
video review just seeing like what works and like whenever
we execute things right and just so we see it
in like the video review. But they don't really make
it too complicated. It's just we work on the details
in practice and just the repetitiveness of getting those reps.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
I feel like that's just what helps all. It's all
pretty much engraved all of our heads and.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, like it has to be though, So what's your
favorite play call on Actually, what's the what's the deepest
in the bag?
Speaker 3 (16:47):
There's one on there.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
He's like it's three numbers and it's like says, I'm
him on there. It's like I like that.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I like that, Carson along those lines. With all the
information that give you, you guys get such detailed scouting
reports and then like they have the video review and
all that, how do you pair that down to what
you need to know to face whatever picture they're throwing
at you on a particular night.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Yeah, you looking forward, there's a.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
Ton of things to look at. Kouzi does a great
job helping us out and like building our approach on
deck and that kind of stuff I know for me personally,
like if I see over twenty inches of vert like
I gotta really get on top of it. Or if
there's a lot of horizontal move up in the box,
or just pretty much like shifting my sites or where
(17:33):
I'm in the box is pretty much what I'm looking for.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
I like that.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
So you're number two in the SEC.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
As we start to wrap things up on the show
for this go around, you're number two in the SEC.
What are you guys looking forward to the most it
can be? You know, new ballparks, environments, crowds, whatever, Carson,
what are you looking.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Forward to in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
I'm looking forward to getting on the field with this
team we have this year.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Good answer.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I'm excited for.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
This group Opening Day, specific dates scheduled or circled over there?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Uh, probably just when SEC played it gets going.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I'm pumped for that. Yeah, I'm fired up.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Don't need to make a trip to Baton Rouge.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Let's go Rod. What about you, man?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
Yeah, like what you said, I mean, I'm excited to
go play at LLC alex Box. I think that'll be
pretty unreal. But I mean also just having a full
season hopefully. I mean, just staying healthy and be able
to play every game.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
You guys will man, you guys will come on. It's
it's that's gonna happen. I gotta ask, Uh, you just
mentioned my man Coozie. Obviously he wasn't here when I was,
you know, a player. What was it like getting recruited
by him? Because he's, uh, he's one of our best
guests on the show.
Speaker 7 (18:38):
He's the man. We've had him a few times now.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
What was the recruiting process like for both of you?
Speaker 4 (18:42):
With Koozie?
Speaker 5 (18:43):
I mean, he just seems like he seems like he's
one of the boys. Like, yeah, I was talking to
him on the phone. He's like just super chill, like
he's just like knows what he's talking about too. Like
you feel like you like fully trust him. Yeah, yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
We call him the.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
Vibe guy, and I mean he's he's just like one
of the homies and like.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Just one of the brothers.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I'm glad you said that the vibe because there's an
intensity about him.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
How does that rub off on you guys in the dugout?
Speaker 5 (19:08):
I mean, he just he's a he's a ballplayer, so
I mean he knows the game well. I mean he
was a high draft pick. I mean he's one of
our best players in the program's history. But like having
the good vibes, he brings that and then I mean
he knows what he's talking about too serious.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
There is definitely a switch though. Man, I'm telling you,
I've seen him in that dugout. You know, I've seen
some highlights like Goosey's the man, but like when it
comes down to play some balls, he's getting after and
I love that. You got to you gotta have that personality, uh,
because when you step in between the lines, it's it's competitive.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Now, come on, as we wrap things up, guys, looking
forward to the spring. Obviously there's still a lot of
competition this fall on positions and all that stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
So Ryan will come to you.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
How is this competition pushing to make you better as
a player and and just getting ready for the spring?
Speaker 5 (19:54):
Yeah, I mean just kind of like what we said,
having all that depth in the outfield, it just really
pushes you to just play your best every day, Like
you can't really take a day off just because there's
so much competition. I mean, everybody's fighting for a spot,
so it's really every day. I mean I've been bouncing
around positions too. I've been going from outfield to first
base too, even that.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
What's that been like?
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Trying to get used to first base, learn it and
be comfortable there.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
It took a few days. I mean, Carson's been over
there with me. They got him playing over there too,
just because Huddie's our only guy over.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
There right now.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
So I mean, if anything were to happen to him,
hopefully not. But we got no other first basements. They're
trying to get a few guys to learn the position.
But I'm getting starting to get comfortable over there for sure.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Carson. What about you? This this competition, you guys keeping
it mostly friendly out there right?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, except when there's down in backs.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Yeah you gotta lock in.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
I think, just just making myself as versatile as a
player as I can, just getting comfortable and laughed right, uh,
even center and playing first and I mean dhing. Just
just taking care of business wherever I can and doing
what takes to help the team.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
You guys have mentioned the bodies, like as a pitcher
up know, I pitch one day a week in the fall,
you know, the rest I'm working to.
Speaker 7 (21:04):
Get right for that one day of the week. For
you guys, you play.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Three days a week for three four hours and then
you practice the three other days of a week pretty
intense for a couple hours. You know, how does coach
Jones the training staff here, you know helped you guys,
because I for one, didn't do it, wasn't a position player,
couldn't imagine doing it as me a pitcher. I'll show
them on one day of the week for you guys, man,
(21:27):
you're in the thick of it right now. How are
you keeping to the bodies fresh? Because you still do
it to computer at a high level. When that when
the lights come on?
Speaker 5 (21:35):
Oh yeah, I mean I think he's got it pretty
figured out. I mean, we're on the three day a
week plan right now, so it's we're just lifting three
days a week and it's not on the inner squad
days either, so we kind of get a break after those.
But it's nothing to get you too crazy sore, but
it's like enough to just keep your body primed kind
of those lifts and then the four days.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
A week before.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
I feel like he'll just build that like kind of
foundation yeas to it. But I mean I've been pitching too,
so that's kind.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Of whoa, whoa, now, whoa what we got here?
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Just casually drop it in there at the end of.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
The show, all right, Well, yeah, the body has been
feeling it a little bit. But I mean just taking
those lifts and taking them serious.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
I feel like that's just helped.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
What's the mindset when you get on the mound, I.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Mean, just just throw it in the zone. I feel like,
just trusting my stuff. I don't know about that, especially
coming in from like first base or the outfield.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Just do Hey, we have you seen it in the past, man,
That's right. It's two way for him yesterday to quality pitches,
cross count when needed. What are we talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
We got we got the game, we got pictures pinch running,
and we got position players pitching. Hey, I love it.
I trust them with the ball.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
There you go. Come on, guys, we appreciate you joining
us here on the show. Thanks for being here. We'll
see you down the road.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
That's Ryan Schwartz. He's Carson Hanson for Darren Williams. I'm
Darren Hedrick. We'll get you next time. Right here on
behind Kentucky Baseball. This is the UK Sports Network,
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