Me and Pat at TwinsFest 2008

For those of you who don’t know Pat Neshek, he is the set-up man for the Minnesota Twins who is out for the 2009 season after Tommy John surgery. Through 121 career appearances, he has a 2.91 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 142 Ks in 120.2 IP.  He was kind enough to interview with MLBtoday.net so the fans can get a closer look at Pat Neshek. 

Without further adieu…

MLBtoday.net: When did you realize, “Hey, I could be a Major League Baseball player”?

Pat Neshek:I always had it in the back of my head I could maybe play up there (the Majors) and I would give a go at it, but when I knew in my heart it was in 2005 playing in double-A.  I knew I would be able to pitch up there and do well.  It’s a great feeling to have.

MLBtoday.net: Besides Butler, who else was recruiting you out of HS? What made you choose Butler in the end?

PN:Butler was the first school to recruit me; actually my very first letter was from Hamline University, Butler came the next day.  The next schools to contact me before the first signing period were Creighton, Iowa State and Northern Iowa.  There were others but that is where I made trips to. I went to visit these schools because they were Division-1.

Iowa State seemed like a joke to me because the coach, Lyle Smith, seemed like a big talker.  I kind of saw right through him, one of those situations where he said we’ll give you a scholarship but we have the right to take that away. I knew that program was doomed and one year later they dropped the baseball program. 

Northern Iowa was pretty cool because I liked the school a lot but the baseball team just didn’t seem like a fun place to play, they had to drive 20 minutes just to get to the field. It came down to Creighton and Butler. 

I didn’t like the whole religious feel of Creighton but they had a better baseball program.  I also hated the student life there; it seemed like a concrete jungle there and didn’t seem like a fun place to spend 3 years of my life.  So I went to Butler and loved the student life, loved the baseball team and had a scholarship offer that was the same Creighton’s offer, full tuition. Steve Farley, the coach, told me that I would walk right into starting games my freshman year and would not be redshirted.  Right there I was sold, and man, I pitched 70 innings my freshman year…that’s a ton.

MLBtoday.net: Due to an arm injury, you began throwing sidearm in college; did that increase/decrease your velocity and did you see more/less movement on your pitches?

PN: I’m not sure how hard I would throw over the top now if I never switched but I would imagine it would be a little bit harder. I definitely had a ton more movement throwing sidearm and my slider turned into an excellent pitch.

MLBtoday.net: I’ve heard that some pitching coaches recognize an opportunity for a player to pitch sidearm and run with it. Did you have the option to throw over the top again, or was pitching sidearm part of the plan?

PN: You always have the options to switch, but I never really struggled throwing from the side so I never even thought about going back. I don’t think I could switch my arm angle, it would be extremely odd if I tried to throw overhand now.

MLBtoday.net: How long did it take you to advance from Single-A to Triple-A?

PN:I started Low A in 2003, had a lot of success and was promoted to High A in June of 2003. I spent a month in High A and was promoted again to double-A. Each level was a shock to me because I couldn’t believe the talent I was facing, guys were really, really good. That fall I played in the Arizona Fall league, I was scheduled to go to instructional league but Jesse Crain made Team USA and they needed a fill in for the Arizona Fall League. I did really good out there but gave up a grand slam to Ernie Young near the end of the league. Only throwing 13 innings and giving up a granny took a toll on my ERA, and I felt it set me back big-time in being seen as a prospect.

That next season I started off in double-A, but for some reason the coaches didn’t use me and had me as a mop up guy. I never understood why they did this to me and by July I only had 35 innings or something like that. I questioned them one day and the next day I was back in High A. This really pissed me off and I made it a point to dominate in double-A that next season. Sure enough I had a breakthrough year and that next season started off in triple-A.

MLBtoday.net: Personally, was there a big difference in getting hitters out in college compared to each level of baseball, all the way up to the Majors?

PN: Yeah, in college you get a ton of slap hitters and contact hitters; slap hitters don’t really last the higher you go in the minors.  I’ve always hated pitching against these guys and was relieved when they started getting released and weren’t around. I never understood why they don’t make it to the Majors.  I think college ball compares a lot to Rookie ball and Low A, after that the game is a lot better than college.

MLBtoday.net: What was the hardest part for you adjusting to Major League hitters?

PN: Seeing the same hitters every time you pitch; you can go out one night and make a guy look silly at the plate, but it doesn’t mean much because you have to face him again the next night and he’s ready to rip your head off.  There have been times where we played a three game set and I faced the same hitter three nights in a row.  I mean how the heck do you fool a guy you faced 10 times in one season?  You really have to pitch your game and stick to a plan.

MLBtoday.net: As a middle reliever/set up man, is your goal to become a major league closer, or continue to succeed at a niche you have mastered?

PN: I think those roles are overrated, it’s easy to say because I’ve never been a closer but coming up in the minors I always thought the closer job was the easiest because if you get rocked the most runs you can give up its whatever it takes to give up the lead on the road. I think you have to earn being a closer and that usually starts by striking a lot of guys out, having a low WHIP and being trusted by your manager.  You have to grow into that role.  For me, it’s not a goal but something I think I will do someday just because I have goals for high strike outs, a low WHIP and getting guys out in tough situations. I really don’t care what role I have on the field and that is the honest truth.

MLBtoday.net: Who do you like facing the most?  Who do you hate facing the most?  Favorite ballpark to pitch in?  Least favorite?

PN:Power right-handed hitters. Contact hitters. Metrodome. Old Yankee Stadium.

MLBtoday.net: On your website you have your collection of autographs; while you were younger, did you go to a lot of baseball/hockey games to get your autographs in person?

PN: I really didn’t do any autographing in high school. In college, my roommate got me into autographs and got me addicted. We graphed a lot of triple-A Indianapolis Indians games and were amazed at the talent that would come in each night.  I wish Minnesota had a minor league team, there’s nothing else like it.

MLBtoday.net: How is the rehab progressing?

PN: As planned, and my arm feels the best it has in a long time. I can’t wait to get back on the field.

MLBtoday.net: What do you think of blogging?

It’s been an excellent way to interact with any fan that wants to get in touch with me. I never thought it would get to where it is now and I am proud of the things that not only I created but my fans helped create.

We would like to thank Pat Neshek for his time and contribution to MLBtoday.net.  Check out Pat’s blog at www.patneshek.com or through our Favorite Links.  We thank you Pat for giving back to the fans and good luck on your comeback to the Majors.  If you have any questions for Pat for a future interview, post and let us know!