Tyler Naquin was chosen first by the Cleveland Indians in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.  Naquin excelled at Texas A & M and earned the distinction to be chosen so high.  A humble student of the game, Naquin always signs autographs whether he had an 0-5 night or hit well.  His maturity and his poise may be his greatest asset at this early level of his career, but what seems to make him special is how humble he remains.

Paneech:  Playing at Texas A & M, did you develop a way to communicate with Spanish-speaking teammates that may help you converse with the Scrappers who don’t speak good English?

Naquin:  To be honest, we only had one Domincan and one Spanish kid on my team, so I really wasn’t around it.  At College Station, there are a lot of students but I wasn’t around that problem much.  Here, you start understanding what they are saying to you  and find ways.  The communication has not been as big of a problem as I thought it may have been.

Paneech:  From personal observance, I see national separation, the Dominicans kind of stick together and the college players stick together.  Is this something that you think goes away after a couple of years of being so tightly intertwined?

Naquin:  I believe it get easier.  We are starting to understand each other and there is effort on both sides to close that gap.  They want to learn our language and we want to learn as much as we can about their language.  We are coaching and teaching each other as much as we can.

 

Paneech:  I noticed in your last few games, a real effort to hit the ball into left field, not an easy task for a left-handed batter.   Is that something the Indians are asking you to get better with or are you just taking an outside pitch that way?

Naquin:  I just hit what I am given.  If they keep pitching me outside, I will keep taking the ball to left.  If they want to come in, I can pull it, but I have been seeing a lot of outside pitches.  Pitchers like to live on the outside corner, but I like pitches from the middle of the plate out.

Paneech:  I have seen you throw out a couple of runners at home plate.  Is your arm your best attribute as a pro so far?

Naquin:  I try to show it when I can, but I think that hitting is still my best quality.  It definitely helps swing the momentum and you could win a game by a run because of a good defensive play.  It is something I take a lot of pride in, trying to throw the ball long, hard, and flat.

Paneech:  You are very close with your family.  How hard is it to be divided from that lifestyle you grew up with?

Naquin:  It is tough in a way, but my love for my family and my girlfriend are unconditional.  They have all made their way up here when they could.  At first, it is odd, but I know that they will all be home waiting on me.  They understand that I have to do this and that this is a job now.

Paneech:  What is the best advice you have gotten so far at this level?

Naquin:  Just to take it one day at a time and to be patient.  Everyone wants to hit.300 or .350, but you will always have the next day.  You are going to wake up the next day and hit again.  It’s a grind here though.  You really have to take care of your body and get enough sleep.

Paneech:  I see you in the dugout and it looks like you are genuinely having a good time.  Comment on the experiences that make this fun.

Naquin:  I am getting a lot of money to play this game, how could you not have fun?  I don’t want to sit behind a desk for 45 years, I would much rather be doing this.  My family, my girlfriend, and my friends are really enjoying watching me.  Money comes and goes, that is an accolade of putting in the hard work.  God has put me in this position and given me the opportunity.

Paneech:  Because you grew up in Texas, were you a Jeff Bagwell fan growing up?  Who did you watch and emulate?

Naquin:  I had a Ken Griffey Jr. jersey,and I liked [Josh] Hamilton, [Craig] Biggio and Bagwell, but in maybe a selfish way I was different.  If I went to a big league game I could care less about getting an autograph.  Even though I was only 13 or 14 years old, I knew I wanted to be that guy, not chasing autographs but rather signing them.  I definitely look up to those guys, but the flame and drive I have is to be better than they were.

Paneech:  You are that guy in a way now.  Kids are screaming your name for autographs already.  Is the same kid asking you for a bat every night getting old?

Naquin:  If it makes a kids day to get a Tyler Naquin autograph, then I am going to sign his baseball.  You live everyday as the best person you can be and put yourself in favorable situations.  I like seeing a kid smile and I will continue to sign as long as I am playing.  It is the right thing to do.  Good fans will carry you a long way and Joe [Wendle] and Charlie [Valerio] are that way too.

Paneech:  Are you superstitious?

Naquin:  I am superstitious.  It is all about feeling good.  My dad always tells me if you look good and feel good, you are going to play good.  One of my things is brushing my teeth.  I have to brush my teeth before every game.  I have a little routine where I have to take an extra swing in the batters box.  It helps me time the pitcher.  I like to level the dirt in he batters box.

One Word Answers

Favorite Meal of The Day:  Dinner.

Fast Food Order:  Taco Bell ~~Bean burrito, no onions, a double decker, two crunchy tacos, and Mountain Dew.

Best Movie Ever Made?  Talladega Nights.

Biggest Phobia:  Snakes.

Worst Habit:  Forgetting Stuff.

Song No One Would Believe Is On Your ipod: Fergilicious.

What Sport If Not Baseball?  Probably football.

If there were no sports, what would you do?  I would be a rancher.  I like to breed animals and genetics.  My girlfriend is passionate about horses, so I would try to put something together on a big piece of property.