Matt Marsh is a young pitcher in the New York Yankees system. Since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2014, Marsh has pitched for the team in Rookie ball and across two levels of single A.
I sat down with Matt a couple of weeks ago in the DC area, where he’s spending the winter training and working as a baseball instructor, to talk with him about life in the minor leagues, developing as a ballplayer in the Yankee system, and much more.
In order to cover as many topics as possible (Matt’s a really interesting guy), I’ve decided to split our conversation into a couple parts and publish them separately. Here are some highlights from my conversation with the starting pitcher working through the low minor leagues about his journey to the Yankees, coaching, and teamwork in the minors.
On expectations after signing as a free agent:
“Honestly, I had no clue what was going to happen. It was a grind starting out because I went from college having a couple thousand fans to playing in the GCL in Tampa” with just a few fans in the seats.
Matt was a catcher in high school, but had transitioned to a full time pitcher in Junior College and College and was used to a few thousand fans per game. Matt had expected to be drafted in the Amateur draft but his spotted medical history, which includes two elbow surgeries, kept him off the board.
After signing and reporting to Spring Training with Yankees in 2014, Matt got hurt on the very first day: “It really takes some mental toughness to get through that for sure.”
On Minor League Spring training:
“You got the minor league guys and the big league guys across the street over at Steinbrenner (Field). You’ll have guys go over back and forth… you have some guys come in, like CC (Sabathia) will come in and get some innings in. (Mark) Teixeira will come get some ABs. That was a cool experience to be able to be around those guys.”
On the coaching he gets in the Yankee system:
“Its completely different (than in college). I feel like its way more personable in pro ball. Which is…. In college its ‘yes sir, no sir, yes coach’ (but in) pro ball its more personable, they’re there for you. They let you know that. There’s a lot more staff than college… you have 30 or 40 guys around during Spring Training. “
“It’s a lot more hands off, you have to do a lot more self-coaching in pro ball as you go up.”
“The biggest difference in pro ball is the analytics, the data, the spray charts. Everything is just documented. Its all right there at your disposal, it all goes right there into this data base. You’re watching video after every outing with your pitching coach, one on one. You’re sitting down, you’re analyzing stuff. You’re talking about what you are thinking in this count… I mean, it’s a lot more in depth”
“I think its huge (for player development). Its huge for them to break it down like they do. The amount of information you have access to is unbelievable. Its amazing how the game advances as you go on. I’m trying to be a sponge. You think you know it all and you get thrown into pro ball and it’s a whole other level.”
On the biggest difference about playing for the Yankees, as opposed to any other team:
“The discipline. A lot more is expected of you when you’re a Yankee. Clean shaven look, professionalism. They ask a lot more out of you off the field and on the field as far as just being a professional.”
“They’ll bring in a guy for a couple weeks to talk with the pitchers, talk with the hitters. Like Reggie Jackson, he shows up when we’re playing Nashville and here you are with Mr. October and he’s taking the prospects under his wig, kind of working with them and going over some stuff with them. Its pretty cool.”
On balancing the team goals and personal advancement through the minors.
“You don’t get camaraderie because guys are moving up and down constantly.
That takes the enjoyment out a little, but you need the team mind set. You get evaluated on your abilities as a teammate, if you are a team guy, what kind of teammate you are. That comes in to play with your make up. Should be something that’s important and can help weed out guys.
“Yeah you want to win, you definitely want to win. I wouldn’t say it’s the same as when you’re in college when you’re spending that whole fall and the grind and you’re with the same team all year from start to finish. But I feel like that’s important to be successful in the minor leagues, still try to make it a team thing, still try to make it about winning and being competitive and doing it for the enjoyment….. otherwise you’ll drive your self crazy.”
On not being a first round pick:
“It’s a business and you got to know that, so the guys that don’t have the money invested in them they’re fighting and uphill battle. …. But its expected, they’ve got a million dollars invested in this guy, they’ve got 2 grand invested in this guy, well it is what it is. It’s a business.”
“It’s definitely a lot more sacrifice, you know, for life in general for a guy that’s making $10 thousand dollars a year and trying to get buy compared to a guys that’s sitting on a million dollars. It’s a lot tougher for the guys that are fighting the minor league struggle.”
On teammates to watch:
“Some of the 18, 19 year olds are really impressive. Particularly Angel Aguilar, he’s got a lot of pop.”
“Jorge Mateo is a speedy guy, one of the speedier guys I’ve ever played with.”
“I really like Vince Conde, he was one of my favorite guys that we had. Just plays hard, makes all the routine plays. He’s kind of an under the radar guys. He’s a very baseball savvy individual. “
On any opponents to look out for:
“(The Mets’) Michael Conforto hit a double to the gap off me.”
In part 2, Matt will talk a little more about life in the minors, from sharing a 2 bedroom apartment with 5 teammates to eating out on the road, and his thoughts on player safety. Watch for part 2 in the next couple days.
-Max Frankel
