Down On The Farm With Will Banfield
I was able to meet up and interview Will Banfield recently, the Miami Marlins second round pick in 2018. He was the 3rd high school catcher selected, and he was considered one of, if not the best, defensive catchers in his draft class. He was a member of Team USA during his time as an amateur, and he caught plenty of talented young pitchers – like the College World Series Most Outstanding Player Kumar Rocker, and 1st Rounder for the Cleveland Indians Ethan Hankins – while growing up in Georgia.
James Weisser: Who is your favorite baseball player to watch?
Will Banfield: I would say probably Yadier Molina. Since we both are catchers I really like watching him. I enjoy doing some of the same things he does he like throwing a lot, back picking guys a lot. I like how he handles his business. I like how he’s able to throw from his knees and so there are a lot of things I like about his game that I try to implement.
JW: What got you interested in the game of baseball?
WB: I started playing baseball when I was 4. It was just fun playing sports as a kid I would also play football, but as I got older I started liking baseball more and more. I loved playing in the dirt and getting dirty even though I’m clean and one of the cleaner people you’d meet I just enjoy the hard work and grit that goes into catching.
JW: What’s your favorite thing about the game of baseball?
WB: I like every part of it. The grind of it, having to work hard towards something everyday. Nothing is really given to you in baseball. If you want something in baseball, you have to really want it and want it more than everybody else every single day you step out onto the field, whether it be to win, compete against a pitcher and get either a walk or a hit, and do every little thing it takes to win. I love that aspect of the game. I also love late inning situations where it’s the bottom of the ninth and you or your teammates have to come up and succeed in order to win the game, it’s fun, especially if it’s a walk off where everybody comes out and makes a nice big dog pile.
JW: I got a chance to watch one of your teammates Kumar Rocker win at the College World Series and see all the Vanderbilt guys make a nice dog pile when I was in Omaha. What was it like playing with Kumar Rocker and watching Vanderbilt win?
WB: It was awesome. I was so happy to see that. I was committed to Vanderbilt like Kumar was. I’ve caught Kumar Rocker quite a bit over the last three years because we were on the same travel team and we played together for Team USA, and at the Under Armour All-America, and Perfect Game All-America events. It was really cool to see one of my good friends and a guy that I loved to catch and play with succeed like that.
JW: What inspires you to do your best?
WB: My family and my faith. God has a plan for everyone. My mom has always been there for me since I was little, through the good and the bad. She’s one of the people I talk to the most whether I’m dealing with adversity or having success, she is one of the first people I call, and she helps me to stay balanced. She’s my rock, she’s my everything.
JW: What’s your favorite movie?
WB: I’m a really big fan of the Joker from Batman so I’m not sure if I really have a favorite movie, but he’s my favorite character. I love his demeanor and I’ve always enjoyed watching him.
JW: What’s your favorite food?
WB: Salmon, whether it be for lunch or dinner, I love Salmon, I could probably eat it every single day.
JW: What’s your favorite type of music?
WB: I’m really into rap. I listen to some country. I like rap and hip hop more because it helps get me pumped up for the game.
JW: What do you like to do outside of Baseball?
WB: I really like spending time with my family. My brother plays Lacrosse so I like playing catch with him. I like hanging out with my sister and my mom, and the dogs at home. I also like hanging out with my friends, and I love going back home and seeing people that I haven’t seen in a long time like my buddy Kyle Ross. I also like hanging out with some of my buddies inside the game of baseball like Brice Turang and Kumar Rocker.
JW: If you could have any super hero power what would it be?
WB: That’s a hard one. I get motion sickness so I don’t really like going on roller coasters or flying on planes but I still think it would be pretty cool to be able to fly.
