Down On The Farm With Matthew Liberatore
I was able to meet up and interview Matthew Liberatore recently, the Tampa Bay Rays first round pick in 2018. He is considered to be the top prospect in the Midwest League according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, and was also considered to be the best high school pitching prospect in his draft class. He ranks among the top 50 prospects overall, and should continue to move up the list as he progresses throughout the minor leagues. Liberatore sits 90-94 mph with his fastball, and shows the ability to command the strike zone. Overtime, he should be able to develop his curveball, changeup, and slider into above average-to-plus pitches.
James Weisser: Who is one of your favorite players to watch?
Matthew Liberatore: I had a few different favorite players growing up but I would definitely say Derek Jeter because of his stature and the way he carried himself on the field, but also off the field; the things he did, a lot of charitable work. I also like Marcus Stroman because I enjoy watching the passion and emotion that he plays with. It drove me to go out there and try and pitch the same way. I also like Clayton Kershaw, Aroldis Chapman, and Max Scherzer because they all have very intense passion for the game, are perfectionists, and guys who are the best at what they do. Those are the type of guys that I try to emulate my game after.
JW: What’s your favorite thing about the game of baseball?
ML: The competitiveness. I love going out there and competing, whether it’s pitching in a game or playing ping pong. I’m a super competitive person and so I love the competitive side of the game and the mental battle that goes on between the pitcher and the hitter between every pitch.
JW: What got you interested in the game of baseball?
ML: When I was really young, like 3 years old, my dad had me try every sport for a season. When I was 4 or 5 years old my dad got me a Nintendo Gamecube and I got a bunch of games with it and one of the games was MVP Baseball 2004. I just started playing it and I began learning defensive rotations and where you’re supposed to be if a ground ball gets hit to first base and things like that. I started to have a love for the game of baseball and being out there and knowing what to do, knowing where to be, and just throwing a baseball.
JW: What inspires you to do your best?
ML: I have a drive to be the best at whatever it is I do, whether it’s baseball or school, playing ping pong or fortnite. I think it’s my competitive nature – I’m going to go out there and do the best I can every single day.
JW: I know that another one of the top prospects that has come through the Midwest League this year is a good friend of yours, Nolan Gorman (St. Louis Cardinals), could you tell me a little more about your friendship with him?
ML: We played on the same coach pitch team when we were 5 years old and we’ve been friends ever since then. Being able to play with him and against him all throughout high school and middle school, and even now into pro ball has been really cool. We were just snapchatting this morning about some things. We have the type of relationship where we might not talk for a year but when we see each other we’re so close that we just pick up right where we left off. It’s awesome having him as a friend.
JW: What’s your favorite food?
ML: I would probably say pasta. I come from an Italian background so we (my family) go over to my grandmas house and we have dinner every Sunday, and she usually makes a really good pasta dish. I love that.
JW: What’s your favorite kind of music?
ML: I like almost everything so it kind of depends on my mood. I like hip hop, rap, reggae, country, I don’t really listen to any type of classical music, but I listen to a pretty good variety of everything.
JW: What are some of your interests outside of baseball?
ML: I love to play Fortnite. I’ve been playing it a lot during my downtime right now because there isn’t a whole lot to do in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I also enjoy playing ping pong and doing things outdoors like camping and fishing, I plan on doing more outdoor activities this off-season. I really enjoy camping and fishing.
JW: If you could be any superhero or have any superpower what might that be?
ML: I think I would choose Superman because he can fly, he has x-ray vision, and super strength. I think the superpower would be to be able to mind read and know what other people are thinking when I’m talking to them.
