Q and A with Andrew Nardi

Q: What was your initial reaction to being selected in the draft by such an esteemed organization such as the Yankees?

A: I was on my way back from a baseball trip, and I got a call from the Giants, and they made some offers. I was like eh, okay, I guess. Then once I got to the house my phone just started blowing up, and I thought the Giants drafted me, but it ended up being the Yankees. So it was really cool, I was kind of speechless, and I knew it was a good opportunity.

Q: How would you describe your work ethic and the assets you possess to help this ball club be successful?

A: You know, I would say you can’t put anybody down, and you got to do your job and let it play out, honestly. Because in baseball you don’t know what will happen, so you just have to vibe it.

Q: What would you say your best and worst pitching approach is when you take the mound?

A: Well when you’re up there you definitely can’t let yourself keep thinking about the last pitch. Basically, you have to look through the front windshield, and you can’t look back at what you could’ve done better because that pitch is already done. You have to look forward to the next pitch. One pitch, I think, if I were in a 3-2 count after a couple of fastballs that kept getting fouled off then I would definitely go to a changeup.

Q: Could you give us a scouting report on yourself?

A: Mostly two-seam fastballs, I would pitch 88-90, and I got it to 92 mph. For changeups, I think they were 14 mph slower than my fastball. It has a lot of runs, which was great. I am very lanky, but it looks very natural when the ball comes out. I can hold the runners very well, my stuff is electric, and I’m very fast. I don’t know if that’s a good thing, but that’s all I can think of at the moment.

Q: Who was your favorite player or your biggest influence as a pitcher growing up?

A: Clayton Kershaw.

Q: How would you describe your progression as a player going through high school, to your short time in college, and now to a major league setting?

A: Well through High School, I had a little bit of trouble. I was just kind of very weak; my arm would get hurt a little bit quite often. In High School I was up to 89-91, then I had an elbow problem. My senior year I only had a couple of starts, and I only had 60 innings of pitching, basically. So I didn’t really play my senior year. But then once I got to Ventura I met a guy named Austin Rubick, and he told me about his story. He kind of had a rough time. Basically, he didn’t have a great, I don’t know how to say it, he didn’t have the best of luck, but he knew what he was talking about. He literally picked me out of the 50 pitchers basically and just helped me out only. He went through every little mechanic and fixed and polished me up. And it was a really good thing, it was just spot on last season at Ventura, and it just worked out perfectly for me.