The Defensive Specialist catches up with Allan De San Miguel

The Deep in the Hole Player Blogs have been immensely popular thus far and it has been a real treat to get an insight into the day to day life of college baseball players in the United States. Today, something a little different, our first professional blog! Allan De San Miguel, a catcher in the Minnesota Twins organisation has taken the time to put aside the shin guards and sit down with the Defensive Specialist to answer some key questions.

Allan played at 4 levels in 2009 within the Twins minor league system and this year finds himself at the AAA level, playing on the Rochester Red Wings. Here’s what he had to say: 

• Last year at age 21 you played at 4 levels. A, A+, AA, AAA. What are some of the adjustments you had to make at each level?

Last year was a crazy year for me moving up and down the system. Over the last few year I’ve primarily been a backup catcher for our top prospect Ramos, so last year was more moving around to back up guys in our system in AA, AAA and got more at bats in A ball. The adjustments I had to make was just getting to know the pitching staff in every level on my team. Understanding what they can do, what they like to do and their tendencies. As for hitting, not much changed just gear up for fastballs and be ready for it.

• How do things differ at each level from a playing perspective?

As you move up each level everyone gets better. Hitters are harder to pitch to – smarter, patient and a lot more mature. Pitchers on the other hand - the ball is never straight, always moving either sinkers, cutters etc. Guys throw a lot more off-speed for strikes and can throw it whenever they want and the speed of the game moves along a lot quicker as you move up.

• How are things different off the field at each level (i.e. travel, facilities, ball parks)?

At the lower levels you play in average stadiums with really average clubhouses and the worse thing overall - you don’t get spreads before and after the game in A ball so you have to fend for yourself. A lot of long bus trips in A ball too!. Once you get to AA you get spreads before and after the game so that makes things easier and the facilities are pretty good, still have plenty of long bus trips! In AAA we fly to a lot of places but still bus it from time to time. Some fields are awesome, really nice.

• As you progress through levels how does the pitching change (from a catching perspective and a hitters perspective)?

From a catching perspective you have to learn the hitters straight away and have to remember how to get them out. Moving up the levels, pitchers have to throw the off-speed pitches for strikes in any count, locating pitches - spotting up more. As for hitting, like I said before I just want to jump on the fastball get my licks in because I’m a back up catcher here in the Twins system so when I do get in there I’m gonna be hacking! The guys pitching are a lot smarter when you move up, throwing back door curveballs and sliders and throwing change ups in offensive counts.

• As a catcher, what sort of preparation do you do with pitchers prior to their starts in readiness for each line up?

When I get to the field I’ll check and see if I’m in the line up. If so then I’ll go check the stats book. There will be one on the table everyday when you get there, updated every day on stats from the other team. I’ll check stolen bases, walks to strike outs, homeruns and doubles just to get a feel on who has been doing what during the season, who’s hot and not. Then before the pitcher goes out we will talk about how to pitch to every guy and what to do in certain situations then go out there, stretch, catch his bullpen and start the game.

• Your reputation is as a solid defender. What percentage of your time goes into catching and hitting?

I would say probably 70 percent catching 30 percent hitting

• You’re not always in the starting line up, how tough is it to adjust to coming off the bench?

I’ve gotten used to it over the last few years. Earlier in my career I got frustrated a lot and didn’t take it that well. Now I’ve gotten used to it more, I relax and go out and have fun. Like many people have said to me I’m projected to be a back up catcher in the bigs.

• You have Charlie Zink on your roster- a knuckleballer. How do you go about catching a knuckleball?

Get a bigger glove, squat side on to the pitcher, let the ball dance and be as patient to as you can - don’t stab and snatch at the ball.

• Best pitcher you have caught and why?

Johan Santana. He’s a Cy Young winner and he’s got a filthy change up.

• Toughest pitcher you’ve hit against and why?

Probably Charlie Zink the knuckleballer you just never know what you’re going to get.

• Can you describe a typical day for a professional player at the AAA level?

Wake up, get some breakfast, go to the field around 1 or 2. If I’m not in the line up I’ll work out at the field, then that take some bp, do an infield- outfield and play. Really laidback - if you want extra hitting you go and do it on your own, noone tells you that you have to do this or that. After bp and infield, we come back in, get some food and go and play. After the game have some dinner at the field and that’s your day.

• Can you explain how clubhouse dues work?

Club house dues - you pay 12 dollars a day and you get food spreads before and after the game and fruit and snacks - whatever you need they got it.

• Catcher is a physically demanding position. What sort of workout program do you adhere to?

A lot of body weight stuff. Lots of squats, push ups and chin ups. A lot of the work comes in the off-season to get your body through the season.

• How do you deal with nutrition on a minor league salary?

Well we get fed pretty well up here in AAA - good food before the game, cold meats, fruits and nutrient bars - they got it all up here. After the game we have good dinners that change from night to night. In ‘A’ ball different story! Get none of this, bring your own food to the game and after the game got to go out and eat somewhere, it gets really tough.

• Favourite minor league promotion?

That’s a tough one. Bird Zerk always puts on a great show, I’ve seen him do a lot of funny stuff so I think that would have to be my favourite

• Favourite minor league ballpark and why?

Don’t really know, I have a few. Dayton Ohio was pretty cool with a huge dragon in center field, if you hit a homerun a loud ass siren goes off and it fires out smoke everywhere! Another park is Durham - yes Bull Durham was one of my favourites - a big blue monster in left field with the bull on top.

• How do you see the new ABL helping your career as a professional baseballer?

Will be great, get plenty more at bats for myself as I don’t get 500 at bats here in the season like other starters do. I think it will be great to play more games, it’s the only way to get better.

• Do you think American pros would be interested in playing offseason baseball in the ABL?

Most definitely. I have talked to a few guys and they would love the chance to come down under and play

• What challenges do you see for the ABL?

A lot of things, where do I start? Facilities - need proper ball parks to play at . From a personal experience, playing in Campbelltown this year and getting drilled in the head with no batters eye - that cannot happen. We need the fans so huge promotions. Salaries. Travelling, especially for us Perth boys - we got screwed around a lot last year not being able to fly the red eye flight we would have to fly in the morning get to whereever and go straight to the field, I think that’s bullshit just because they want to save a few dollars. 

• How will the ABL affect Australian baseball in your opinion?

I think it could be the best thing they have done. I remember when I was a little kid going to Heat games and I loved it. We need to get off on the right foot because this might be our last chance for baseball to really take off in this country again.

• Have you ever told a pitcher to “Hit the Mascot”?

No, sorry.

Ok, so it was a little disappointing that Allan had never instructed one of his pitchers to dose the mascot in true Bull Durham fashion, but aside from that it was a fantastic insight into the world of a minor league catcher – and one who experienced a broad array of baseball in just one year. Many thanks to Allan for taking time out of his schedule to let the Defensive Specialist pick his brain.