We’re still a few weeks away from the first day of winter, but without being technical, this is the first installment of winter updates on minor league players. Plus, Rays Maxx Tissenbaum checks in from Australia and talks about his winter job- playing baseball.
So here’s a roundup of some guys talking about what they’re doing this off-season.
Lance Durham
For Lance 'Bull' Durham, baseball is the family business. That extends to the off-season.
Durham, the son of former big leaguer Leon, works with his father at a hitting school he’s run since 2004 in Cincinnati. The younger Durham said they have around 50 clients ranging up to college age.
“We basically give one on one hitting lessons to kids from ages 7 to 18. My dad handles most of the older guys. He has some college clients also. And we usually have a 2 hour clinic on Sunday's with the younger kids and it's about 10 of them.”
Durham, 26, was drafted in the 14th round by the Blue Jays in 2009, signed with the Tigers in 2012 as a free agent. He played all of 2014 in High-A Florida State League, primarily as a DH, and hit .221/.304/.315 106 games.
He’s also a new dad, so the winter job is important to his new family. The schedule is tailor-made for those responsibilities.
“It's perfect because I make my own hours and I'm able to be there for my girlfriend and able to get my off season work outs in. It works perfectly.”
Twitter @LanceBullDurham
Instagram @lancebulldurham
Matt Shortall Phillies
When the baseball off-season rolls in, Matt Shortall doesn’t have a job, but a career.
As a Brand Specialist at DNA PR he has a unique role-reversal position in the world of social media and public relations.
“It’s a boutique Public Relations firm that serves "social media personalities" and stores, boutiques, micro-brands,” he said. “I basically work to help develop these brands identities and help them with their social media accounts.”
His other duties include finding new clients and personalities and reaching out to companies in order to receive endorsements. In today’s social media driven world, athletes are building their own self-brand, particularly minor leaguers looking to get their name more well-known. His interest began in college (“I was really involved at my university building an online presence for our team”), and acknowledges that the social media life suits him in both of his careers.
“I'm a bit of a socialite.”
The left fielder hails from Dallas, Texas, and was drafted in the 10th round in 2014 by the Phillies out of Texas-Arlington. He spent all of 2014 with the Short-A Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York Penn League. In 26 games he had 24 hits, with 11 RBI, and 3 home runs.
Twitter @mattshortall
Christian Knott (Rays)
Tampa Bay Rays 2014 draftee Knott (34th round) stayed close to home, and baseball, in his winter venture. He was born in Somers Point New Jersey, and lives in nearby Egg Harbor Township where he grew up, and that’s where he’s coaching this off-season.
“I’ve been coaching a 16u AAU and also giving hitting lessons,” he said. “That, along with my experience playing professional baseball has really allowed me to enjoy this job and be able to help youth to the best of my ability.”
The outfielder played in 39 games for the GCL Rays, finishing the season hitting .248/.362/.384.
Twitter: @Knott_21
Maxx Tissenbaum (Rays)
Tissenbaum recently talked to this blog about heading to Australia to play in the ABL, and in this update he says he’s enjoying the experience, while getting the most out of the extra work.
“The schedule is basically weekends only for games so we've had some time to get out and see different places,” he said. “We're going up to the Great Barrier Reef this weekend because we have a bye week.”
That sounds pretty great, right? Keep in mind that the job of baseball and opportunities to make an impression can quickly slip away. Going to warm locations for extra playing time has perks, but the decision is also survival mode. Tissenbaum, who majored in business at SUNY Stony Brook, has done the regular job circuit as well.
“It’s definitely better than being completely off for the winter. I like the way that the schedule is set up, because it still allows us to have some time away, while also getting to play which is nice. I've had an office job with a company called Splash International Marketing the last few winters, which was great in terms of gaining real work experience, but nothing compares to playing down here experience wise. We have plenty of time to recover and stay rested, and not getting run into the ground.”
As for the results, he’s already seeing the benefit of extending the season.
“It's been a little of everything. Catching three and four games a week gives me the opportunity to receive another 500 pitches a week and work or all the hand actions and receiving moves that are important. I've done a lot of work on my blocking, and throwing, and I'm starting to see all of it really coming out in games. My times to second are going down, my drops are down and missed blocks are down too I think. It's just overall starting to become cleaner as a defensive catcher.”
Drafted by the Padres in 2012, he was traded to the Rays in January of 2014. He was assigned to High-A Charlotte where he had 96 hits and knocked in 51 runs.
Twitter: @8_Maxx
Adam Lopez (White Sox)
Lopez is also going the coaching route this winter, working with former major league hitting coach and minor league hitting coordinator Gregg Ritchie (White Sox, Pirates).
“I am pretty fortunate that I get to work for a former big league hitting coach who runs a 3 month long hitting clinic. I work 5 nights a week giving instruction for 4 hours a night during the week and 6 during the weekend. So lucky that it's something I enjoy, it lasts nearly the entire off season.”
The RHP was drafted by the White Sox in 2012 (21st round), and spent parts of 2014 in rookie league and High-A Carolina after tearing his ACL the year before. After all that, working in baseball must’ve sounded like a great idea this winter.
And, he points out, ultimately there’s that whole bottom line.
“It pays well. In two weeks I make 660 dollars, which is more than I would make in a season.”
Twitter: @Lopezillaaa