Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: Welcome to this episode of Hustle and Pro. We have a quick baseball episode for you today as we are at Writers Field talking to Frisco Rough Riders pitcher Ben Anderson. Enjoy this episode.
We've got right handed pitcher Ben Anderson returning.
[00:00:20] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:00:21] Speaker A: So what'd you do this offseason? What was your off season looking like?
[00:00:24] Speaker B: It was. It was a nice offseason.
Was able to spend some time with my longtime girlfriend and my family.
Had a lot of family events going on and then just get to work. Same stuff that I've been trying to do the past few off seasons. Just build some consistency into my routine and the work that I like to do to prepare myself for the games and then, you know, excited to be back, returning here to Frisco for another great season.
[00:00:55] Speaker A: Yeah. Talked about building consistency. Were there any tools or pitches or things that you worked on specifically before? You know, here we are two days from opening day in Frisco.
[00:01:06] Speaker B: Yeah. Last year, towards the end of the year, really worked on adding a cutter to my arsenal.
Just, you know, here with the Rangers, we believe in a lot of our pitching. Coaches believe in having a well developed arsenal and using that to your advantage.
So that was a pitch that I worked on a lot last year and into the off season as well that featured a little heavier in spring training than it has ever in the past.
And then just being a starting pitcher, you have to have a good routine to prepare yourself week in and week out.
And it starts by building that in the off season. So just being aware of that and staying focused on that.
[00:01:53] Speaker A: Yeah, you never really get. I mean, of course you're off baseball, but you're still in a physical routine to keep your. To keep your body ready all the time.
[00:02:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:02] Speaker A: I mean, do you ever get. Do you get a few weeks to just chill and not think about.
[00:02:05] Speaker B: Yeah, take a few weeks.
And then obviously there's a couple weeks that like pop up where, you know, had a couple weddings to go to and I want to have that time away.
I try to take that off in the off season as well. And not just only be thinking about baseball.
[00:02:21] Speaker A: Yeah. Good balance, right?
[00:02:23] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:24] Speaker A: You had a lot of movement within the Rangers organization in the 24 season.
Kind of back and forth. Right. So what do you see for yourself this season? Like, what do you.
Do you set a goal of how much you want to be here up to Round Rock, back and forth up to Arlington.
[00:02:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:41] Speaker A: You know, innings, everywhere.
[00:02:42] Speaker B: You know, it's. It's difficult. Obviously everyone's goal here is to play in the Major leagues.
I try not to put a timeline on anything. I don't think that that's beneficial to me.
You know, I had a pretty solid season here last year. My goal is to just try to do the same and let the rest take care of itself. I don't.
My goal for the season is to play at a higher level than in terms of, you know, AAA or the big leagues than I did this past year, but I don't have a timeline for that.
I'm just gonna enjoy my time here with these guys. We're gonna have a great group of guys, great coaching staff.
Just. Just gonna try to put in the work every day and let the rest take care of itself.
[00:03:29] Speaker A: Yeah, that timeline is not yours.
[00:03:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:31] Speaker A: It's not in your control. Right. You just, like you said, produce what you can, the best you can, and the rest will play itself out. Tell me about your. Your brother, your twin, Ian. Is he in la? Where's he gonna be?
[00:03:43] Speaker B: He's in la. He made his debut last night for the Angels.
It was his first game back in the big leagues in, like, over 900 days. So. Yeah, it was. It was cool to see.
[00:03:54] Speaker A: That's a big moment. Where were you? Were you watching from?
Able to watch.
[00:03:58] Speaker B: I didn't get to watch. I was checking the scores on ESPN and trying to stay updated, but following.
[00:04:04] Speaker A: As close as you can from being here. There's 900 days away. He was.
[00:04:10] Speaker B: Yeah, he had Tommy John surgery and had some AAA time last.
[00:04:18] Speaker A: Is he just behind you in that you had. You had surgery in. Yeah, 22.
[00:04:22] Speaker B: Yeah, so I had my surgery in 22.
He had his in spring training in 2023.
[00:04:29] Speaker A: So, yeah, it seems like it's not. I wonder if you go back and think of yourself, you know, your. Your young high school self and college self. Were you a college player?
[00:04:39] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:04:40] Speaker A: Yeah.
Do you guys now, seeing the patterns of. Of UCL injuries, like, do you think if it's a win, not an if now, or do you guys still try, you guys?
[00:04:53] Speaker B: No, it's. It's hard to say. I mean, it's a difficult process, and I would hate to put it in people's mind that it's a when and that they'll come out on the other side better. I mean, it's.
I wouldn't wish anyone to have to go through the process.
It's. It is something we take more for granted now, but it's still.
Still a lot of work.
[00:05:16] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, for sure.
[00:05:17] Speaker B: You come out the other side and you might not be the same pitcher. That you were before. And I try to not put. Put that into, like a category of it being a when.
[00:05:28] Speaker A: No, no.
[00:05:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:28] Speaker A: It's just so common. But that doesn't make the process easier.
[00:05:31] Speaker B: Right. Yeah, I would. I would think. I mean, we still are push a lot of arm care and shoulder care and just being open and honest with, you know, the training staff and strength and conditioning staff and pitching coaches and about what you're feeling. Yeah. And just try to prevent it at all costs.
[00:05:50] Speaker A: Still, for sure. What are you most looking forward to this year starting out here in Frisco?
[00:05:57] Speaker B: I just. I enjoy being around the guys every year. I think this is a great spot to just. I mean, the clubhouse is a good setup.
A lot of guys will be hanging around the clubhouse with, you know, the apartments right here and a lot of stuff to do around town.
It's just nice being around the guys. We have great coaches here that are also close with the players, and we have a good time. So mostly looking forward to that.
[00:06:23] Speaker A: And I'm sure you had a good experience as you being here last year, getting some exposure with guys from Rangers coming down and rehabbing back through here.
[00:06:31] Speaker B: Yeah, that's always an awesome experience, too.
You don't see a lot of major league rehabbers in low A and high A, so that was a really cool experience. Getting to see deGrom last year, sharing the clubhouse with him, stuff like that.
It's a good experience to have as a minor league player, so looking forward to more of that. I mean, don't want anybody to be injured, obviously, but it's fun to share the clubhouse with them, pick their brain and just talk about baseball and see how they go about their business.
[00:07:03] Speaker A: Yeah. Helps realign you, too, with some goals and motivations and things like that. See the next step right. Right in front of you.
[00:07:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:07:09] Speaker A: Awesome. Very good. Thanks for your time.
[00:07:10] Speaker B: Yeah, no problem.
[00:07:12] Speaker A: Thanks for joining us for this episode of Hustle and Pro. So subscribe on YouTube and check us out on Instagram and we'll see you next episode.
