Photograph from Richmond Times-Dispatch
In the baseball film The Sandlot, Smalls is the new kid on the block and decides to make friends with the neighborhood kids by joining their baseball game or as Smalls calls it - the "endless dream game." They did not keep score, pick sides, or even keep track of the innings; they just played forever. On that sandlot Smalls would learn that baseball was more than just a game.
As Smalls does in the beginning of the film, most kids learn how to play baseball from their fathers and usually begins with a backyard catch. Smalls resulted in a black and blue eye and mine resulted in a black and blue middle finger. Johnny Monell's story is no different except having a catch with your Dad has a slightly different meaning for him.
Monell's father played in the minor league system for seventeen years, chasing the dream of one day playing in the major leagues. Growing up, he found himself spending days at the ballpark with his dad and was immersed in everything baseball,
"At a very young age I was able to learn from him and his experiences. And now I'm doing the same thing. I like the way that I'm progressing through the system and it shows that hopefully, one day, I'll have the opportunity to play in the big leagues."
When he wasn't at the ballpark, he called the Bronx his home, also home to the New York Yankees. I asked him the obvious question of whether he was a Yankees fan or not and of course the answer was yes. Passed down from generation to generation, he was born into a Yankees family and that even includes his great-grandma. Although he may have dreamed of someday wearing navy pinstripes it's all about black and orange now.
Monell wasn't always a catcher. During his freshman year of high school he played centerfield and then transferred to Christopher Columbus High School. That summer he learned to catch and has been behind the plate ever since.
The San Francisco Giants actually drafted him twice, once in 2005 and then again in 2007 where he was chosen in the 30th round. He signed with the Giants in 2007 and has been in the organization ever since. Through hard work and determination, Monell has steadily progressed through the farm system and in 2011 was the starting catcher for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels.
In 2011, Monell batted .249 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs. He was named an EAS Mid-Season All Star. I asked him what is his greatest moment of his baseball career to date,
"This year was the first year I hit a walk-off home run. It was against Harrisburg. It was definitely the best feeling ever, especially being in Richmond our home field. The fans there are unbelievable, it's the best city to play in. Guys all around the league know that."
From the beginning of the interview I could tell that Monell was a great teammate. I asked him questions such as who was the most talented player he has shared the field with and who he was closest to the team. Not that he was dodging the question but, like a good teammate, he found it too difficult to single out individuals on the team. If there ever was an individual who believed that no man is an island it would be Johnny Monell.
At the time of the interview, the season had just ended and the Flying Squirrels had lost in the playoffs to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. I asked Johnny what he was doing in the offseason to prepare for spring training,
"First couple weeks after the season I try to shut it down, get my mind right. And then I start thinking about how I want to improve my offseason as far as strength goes. The one thing that I try to concentrate on is to regain that strength that you lose all season, getting banged up behind the plate. You have to get your mind right as far as getting ready for next season."
I then asked him if there was a specific part of his game that he wanted to improve on in the offseason and he responded,
"I want to be more consistent behind the plate. I'm not going to lie, I'm very humble but at the same time very confident. I know I can hit well. I'm getting better every year and with every at-bat I'm getting more confident at the plate. "
Being a baseball player may sound like a glamorous job to have but it is anything but. Minor league players do not fly first class or stay in five star hotels. They bus from city to city and off days are few and far between. They eat, sleep, and play baseball. Baseball, baseball, and more baseball.
The next question was one of those questions you sort of know the answer to but you have to ask. I asked him what is the most difficult aspect of being a minor league baseball player and the answer I received was incredible and going to college in the Bronx I appreciated it that much more,
"I grew up in the Bronx, New York ya know [sic]. I went through a lot of things, seen a lot of things. Nothing really is going to bother me. As long as I'm happy with what I'm doing, that is me personally. I've seen my Dad go through the grind I know what to expect. I feel like I belong here, I'm comfortable. I feel like I'm in my realm when I'm in season."
Every response was better than the last.
In late May, the San Francisco Giants were devastated when Buster Posey collided with Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins and severely strained the ligaments in his ankle. The 2010 Rookie of the Year would be out for the rest of the season. Every catcher, past and present, was asked about his view on the collision at the plate and this was Monell's perspective,
" It was clean. Bang bang play. Schierholtz has a strong arm and Posey is probably thinking that too. He's very accurate. I've played with Schierholtz and I know what kind of arm he has. I thought it was clean. When I'm coming around third base I'm going to try to score. I'm not trying to run anyone over but if you're not giving me home plate I'm going to do what I need to do."
Monell also mentioned that management had sent a message down to the directors of the farm system that they wanted the catchers to apply swipe tags instead of blocking the plate. It was apparent from our conversation that for catchers who've been told since high school to block the plate, it's just not that simple to change. Try telling a catcher to give up the outside of the plate.
We then spoke about who he likes to watch play on the Giants and who is favorite player is on the team. Keep in mind that this was at the end of the season, post roster expansion.
"Justin Christian. Justin Christian is the man. He is the man. He is the man. Once I found out he played for the Yankees, ya know, respect level went through the roof before I even got to know the guy. This guy had my full out attention when he spoke. I have so much respect for that man and especially with the year he's been having and playing in the big leagues. I stole a couple of tricks from him when he was down here in Richmond. He's a great influence on a lot of people as far as how he goes about his business."
Moving towards levity as the interview was winding down I asked Monell if he had any traditions on the field (e.g. jumping over the foul line, not washing baseball hat, etc.) being that baseball players tend to be superstitious,
"When I am hitting the baseball hard I'll keep the same bat I'm swinging with. When we do the national anthem and they go 'the land of the free' (this was sung, don't quit your day job Johnny) I take my hat off my chest and I raise it up and bring it back down. Nothing crazy."
We then spoke about how all the players play golf in the off-season or even on off days. Many players in the minor league system play golf, partly because it's the one "sport" that they are allowed to play off the field. There seems to be some healthy competition on the golf course between some of the players. Monell has an idea for all the minor league golfers,
"I came up with this concept. I told somebody. No one wanted to listen to me. I said listen, at the end of the season, when the entire minor league season is over we have a golf tournament to see who's the best golf player. We bring in the sponsors and get it on TV."
I wished him luck in the offseason and the conversation ended.
As the conversation started I completely forgot that I was interviewing a professional baseball player, probably because of his candor, and by the end I left with the confidence that the Giants have another great catcher in the organization.
It's been said that champions are made when no one is looking. As I write this Monell is preparing for winter ball where he will be playing in Puerto Rico. He doesn't need to be told what hard work is and what it takes to get to the big leagues. He watched his father play for years and now it's his turn.
However elusive it may be, a minor league player is only a single moment away from playing in the majors. One injury. One decision by management. One moment of greatness. One leap of faith.
This kid from the Bronx is working hard every day for that one moment. That moment when he puts on the same uniform that the likes of Willie Mays, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, and Orlando Cepeda wore. That moment when he steps on the field as a Giant.
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