WEBVTT
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Welcome you back into Blue Stocks Insider as we continue to count down to the 26 2017 and we're gonna start player interviews.
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Uh got Mike Roberts out of the way, Gary Van Tol was a good chat last week.
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And the first player cab off the rank, Heart Throb of Western Sydney.
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Not from Western Sydney, but I'll call you the heartthrob of Western Sydney.
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Jalen Ray, my friend, it's good to see you.
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How are you?
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Good to be back, mate.
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Um, yeah, I'm excited.
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Beaming from ear to ear, the smile on your face.
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Um the listeners can't see it, but I I I'll I'll narrate for them.
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Um look, there's a fair bit that I want to get into you with.
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Obviously, your offseason has been the biggest of your career for many reasons.
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Um, but first off, how's the hand feeling?
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How are you feeling?
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If you could put the last sort of 12 months into a sentence or a paragraph, uh, do it for us.
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Um look, it's feeling it's feeling pretty good.
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Um much better than probably what we all originally thought, and it's gone along much quicker than we thought to.
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So I mean, I'm just super stoked and um excited to finally be back on the field.
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Um it's taken a lot of effort behind the scenes and a big group behind myself.
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Um, but I couldn't tell you how how thrilled I am and um excited that I was to get back on that field just for Manly and let alone Blue Sox coming up in in November.
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Are you essentially fully unrestricted now?
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Is there is it still is there some trepidation anywhere, or do you do you feel like you're back to where you were pre-injury?
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Um I think it's gonna be hard to tell till probably 18 months.
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Um that's kind of where they said you'll understand kind of the feels that you're gonna have probably for the rest of your life.
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Um but in terms of restrictions, nah, like um I can do everything.
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Um I don't exactly have the feeling in um my my ring finger that that I don't really feel much at all.
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Um it's kind of slowly coming back, but I still kind of gotta be aware of what I'm doing with my hand.
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Um and in terms of my my ring finger on there too, it's it's getting better.
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Like it's probably half half and half, like half really good, half um still kind of figuring it out.
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But um, yeah, in terms of range and motion and stuff, like yeah, I can I can swing without pain, I can swing without worrying about my hand, which is really important.
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Um in terms of that, yeah, I feel like I'm I'm getting back to how I was um pre-injury, which is um really cool to say.
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Um yeah.
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Well, and look, I mean I said it tongue-in-cheek there, smiling ear to ear, cheek to cheek, as you were just now.
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But that there is there's a genuine joy about you that I've been able to pick up even when we were messaging back and forth to try and get you on the show.
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Just talking about what you needed to do to get to where you're going.
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I mean, you're training basically every single day.
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There is there's this drive within you that not necessarily that it wasn't there before, because it was.
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I mean, we'll talk about the season that you had last year before the injury, but that drive was always there.
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But it it it seems like having that rug pulled from underneath you and not necessarily knowing what the future would hold, uh, it changes a person, right?
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And it it feels like there's been a little bit of that within you after this injury happened, knowing where baseball could have and was potentially about to take you, and to potentially have all that taken away.
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For me, and I mean tell me if I'm wrong, but it it feels like it's lit a new fire underneath you.
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Yeah, I mean I can't tell you how how much work I put in pre-last season to kind of change my trajectory and the things that I wanted to do.
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It was kind of crazy, everything was kind of coming to fruition, and I was kind of just like, holy shit, like I've put in the work, like um, and I just I was so free on the field and it just felt like everything was kind of flowing.
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Um and obviously for it to kind of just be taken like that is crazy.
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Like you can't you can't put it into words, it's you just kind of like like why.
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Um and I guess the whole time I was just trying to think like this isn't like how I'm done, like I feel like I can still keep going.
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Um and I just was trying as hard as I could to stay positive um throughout the whole thing.
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And I was lucky I had mum and dad um and my brothers kind of holding me accountable and making sure that I wasn't saying words like I couldn't do something, like staying positive and saying like you can, like you can, and just um look as soon as I was able to pick up um even a stick, uh I was I was swinging straight away and I was sending it to um Gary and and Brooke at the time and making sure that they knew that I was working hard and that I'd I'd be back and yeah, I mean it took so much time and effort and these types of things happen, especially when you have no idea of what's gonna happen um and what you're gonna get back.
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Um well I I just kept trying to stay positive and um yeah, it's I'm just very, very grateful that I had the surgeon that I had on hand and um the therapist that I had to help me help me through it and um yeah, I mean here I am now able to sign a contract with the Blue Sox again and return and um hopefully, you know, be that same guy that I was, if not even better, which is what I'm striving for, and continue to progress my career and um put on the Australian jersey and go overseas and keep keep continuing to progress.
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Well, look, let's let's put a lens on the season last year prior to the injury.
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I mean, we can't really call it a breakout season.
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You were the rookie of the year the year prior, but you just said then that that after the rookie of the year season, that's when it kind of clicked for you, and you said, okay, right, this is where I'm gonna put in the work to be better because you know, I mean, you you felt like a guy that could hit for average, that that could put the ball in play and not strike out, be a top-of-the-order threat.
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And that's exactly what came to fruition last year.
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I mean, you struck out only 10 times prior to the injury.
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You were you were hitting 400.
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I mean, you were on pace to hit 400 for the season, which is bananas in this day and age in baseball.
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W was there a moment that it clicked for you during the season, or was it just like you said, for once, you were like, look, I've put in the work, so let everything else let it I mean, let it be what it's going to be.
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I put the work in to get to this point, so don't press at the plate.
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I mean, I I'm just interested a little bit in the evolution of you as a ball player because it it really feels like those have been the two steps the last couple of years.
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I mean, obviously, coming back from college, you had been playing really high-level competitive baseball, but then to win the rookie of the year and then to see last season start the way that it did, I'm just just interested in how that felt to you to just kind of continue to level up.
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Yeah, I mean, like, it's crazy.
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Uh you can kind of talk to any baseball player that's been on like a hot streak and they'll be like, Well, to be honest with you, I don't really know.
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Like I'm just doing the same stuff and I'm and I'm kind of going crazy, and it's just all clicking, right?
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And that's kind of how my season was last year.
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But in terms of like the build-up, like I I had a clear mindset in I was I had to make a couple tweaks in my swing.
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I was trying to drive the ball a bit more and really get on the offense um early in counts and when I'm when I'm in leverage counts, um, really get my swing off um and do a bit more damage as I I knew I had you know the ability to make contact with probably just about any pitch.
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Um now it's just about driving it a bit more and um you know using that to my strength.
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And so, you know, I was in the gym every single day, whether it was doing something or mobility or something like that, and I was swinging every single day.
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Um and I had a really good winter um where I just kind of got to have fun and let loose and let the swing fly a bit, and that's kind of where I kind of found you know, letting the swing go.
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Um and then yeah, I I mean coming into the season, you know, I I was lucky I had we had Yoshi and he was kind of pumping my tires all the whole year.
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Um from the jump, he was pumping my tires, just saying, you gotta be confident, like just stay confident, you're a really good hitter.
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Like um you have great hands, just trust, trust, um, trust your approach and trust trust the swing and get after it and be confident.
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Um, and you know, that really helped me um have the confidence to go on the field and kind of just say, you know, like I've done everything I had to do, and I didn't have to show up to the field going, Well, uh did I do this?
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Like, I I don't know if I I did this enough, blah blah.
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Like, no, I've I've done everything I had to do to prepare.
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All I had to do now is watch a couple videos on the picture, see what they had, see where they missed, and go after them and not let them dictate the at-bat, let myself dictate the at-bat.
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Um, and and yeah, I mean, the strides that I took was pretty incredible, but like I said, like when you're in that zone, you know, you you can't really explain as a hitter, like I'm showing up to the field to do early work and I just take like one round and then I walk back and like, yep, that's exactly what I needed.
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Or even if it wasn't what I needed, I'm like, you know what, I don't need to stress about it.
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Because I'll get out there and I'll take BP.
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If I find it, I find it, if I don't, I don't.
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You know, I'll get into the out-bats and I'll and I'll be a gamer and I'll just get it going.
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And I just had that confidence that something bad wasn't gonna dictate the rest of my day.
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Um, and yeah.
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Well, and I mean, and that that's where what people don't see, the preparation that people don't see, can lead to the success of people out.
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I mean, I often view preparation like an iceberg, right?
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Like, I mean, I'm sure you've seen the the meme of an iceberg where it's like what people see is just the very tip, and then what people don't see is the massive amount of ice underneath the water, which is the preparation and the things when the cameras aren't on, the lights aren't on that people don't see.
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But without that preparation, you're not able to be the player that you are.
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And I I I think maybe the other thing that's that's really aided you these last couple years and coming back to Sydney at a time when this team has been really competitive, is that you've never really had to press.
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You've had a lot of really great guys around you in this offense to where you can be yourself.
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And I mean, you can you you've been a bit of chameleon already in your career and can hit anywhere in the order.
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But anywhere that you're slotted in the order, you know you're going to get protection in front of you and behind you.
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I would imagine that adds probably to that fluidity and that level of freeness that you can have, knowing that you don't have to be the guy all the time.
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Your job is to get on base, score when somebody else drives you in, or if situation necessitates it, drive driving a run with a guy on base.
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So your ability to act as a chameleon to hit anywhere in the lineup, and then also hit in any situation, I think, has probably been aided by the teams that you've been able to play on the last couple years.
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And I imagine that's that's probably helped with that confidence as well.
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Yeah, 100%.
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I mean, it goes from you know, calling it a chameleon, like being able to play anywhere on the field and being able to kind of just slot into anywhere in the lineup, too.
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Um, I think last year the two-hole just suited the team.
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Um, and the year before I was kind of a bit of everywhere.
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Um, but you know, like last year we had Pablo at the top, who was just a menace.
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Um, we had me at two, and then we had you know Bryley for a bit at three, and then we had Ranichek.
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Um obviously had this season that he had.
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Um, you know, there wasn't any weak links in our lineup through, you know, one to nine.
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So it's like it's not like they could just kind of pitch around me.
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They had to kind of go at me because you know, we had the big donkey behind us, and then you know, Joe obviously similar to me, probably with a bit more pop, but um similar to me, just an absolute grinder in the box.
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Um, and then you know, so on and so forth.
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We had everyone that um kind of you could call it protection, but everyone was just an offensive juggernaut in our lineup um at the time.
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So sure, like I've had so much um fun the last two years, and it's just been very loose and relaxed for me.
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Um, I haven't, like you said, had to press, um, which is like just super important.
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Um and yeah, like I'm just super grateful that I get to be back and take that one step forward and win that final game.
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You mentioned Pablo there, and I'm just gonna ask you this quote question selfishly because I love watching that guy play baseball.
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I think everybody in Sydney love watching that guy play baseball.
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To begin a game where you just hitting in a two-hole behind Pablo, who just has a cartoonish on base percentage and the ability to get on base, like no one I've ever seen in my entire life.
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Would you just go into a game expecting that you're gonna be hitting with a man on base in the first inning?
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Because it seems like that's always what happened, right?
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And like I just always assumed it calling games where it's like cool, Pablo's leading off, we're gonna have a chance to score a run on the first inning.
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Did it feel like that to the rest of you guys?
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Because that's what it felt like to me.
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100%.
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100%.
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It was I'll I'd be on bait uh on deck, and I'm just like, all right, so when's he gonna get a hit?
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First pitch or third pitch, or is he gonna have like a 10-pitch at bat and then work a walk or something?
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I don't know.
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So I had to always be ready, but um nah, I mean almost 50% of the time I was coming up, you know, he was on base, and I was just like perfect, you know.
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I can I have so many options here, I can bunt, I can hit a single, I can, you know, rope a double or something, you know.
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So I mean, he was a massive, you know, spark plug for us, and it freed me up to you know do whatever I wanted to do in the box.
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Um, and he uh he obviously suited our team's game last year.
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And um, dude, he's a he's an exciting player, and yeah, I love that dude.
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I do too.
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I spoke to Gary about him last week in our previous episode.
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You can go back and listen to on Blue Sox Insider.
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And yeah, but I could I could talk Pablo Nunez for days and days.
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Uh same that we don't have him back here this season, but man, I'd love to see that guy in the Australian Baseball League again at some point because he was he was so much fun.
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Just another reason why this team was so much fun last year.
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Um last season, you're on that tear.
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Were there any phone calls coming about international contracts in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Look, I don't want to open up old wounds, pardon the pun prior to the injury, but w what did that start to become a possibility prior to the injury?
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Did you feel like the run that you were on, the way that you were playing, that that getting some sort of contract to play in the Northern Hemispheric summer was was coming and would have been coming after last season?
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Yeah, um, for sure.
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I mean I had like Dylan Leach and that asked me if I wanted to play in um a couple of the indie ball leagues over in the States and um because Yoshi was in my ear a lot, he was really trying to push me to get to Japan.
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Um and I felt like that kind of probably suited my pathway a bit better.
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Um so I kind of not swerved the offers, but I was kind of very like set on trying to trying to go to Japan or I mean somewhere in Asia.
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Um but Yoshi was very very helpful for me in that aspect and um you know he had he had a couple teams there and he was trying to get me there and um Gary helped a bit and that was definitely an option coming through.
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Um and it was something that was actually gonna come through a lot closer than I thought and then literally that last game against Adelaide, you know, Yoshi's messaging me saying, you know, they loved ya like you did awesome, you know, all this stuff and um they're really interested and all that, and then the next day, you know hands gone.
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So it was pretty pretty wild turn of events.
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I mean, like and I I was just literally thinking like that night before, like and this is probably the worst possible thing you could think was damn, is it really too good to be true right now?
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Like everything's coming through.
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And like, you know, I had WBC on my on my roster as well, and I was you know, that was one of my main goals, and I was able to put myself in a good position to at least be in contention for that team.
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Um and yeah, I had that thought and the next day like bam in hospital, and I'm like damn.
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Like how like wow how how quickly life can change.
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Look, dude, it's it it's a credit to you for the mental fortitude that you've had in the process of getting back.
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But and and I mean I can hear it in your voice, how emotional it must have been once that happened.
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So I mean to take us back to the immediate aftermath of that, you sitting in hospital.
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Did you know how bad it was at the time?
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Was it was it one of those where you know doctors were giving you conflicting results?
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I mean, I I heard from the grapevine that you know you you didn't know that you'd be if whether or not you'd be able to swing a bat ever again, whether or not you'd be able to field and throw a baseball.
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I mean, that those were those would have been the things going through your mind.
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And I imagine it could be a pretty deep dark place.
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You talking about 24 hours prior, going, This is too good to be true.
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Like I've put the work in, I've gotten to where I want to be.
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Now I'm springboarding myself to where I think I can get to.
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And then all of a sudden, like I said before, you feel like that rug was pulled underneath you.
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Did you know the extent of it?
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Did you did you have in your head from day dot, was it you, you know, an evolution from this is never going to happen for me again to maybe all of a sudden I'm feeling a little bit better?
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I mean, I imagine there were some pretty some pretty dark days, some encouraging days, but from the day and hour that it happened and you're sitting in a hospital bed through to you, you know, that glowing moment where you knew you might be able to get back on the field, what was that timeline like for you?
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Yeah, I mean, I as soon as it happened, I kind of, you know, looked down at my hand and I was just like, this is the worst possible case.
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And I'm just I kind of couldn't react, you know, the adrenaline going through ya and just the emotional takeover, you just like you can't I kind of just accepted it straight away and I'm just like, well, there's nothing I can do.
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And so I'm standing there um and pressing it with a towel over it and that, and you know, the ambos come and I hop in the ambulance and um my my cousin my cousin hopped in there with me, um, and the the guy in there is like, can you make a fist?
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And you know, I've got no idea because I'm not looking at my hand, so I try and make a fist and I've got two fingers just sticking up like this, and my cousin's just like, No, you'll be right, you'll be right, you can strap it on for next week, we'll strap it up.
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You you'll be right to get back out there trying to pump me up.
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And I'm looking at the the Amber guy and he's just like nah and I'm just shattered.
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Like I I get to the get to the room and they're kind of doing their diagnosis and stuff and um scans and whatever they gotta do and yeah, it just not good news, and I knew immediately like season's over.
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Season's over, and that's all I was thinking about was season's over.
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You know, I wanted to win so badly for that Blue Sox season.
00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:15.680
All we were talking about the whole year was like this was the year, like we could all feel it, like we were just so good in every aspect.
00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.359
We were just like that's it.
00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:24.799
And you know, I I immediately called um Brooke and I'm like, man, I'm done.
00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.039
And he's just you know freaking out.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.319
He's like, What do you mean you're done?
00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:32.400
I'm like, my hand of I can't feel two fingers, I'm done.
00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:44.960
And he's you know, kind of freaked out and then I had the um luckily the surgeon that I had, I was literally her last um surgery before the year.
00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:54.640
Um and she's come in and um there's actually a new hospital down the road from me, um, that she wanted to do it at.
00:21:54.880 --> 00:22:12.960
So she came in and was like, Look, um I know you're a baseball player, um, and I know how much you need your hand, but I'm gonna tell you right now, like I'm you know, ninety percent sure you're probably never playing again.
00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:23.279
And I'm just like lying I just feel myself sink into the bed and mum's right next to me and I just sink into the bed and I'm just shattered, absolutely shattered.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:29.359
She's like, it's gonna be 18 months um before you really know anything.
00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.279
Um and 12 months if you're lucky.
00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:38.960
Um and I'm just I don't even know what to think.
00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:45.920
Um it was just such a difficult moment, and immediately as soon as I got off uh she walked out.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:54.720
I had to call um Dave Nielsen, tell him, you know, WBC was done, and he's you know, like, what the hell?
00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.839
Like, what's going on?
00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:02.799
And that was another difficult call I had to make, and um it just felt like everything was going.
00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:14.559
And I'm just like I built everything up, made myself so strong mentally and physically, and it just felt like in a split second everything that I've worked for was gone.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:19.039
Um and you know, that's probably the darkest it's felt, you know.
00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:27.759
You have your you have your days throughout where you you're like is this is there even a point in doing this?
00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:30.480
Like I'm not even guaranteed anything.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:32.799
Like I can't even feel my fingers.
00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:40.559
Um and I just kind of kicked back and was like like screw this.
00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:42.079
I've gotta do it.
00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:49.359
Like I've I've done twenty twenty years of baseball and I'm just what gonna walk away because of this.
00:23:49.759 --> 00:24:59.359
Like and I've had multiple times where I've almost quit like straight after college and Blue Sox kind of brought me back in and made me love it again, and I'm like, I I just I I wanna win and I'm I wanna be back and I wanna keep playing and I'm not done and um as much as you have your dark days is you just kind of keep pushing through and if you've got the right people around you, it it just helps a lot and um yeah, it's just a lot of long days of just literally sitting on the lounge, you know, um looking at my hand, looking at my scar, and I'm just like this is just shattering, but you know, if I can find a way to make it work, then make it work, and it was probably the first stage of everything was um you know getting the stitches out and all that stuff, and then bending the fingers, um, and trying to loosen up the the tendons and stuff, and that was very shattering, but um then you gotta make a fist, and that was the hardest thing I've ever done.
00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.960
Uh trying to make a fist.
00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:06.079
There was progress and then stopped progress and then progress and then stopped.
00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:12.400
And probably for like two months I couldn't move my my fingers past like a straight.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:20.880
And she I'm just looking at my therapist and she's like, like, you know, well god, I don't know.
00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:26.559
And they they they obviously they were trying to stay as positive as they could, but they didn't know what was gonna happen.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:39.359
And I'm kind of just lying there, shattered mums kind of holding me and and dads around me, and they're just like, you just gotta keep going, like don't stop, like keep going, keep going.
00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:57.039
And um we ended up going back to a therapist, and probably the biggest saving grace we had was um she got out a rice bucket, um just a bucket full of rice, and she's like, Alright, start moving your hand in the rice.
00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:06.720
And something kind of clicked, like I I used to do rice bucket stuff for forearms, you know, at college, you know, most days.
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:19.599
And that was kind of something that I don't know, kind of clicked my mind over, and I had a bit of progress um for the first time in months, and I'm like, oh my god, like that's moving.
00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:21.920
Like, mind you, I couldn't feel them.
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:39.039
So like I went to I went to the the shops to do some shopping and I and I pull Wooly's bag and I put it on my hand and something felt wrong, and I'm holding it like this, like the bag's in between my two fingers, and my two fingers are sticking up.
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.960
I'm like, oh my god.
00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:45.119
I didn't even like I couldn't even know because I couldn't feel them, you know.
00:26:45.359 --> 00:27:07.920
So learning to be aware of my hand like fully functioning and watching what I'm doing and being careful and doing all that stuff, like yeah, I mean I look back at photos and stuff now and it just completely shatters me every time I look at it because I'm just like like how how does that happen?
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:38.480
Um but you continue to move forward and you know I finally had that progress, and as soon as I was able to kind of put my hand even just slightly around a bat, I had a bat, and I was just sending photos to everyone and um videos to people and you know they're all behind me and yeah, it's uh it's such a crazy, crazy time to go through.
00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:42.160
Um, but you really find out that you're not by yourself.
00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:58.720
Um and you know, I had Gary always reaching out to me, I had all my mates always reaching out to me, and I had mom and dad and you know finally as soon as I was able to swing, I was telling the videos and yeah.
00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:12.160
Um I'm so so grateful to have the surgeon that I had, the therapist that I had, the people around me that I had, you know, without them I wouldn't I wouldn't be here with you right now.
00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:15.759
Like I wouldn't be signed, I wouldn't be anything.
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:42.640
I'd be sitting at home probably trying to keep moving my hand, you know, and sure it's a credit to myself for staying true to myself and going through with everything, but you know, it's a it's an effort from everyone to help me get through it, and uh you know, I didn't I didn't stop, I just did stuff every single day, whatever I had to do, and you know, now now I'm back here.
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:53.519
And your ability to stay positive through all that, no doubt, is I mean, one of, if not the main reason why you're back on the field.
00:28:53.680 --> 00:29:00.799
I mean, it's it's an incredible story, Jalen, because there's so many people that would have given up that would have just said, you know what, it's not worth it.
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.559
I had my opportunity.
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.160
It's not gonna happen for me.
00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.279
It wasn't meant to be, right?
00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:06.799
That would be the easiest thing to say.
00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:17.039
Um and I've heard ball players before that have gone through you know what they thought could have been devastating career-ending injuries and talking about the mental place that you need to be in.
00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:19.519
It's like, well, I know I've got to walk through the sand.
00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:24.079
I can pretend that that sand's on the beach, or I can pretend that that sand is in the middle of the desert.
00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:27.359
They're both sand, but the outlook is way different, right?
00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:32.160
So you having that ability every single day to go, you know what, I'm walking on a beach in the sand.
00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:38.079
I'm in the sand, I might as well be in the best place possible, walking on the sand, not in the middle of the desert.
00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:46.559
And it feels like you were able to keep that mentality and every little tiny win that you had was that another step forward if maybe this is possible.
00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:55.119
I I remember a conversation that you, me, and uh Solomon McGuire had ahead of game three of the ABL championship series.
00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:58.640
And I mean, of course, you're you're sitting there with your fingers in a sling.
00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:05.440
Solo's got a sling over his shoulder um with the injury that that he faced before the season started.
00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:14.480
Uh and I know you guys obviously were having conversations back and forth about trying to keep each other up and and and stay right rally in terms of getting back on the field.
00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:23.759
Was there anybody else that you spoke to from a player standpoint that had had you know a devastating injury previously that that that sort of helped you get through that?
00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.960
Because I often find that I mean, obviously the answers are in your peers.
00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:41.519
I mean, obviously your parents were in your corner, coaches were in your corner, the Blue Sox organization was in your corner, but I imagine it was probably some of that encouragement from your peers that maybe meant most of all, or maybe was was the most calming at times to go right, other people have done this.
00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:45.920
Someone else that I know really well that I've played with is going through it now.
00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:49.200
Why can't I keep forward just to see what happens?
00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:52.240
Yeah, I mean, I mean, you hit the nail on the head.
00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:57.519
I mean, solo, you know, the the things he's had to go through in his career.
00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:01.279
Um, you know, you wouldn't wish it on anyone.
00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:18.559
Um and he's been probably the biggest um guy that I've had to kind of talk with and rely on and you know, really question like how he gets through everything mentally, you know, because you know, the things he's been through, I'd be shocked.
00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:29.119
And the mental fortitude that he has just to keep continuing to um, you know, recover and come back and keep trying, you know.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:34.160
He's been a dude that I've relied on a ton 'cause I'm like, how do you do it?
00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:34.799
You know?
00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:37.759
And he's like, you just gotta look at the bigger picture.
00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:42.880
You just gotta keep keep looking forward and not look back.
00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.440
Keep going and don't stop.
00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:48.640
As soon as you stop, you know, you're shot, you're dead in the water.
00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:49.920
Just keep going.
00:31:50.079 --> 00:32:08.720
Whether whether it's hard right now or whether it's easy, just keep going and you know, I've had I've I've been lucky because a lot of those boys on the Blue Sox I'm really close with off the field, like, you know, Harry Fort and and Joe Stevens and um, you know, really any of them.
00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:15.680
Um and you know, I've even had the Wells boys reaching out, you know, making sure that I'm okay and things like that.
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:30.880
And I've had, you know, tons of tons of people um that reached out to me that I didn't think I'd hear from and stuff, and you know, it's you don't know about it until you're in it.
00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.000
Right?
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:42.400
Like if someone asked me something about it when he was injured I would just say, hey, try and stay positive, like as in like I would know.
00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:47.839
You know, and now that I'm in it, I'm like the battle is really it's like it's a battle.
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:57.759
It is like you're you're fighting yourself every single day and the biggest win you can take is the win against yourself.
00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:03.440
And you know, I put myself into this situation, I've got to get myself out.
00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:12.000
And the only way I can get myself out is by continuing to do everything that I have to do to get better regardless of how I feel on the day.
00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:33.200
Like I mean, even yesterday, you know, I was in the sun all day working just completely shot and I I was so tired and I didn't want to I came home, I'm like, I'm I just want to sleep and um all I could think about was like last year, like I wouldn't let myself sleep.
00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:38.880
I'd have to go and make sure I got my swings in and I had to go to the gym.
00:33:39.279 --> 00:34:01.759
And I knew that even right now I'd feel like I'd feel arse but you know, at at the end of the day I can go to sleep knowing that I did what I had to do and regardless of what happened, and that's kind of how I was trying to treat my injury was you know, last year I put in all that work regardless of how I felt it didn't matter.
00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:07.599
I just put it in because I knew the outcome was greater than how I felt right now.
00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:12.400
Um and yeah, I mean it helps.
00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.000
It helps.
00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:20.960
I mean, I can't really say I I messaged a whole lot of people kind of around because you know it's hard.
00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.400
It really is hard.
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:27.119
Um, but the people that I did speak to, they know.
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:30.480
Um and you know, they helped me a lot.
00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:50.800
Well, and look, I think your story has the potential to inspire, you know, something that we obviously don't wish on any baseball player, but I mean the injury is an inevitability in any sport on on or off the field, um, and what you've had to endure in the last uh 12 months and to get back to where you are is inspiring.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:54.400
Um, I'll say that to you, um, us two sitting here now.
00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:17.920
If you were motivated last year, which clearly you were, I think that ramps up another bit this year to prove the hand is back to a point where I can produce at an elite level to get back to being a 400 hitter, which we all want to see again with elite defense, and the ability to get back to the northern hemisphere and play professional baseball somewhere else.
00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:25.199
So when you look at the prospect of a season ahead, which I imagine in your head may feel even freer.
00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.960
You talk about playing free last year.
00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:31.199
Maybe you feel like you're really playing with house money now in 26, 27.
00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:44.559
But aside from the obvious of just getting back on the field, being back with the guys, I mean, I talked with Gary about a whole new group of young Australians that are coming through and New South Wales kids that'll be on the Blue Sox that you would have grown up playing with.
00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:48.639
And, you know, you talk about that thump in the order that came last year from import guys.
00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:55.440
We're gonna see that this year with the likes of Blake Cavill and Brent Tyredale, who who are guys that we're really excited to have back in the fold here in New South Wales.
00:35:55.679 --> 00:36:03.360
So, aside from the obvious of just getting back on the field, pulling that Blue Sox uniform on for the first time at the beginning of the year, which I know will be emotional for you.
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:09.280
What are some of the other things that you're looking forward to heading into this 26-27 season?
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:28.079
One where it really does feel like the Blue Sox still have uh momentum, even though the teams have been different the last couple of years, back-to-back minor premierships fell short in the playoffs, but it really still does feel like this Blue Sox organization is gaining steam, and you and that local group around you have had a lot to do with that.
00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:38.079
So I'm gonna I'm just curious of knowing the prospect of the type of team that that is going to be put together with the Blue Sox this year, what's what's got you stoked for the year upcoming?
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:42.880
I've been saying it, you know, the last two years.
00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.679
Um, I want to come back here and win.
00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.960
I just want to win.
00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:48.320
That's that's all I care about.
00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.400
I want to come back and bring a championship.
00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:59.360
It's been far too long, you know, and we've been talking about it, you know, since we were youngsters, you know, that we want to win here.
00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:12.159
Um and the change that we've kind of brought the last few years compared to years prior, you know, we were a bottom team, and the last two years we've taken it to the top teams, you know.
00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:17.119
We've finished my premiers, sure that doesn't really mean a lot when it comes to postseason at all.
00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:26.719
Um, but you know, we've had two years of experience now in the finals, and we're one game short last year, and I don't know, man.
00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.920
I'm just so excited.
00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:31.199
I've just got that feeling, it's not even the season yet, you know.
00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:51.440
And um the boys that we're bringing in, you know, they know how to win, they know how to play, they've been around big teams, big organizations, um, and you know, we've got a bit of experience and um we've got that fire, you know, um, and that's that's something that you need to have if you want to win too.
00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:56.960
It's not just um it's not just talent, you need that, you need that ticker.
00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.960
Um and I feel like we've got that.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:06.320
And um I'm so excited and humbled to be able to be a part of this again.
00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:08.880
Um, but you know, our job isn't done.
00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:13.599
Um, you know, sure we'd like a minor premiership again, but we want that.
00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:15.199
We want that claxon shield.
00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.880
We're bringing it home.
00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:19.760
Um, and this this is gonna be the year.
00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:30.719
And before I let you go, one thing that I'm interested in, because you know I'm a bit of a storyteller, because you know, when you're in the booth on your own three and a half hours a day, you've you've you've got to have stories up your sleeve, Jalen.
00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:31.599
I'll give you the tip.
00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:37.840
Um getting the opportunity to play with Blake Cavill again after you played with him in college.
00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:54.159
I can't think of an instance in which two players from Australia have gone and played D1 college baseball at a high level at the same university and then get a chance to play in their home state professionally in the Australian baseball league.
00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:56.320
That's an incredible story for me.
00:38:56.400 --> 00:39:07.119
Um I don't know if you guys have spoken about it, what what what that'll mean, but to me that's an embodiment of what uh progress for the sport and the country looks like.
00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:11.440
But I'm interested in it from a player standpoint, and I'll ask him the same question.
00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:13.679
Um Have you guys spoken about that?
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:17.199
Because to me, that's that's an incredible story, right?
00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:20.239
Yeah, yeah, I mean, we have for sure.
00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:23.119
I mean, I speak to him, I speak to him most days.
00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:26.880
Um he's a funny dude, right?
00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:32.639
He's he's a guy, and I'll continue to say this with complete respect.
00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:39.280
He's a guy you want on your team, and when you when he's on your team, you love him, when he's uh against you, you hate him, right?
00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:40.320
And it's probably the best.
00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:47.920
I think we saw a lot of uh I think we saw a lot of universities thinking that exact same thing in the in the college postseason, college world series last year.
00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:48.800
Yeah.
00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:54.719
One thing I know though with Blake is you know when he's on your team, he's 100% brought bought in.
00:39:54.880 --> 00:40:00.159
Um and that was one of the funniest years I've ever had living with him.
00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:04.000
Um living with him and then playing.
00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:07.760
Um look he's a he's a character, that's for sure.
00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:27.039
But um, you know, I love him, and we had so much fun together that year, and he's a good player, man, knows how to hit, knows what he's doing, and um brings a lot of energy to the team, which is exactly what we've had the last few years, and it's just another guy to kind of add on to it and um I'm fired up for it.
00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:29.199
Uh the boys are fired up for it.
00:40:29.280 --> 00:40:36.960
And um, yeah, we we can't wait to kind of all finally get back together, and it's like the band getting back together again.
00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.239
And um yeah, we can't wait.
00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:42.480
We're so excited, it's gonna be so much fun.
00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:50.960
Well, look, man, I could I could tell you were keen in text message exchanges back and forth the last couple weeks and now having chatted to you for a little less than an hour.
00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:52.320
Uh you've affirmed that.
00:40:52.480 --> 00:41:01.440
So I I I think there's a lot of a lot of Blue Stocks fans now that appreciate what you've gone through and uh are also about ready to run through a brick wall uh in anticipation for this season.
00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.280
So look at all your busy, brother.
00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:05.280
Really appreciate you giving us some time and opening up.
00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.519
That was uh it was incredible to hear your story.
00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:10.320
Uh we're all working for you and looking forward to getting back in the park.
00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:14.639
And uh really appreciate it.
00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:19.519
Welcome you back into Blue Stocks Insider as we continue to count down to the 26 2017 and we're gonna start player interviews.
00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000
Uh got Mike Roberts out of the way, Gary Van Tol was a good chat last week.
00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:29.519
And the first player cab off the rank, Heart Throb of Western Sydney.
00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:32.479
Not from Western Sydney, but I'll call you the heartthrob of Western Sydney.
00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:34.000
Jalen Ray, my friend, it's good to see you.
00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:34.560
How are you?
00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:36.560
Good to be back, mate.
00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.960
Um, yeah, I'm excited.
00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.880
Beaming from ear to ear, the smile on your face.
00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:48.799
Um the listeners can't see it, but I I I'll I'll narrate for them.
00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:51.679
Um look, there's a fair bit that I want to get into you with.
00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:56.479
Obviously, your offseason has been the biggest of your career for many reasons.
00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.520
Um, but first off, how's the hand feeling?
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:01.200
How are you feeling?
00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:08.319
If you could put the last sort of 12 months into a sentence or a paragraph, uh, do it for us.
00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:13.280
Um look, it's feeling it's feeling pretty good.
00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:22.959
Um much better than probably what we all originally thought, and it's gone along much quicker than we thought to.
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:30.560
So I mean, I'm just super stoked and um excited to finally be back on the field.
00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:37.200
Um it's taken a lot of effort behind the scenes and a big group behind myself.
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:50.079
Um, but I couldn't tell you how how thrilled I am and um excited that I was to get back on that field just for Manly and let alone Blue Sox coming up in in November.
00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:54.640
Are you essentially fully unrestricted now?
00:01:54.719 --> 00:02:00.879
Is there is it still is there some trepidation anywhere, or do you do you feel like you're back to where you were pre-injury?
00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:06.239
Um I think it's gonna be hard to tell till probably 18 months.
00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:12.719
Um that's kind of where they said you'll understand kind of the feels that you're gonna have probably for the rest of your life.
00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:18.719
Um but in terms of restrictions, nah, like um I can do everything.
00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:28.080
Um I don't exactly have the feeling in um my my ring finger that that I don't really feel much at all.
00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:34.479
Um it's kind of slowly coming back, but I still kind of gotta be aware of what I'm doing with my hand.
00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:40.159
Um and in terms of my my ring finger on there too, it's it's getting better.
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:45.599
Like it's probably half half and half, like half really good, half um still kind of figuring it out.
00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:55.520
But um, yeah, in terms of range and motion and stuff, like yeah, I can I can swing without pain, I can swing without worrying about my hand, which is really important.
00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:06.800
Um in terms of that, yeah, I feel like I'm I'm getting back to how I was um pre-injury, which is um really cool to say.
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:08.479
Um yeah.
00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:14.080
Well, and look, I mean I said it tongue-in-cheek there, smiling ear to ear, cheek to cheek, as you were just now.
00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:21.199
But that there is there's a genuine joy about you that I've been able to pick up even when we were messaging back and forth to try and get you on the show.
00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.080
Just talking about what you needed to do to get to where you're going.
00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:26.240
I mean, you're training basically every single day.
00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:31.360
There is there's this drive within you that not necessarily that it wasn't there before, because it was.
00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:36.479
I mean, we'll talk about the season that you had last year before the injury, but that drive was always there.
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:45.680
But it it it seems like having that rug pulled from underneath you and not necessarily knowing what the future would hold, uh, it changes a person, right?
00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:58.479
And it it feels like there's been a little bit of that within you after this injury happened, knowing where baseball could have and was potentially about to take you, and to potentially have all that taken away.
00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:03.919
For me, and I mean tell me if I'm wrong, but it it feels like it's lit a new fire underneath you.
00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:17.759
Yeah, I mean I can't tell you how how much work I put in pre-last season to kind of change my trajectory and the things that I wanted to do.
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:34.720
It was kind of crazy, everything was kind of coming to fruition, and I was kind of just like, holy shit, like I've put in the work, like um, and I just I was so free on the field and it just felt like everything was kind of flowing.
00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:40.639
Um and obviously for it to kind of just be taken like that is crazy.
00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:45.680
Like you can't you can't put it into words, it's you just kind of like like why.
00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:55.279
Um and I guess the whole time I was just trying to think like this isn't like how I'm done, like I feel like I can still keep going.
00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:01.920
Um and I just was trying as hard as I could to stay positive um throughout the whole thing.
00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:49.360
And I was lucky I had mum and dad um and my brothers kind of holding me accountable and making sure that I wasn't saying words like I couldn't do something, like staying positive and saying like you can, like you can, and just um look as soon as I was able to pick up um even a stick, uh I was I was swinging straight away and I was sending it to um Gary and and Brooke at the time and making sure that they knew that I was working hard and that I'd I'd be back and yeah, I mean it took so much time and effort and these types of things happen, especially when you have no idea of what's gonna happen um and what you're gonna get back.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:06:31.920
Um well I I just kept trying to stay positive and um yeah, it's I'm just very, very grateful that I had the surgeon that I had on hand and um the therapist that I had to help me help me through it and um yeah, I mean here I am now able to sign a contract with the Blue Sox again and return and um hopefully, you know, be that same guy that I was, if not even better, which is what I'm striving for, and continue to progress my career and um put on the Australian jersey and go overseas and keep keep continuing to progress.
00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:37.759
Well, look, let's let's put a lens on the season last year prior to the injury.
00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:39.680
I mean, we can't really call it a breakout season.
00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:58.720
You were the rookie of the year the year prior, but you just said then that that after the rookie of the year season, that's when it kind of clicked for you, and you said, okay, right, this is where I'm gonna put in the work to be better because you know, I mean, you you felt like a guy that could hit for average, that that could put the ball in play and not strike out, be a top-of-the-order threat.
00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:01.279
And that's exactly what came to fruition last year.
00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.160
I mean, you struck out only 10 times prior to the injury.
00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:05.519
You were you were hitting 400.
00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:10.399
I mean, you were on pace to hit 400 for the season, which is bananas in this day and age in baseball.
00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:23.360
W was there a moment that it clicked for you during the season, or was it just like you said, for once, you were like, look, I've put in the work, so let everything else let it I mean, let it be what it's going to be.
00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.959
I put the work in to get to this point, so don't press at the plate.
00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:35.120
I mean, I I'm just interested a little bit in the evolution of you as a ball player because it it really feels like those have been the two steps the last couple of years.
00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:51.439
I mean, obviously, coming back from college, you had been playing really high-level competitive baseball, but then to win the rookie of the year and then to see last season start the way that it did, I'm just just interested in how that felt to you to just kind of continue to level up.
00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:53.920
Yeah, I mean, like, it's crazy.
00:07:54.079 --> 00:08:00.480
Uh you can kind of talk to any baseball player that's been on like a hot streak and they'll be like, Well, to be honest with you, I don't really know.
00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:06.319
Like I'm just doing the same stuff and I'm and I'm kind of going crazy, and it's just all clicking, right?
00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.439
And that's kind of how my season was last year.
00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:18.079
But in terms of like the build-up, like I I had a clear mindset in I was I had to make a couple tweaks in my swing.
00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:38.240
I was trying to drive the ball a bit more and really get on the offense um early in counts and when I'm when I'm in leverage counts, um, really get my swing off um and do a bit more damage as I I knew I had you know the ability to make contact with probably just about any pitch.
00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:44.960
Um now it's just about driving it a bit more and um you know using that to my strength.
00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:54.799
And so, you know, I was in the gym every single day, whether it was doing something or mobility or something like that, and I was swinging every single day.
00:08:54.879 --> 00:09:06.000
Um and I had a really good winter um where I just kind of got to have fun and let loose and let the swing fly a bit, and that's kind of where I kind of found you know, letting the swing go.
00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:16.320
Um and then yeah, I I mean coming into the season, you know, I I was lucky I had we had Yoshi and he was kind of pumping my tires all the whole year.
00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:24.000
Um from the jump, he was pumping my tires, just saying, you gotta be confident, like just stay confident, you're a really good hitter.
00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:32.879
Like um you have great hands, just trust, trust, um, trust your approach and trust trust the swing and get after it and be confident.
00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:48.960
Um, and you know, that really helped me um have the confidence to go on the field and kind of just say, you know, like I've done everything I had to do, and I didn't have to show up to the field going, Well, uh did I do this?
00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:52.240
Like, I I don't know if I I did this enough, blah blah.
00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:56.080
Like, no, I've I've done everything I had to do to prepare.
00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:07.360
All I had to do now is watch a couple videos on the picture, see what they had, see where they missed, and go after them and not let them dictate the at-bat, let myself dictate the at-bat.
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:26.720
Um, and and yeah, I mean, the strides that I took was pretty incredible, but like I said, like when you're in that zone, you know, you you can't really explain as a hitter, like I'm showing up to the field to do early work and I just take like one round and then I walk back and like, yep, that's exactly what I needed.
00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:30.559
Or even if it wasn't what I needed, I'm like, you know what, I don't need to stress about it.
00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:32.799
Because I'll get out there and I'll take BP.
00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:34.879
If I find it, I find it, if I don't, I don't.
00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.840
You know, I'll get into the out-bats and I'll and I'll be a gamer and I'll just get it going.
00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:46.159
And I just had that confidence that something bad wasn't gonna dictate the rest of my day.
00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:47.360
Um, and yeah.
00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:54.399
Well, and I mean, and that that's where what people don't see, the preparation that people don't see, can lead to the success of people out.
00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:57.519
I mean, I often view preparation like an iceberg, right?
00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:11.759
Like, I mean, I'm sure you've seen the the meme of an iceberg where it's like what people see is just the very tip, and then what people don't see is the massive amount of ice underneath the water, which is the preparation and the things when the cameras aren't on, the lights aren't on that people don't see.
00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:15.840
But without that preparation, you're not able to be the player that you are.
00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:26.960
And I I I think maybe the other thing that's that's really aided you these last couple years and coming back to Sydney at a time when this team has been really competitive, is that you've never really had to press.
00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:32.879
You've had a lot of really great guys around you in this offense to where you can be yourself.
00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:38.000
And I mean, you can you you've been a bit of chameleon already in your career and can hit anywhere in the order.
00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:42.320
But anywhere that you're slotted in the order, you know you're going to get protection in front of you and behind you.
00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:49.519
I would imagine that adds probably to that fluidity and that level of freeness that you can have, knowing that you don't have to be the guy all the time.
00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:59.360
Your job is to get on base, score when somebody else drives you in, or if situation necessitates it, drive driving a run with a guy on base.
00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:09.039
So your ability to act as a chameleon to hit anywhere in the lineup, and then also hit in any situation, I think, has probably been aided by the teams that you've been able to play on the last couple years.
00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.720
And I imagine that's that's probably helped with that confidence as well.
00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:13.840
Yeah, 100%.
00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:23.759
I mean, it goes from you know, calling it a chameleon, like being able to play anywhere on the field and being able to kind of just slot into anywhere in the lineup, too.
00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.919
Um, I think last year the two-hole just suited the team.
00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:31.519
Um, and the year before I was kind of a bit of everywhere.
00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:35.919
Um, but you know, like last year we had Pablo at the top, who was just a menace.
00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:41.840
Um, we had me at two, and then we had you know Bryley for a bit at three, and then we had Ranichek.
00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.639
Um obviously had this season that he had.
00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:50.559
Um, you know, there wasn't any weak links in our lineup through, you know, one to nine.
00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:53.679
So it's like it's not like they could just kind of pitch around me.
00:12:53.759 --> 00:13:06.639
They had to kind of go at me because you know, we had the big donkey behind us, and then you know, Joe obviously similar to me, probably with a bit more pop, but um similar to me, just an absolute grinder in the box.
00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.120
Um, and then you know, so on and so forth.
00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:19.039
We had everyone that um kind of you could call it protection, but everyone was just an offensive juggernaut in our lineup um at the time.
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:28.240
So sure, like I've had so much um fun the last two years, and it's just been very loose and relaxed for me.
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.879
Um, I haven't, like you said, had to press, um, which is like just super important.
00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:43.519
Um and yeah, like I'm just super grateful that I get to be back and take that one step forward and win that final game.
00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:49.519
You mentioned Pablo there, and I'm just gonna ask you this quote question selfishly because I love watching that guy play baseball.
00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.480
I think everybody in Sydney love watching that guy play baseball.
00:13:52.720 --> 00:14:00.399
To begin a game where you just hitting in a two-hole behind Pablo, who just has a cartoonish on base percentage and the ability to get on base, like no one I've ever seen in my entire life.
00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:04.399
Would you just go into a game expecting that you're gonna be hitting with a man on base in the first inning?
00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.559
Because it seems like that's always what happened, right?
00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:11.759
And like I just always assumed it calling games where it's like cool, Pablo's leading off, we're gonna have a chance to score a run on the first inning.
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:13.440
Did it feel like that to the rest of you guys?
00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.960
Because that's what it felt like to me.
00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.679
100%.
00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:16.480
100%.
00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:21.759
It was I'll I'd be on bait uh on deck, and I'm just like, all right, so when's he gonna get a hit?
00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:27.279
First pitch or third pitch, or is he gonna have like a 10-pitch at bat and then work a walk or something?
00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:27.840
I don't know.
00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:39.200
So I had to always be ready, but um nah, I mean almost 50% of the time I was coming up, you know, he was on base, and I was just like perfect, you know.
00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:46.399
I can I have so many options here, I can bunt, I can hit a single, I can, you know, rope a double or something, you know.
00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:56.399
So I mean, he was a massive, you know, spark plug for us, and it freed me up to you know do whatever I wanted to do in the box.
00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:00.480
Um, and he uh he obviously suited our team's game last year.
00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:06.399
And um, dude, he's a he's an exciting player, and yeah, I love that dude.
00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.360
I do too.
00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.399
I spoke to Gary about him last week in our previous episode.
00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:13.120
You can go back and listen to on Blue Sox Insider.
00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:17.519
And yeah, but I could I could talk Pablo Nunez for days and days.
00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:25.279
Uh same that we don't have him back here this season, but man, I'd love to see that guy in the Australian Baseball League again at some point because he was he was so much fun.
00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.960
Just another reason why this team was so much fun last year.
00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:32.320
Um last season, you're on that tear.
00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:37.919
Were there any phone calls coming about international contracts in the Northern Hemisphere?
00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:48.000
Look, I don't want to open up old wounds, pardon the pun prior to the injury, but w what did that start to become a possibility prior to the injury?
00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:58.559
Did you feel like the run that you were on, the way that you were playing, that that getting some sort of contract to play in the Northern Hemispheric summer was was coming and would have been coming after last season?
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.960
Yeah, um, for sure.
00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:17.679
I mean I had like Dylan Leach and that asked me if I wanted to play in um a couple of the indie ball leagues over in the States and um because Yoshi was in my ear a lot, he was really trying to push me to get to Japan.
00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:22.480
Um and I felt like that kind of probably suited my pathway a bit better.
00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:34.559
Um so I kind of not swerved the offers, but I was kind of very like set on trying to trying to go to Japan or I mean somewhere in Asia.
00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:53.759
Um but Yoshi was very very helpful for me in that aspect and um you know he had he had a couple teams there and he was trying to get me there and um Gary helped a bit and that was definitely an option coming through.
00:16:54.000 --> 00:17:20.000
Um and it was something that was actually gonna come through a lot closer than I thought and then literally that last game against Adelaide, you know, Yoshi's messaging me saying, you know, they loved ya like you did awesome, you know, all this stuff and um they're really interested and all that, and then the next day, you know hands gone.
00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.920
So it was pretty pretty wild turn of events.
00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:35.440
I mean, like and I I was just literally thinking like that night before, like and this is probably the worst possible thing you could think was damn, is it really too good to be true right now?
00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:37.119
Like everything's coming through.
00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:51.920
And like, you know, I had WBC on my on my roster as well, and I was you know, that was one of my main goals, and I was able to put myself in a good position to at least be in contention for that team.
00:17:52.160 --> 00:18:01.839
Um and yeah, I had that thought and the next day like bam in hospital, and I'm like damn.
00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:07.039
Like how like wow how how quickly life can change.
00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:15.279
Look, dude, it's it it's a credit to you for the mental fortitude that you've had in the process of getting back.
00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:20.559
But and and I mean I can hear it in your voice, how emotional it must have been once that happened.
00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:25.119
So I mean to take us back to the immediate aftermath of that, you sitting in hospital.
00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:28.559
Did you know how bad it was at the time?
00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:32.559
Was it was it one of those where you know doctors were giving you conflicting results?
00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:41.440
I mean, I I heard from the grapevine that you know you you didn't know that you'd be if whether or not you'd be able to swing a bat ever again, whether or not you'd be able to field and throw a baseball.
00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.480
I mean, that those were those would have been the things going through your mind.
00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.480
And I imagine it could be a pretty deep dark place.
00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:50.000
You talking about 24 hours prior, going, This is too good to be true.
00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.640
Like I've put the work in, I've gotten to where I want to be.
00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:56.720
Now I'm springboarding myself to where I think I can get to.
00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.640
And then all of a sudden, like I said before, you feel like that rug was pulled underneath you.
00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.920
Did you know the extent of it?
00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:14.319
Did you did you have in your head from day dot, was it you, you know, an evolution from this is never going to happen for me again to maybe all of a sudden I'm feeling a little bit better?
00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:29.839
I mean, I imagine there were some pretty some pretty dark days, some encouraging days, but from the day and hour that it happened and you're sitting in a hospital bed through to you, you know, that glowing moment where you knew you might be able to get back on the field, what was that timeline like for you?
00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:42.480
Yeah, I mean, I as soon as it happened, I kind of, you know, looked down at my hand and I was just like, this is the worst possible case.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:57.039
And I'm just I kind of couldn't react, you know, the adrenaline going through ya and just the emotional takeover, you just like you can't I kind of just accepted it straight away and I'm just like, well, there's nothing I can do.
00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:16.880
And so I'm standing there um and pressing it with a towel over it and that, and you know, the ambos come and I hop in the ambulance and um my my cousin my cousin hopped in there with me, um, and the the guy in there is like, can you make a fist?
00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:31.200
And you know, I've got no idea because I'm not looking at my hand, so I try and make a fist and I've got two fingers just sticking up like this, and my cousin's just like, No, you'll be right, you'll be right, you can strap it on for next week, we'll strap it up.
00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.559
You you'll be right to get back out there trying to pump me up.
00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:43.119
And I'm looking at the the Amber guy and he's just like nah and I'm just shattered.
00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:59.599
Like I I get to the get to the room and they're kind of doing their diagnosis and stuff and um scans and whatever they gotta do and yeah, it just not good news, and I knew immediately like season's over.
00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:03.519
Season's over, and that's all I was thinking about was season's over.
00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:08.000
You know, I wanted to win so badly for that Blue Sox season.
00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:15.680
All we were talking about the whole year was like this was the year, like we could all feel it, like we were just so good in every aspect.
00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.359
We were just like that's it.
00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:24.799
And you know, I I immediately called um Brooke and I'm like, man, I'm done.
00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.039
And he's just you know freaking out.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.319
He's like, What do you mean you're done?
00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:32.400
I'm like, my hand of I can't feel two fingers, I'm done.
00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:44.960
And he's you know, kind of freaked out and then I had the um luckily the surgeon that I had, I was literally her last um surgery before the year.
00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:54.640
Um and she's come in and um there's actually a new hospital down the road from me, um, that she wanted to do it at.
00:21:54.880 --> 00:22:12.960
So she came in and was like, Look, um I know you're a baseball player, um, and I know how much you need your hand, but I'm gonna tell you right now, like I'm you know, ninety percent sure you're probably never playing again.
00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:23.279
And I'm just like lying I just feel myself sink into the bed and mum's right next to me and I just sink into the bed and I'm just shattered, absolutely shattered.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:29.359
She's like, it's gonna be 18 months um before you really know anything.
00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.279
Um and 12 months if you're lucky.
00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:38.960
Um and I'm just I don't even know what to think.
00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:45.920
Um it was just such a difficult moment, and immediately as soon as I got off uh she walked out.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:54.720
I had to call um Dave Nielsen, tell him, you know, WBC was done, and he's you know, like, what the hell?
00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.839
Like, what's going on?
00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:02.799
And that was another difficult call I had to make, and um it just felt like everything was going.
00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:14.559
And I'm just like I built everything up, made myself so strong mentally and physically, and it just felt like in a split second everything that I've worked for was gone.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:19.039
Um and you know, that's probably the darkest it's felt, you know.
00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:27.759
You have your you have your days throughout where you you're like is this is there even a point in doing this?
00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:30.480
Like I'm not even guaranteed anything.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:32.799
Like I can't even feel my fingers.
00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:40.559
Um and I just kind of kicked back and was like like screw this.
00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:42.079
I've gotta do it.
00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:49.359
Like I've I've done twenty twenty years of baseball and I'm just what gonna walk away because of this.
00:23:49.759 --> 00:24:59.359
Like and I've had multiple times where I've almost quit like straight after college and Blue Sox kind of brought me back in and made me love it again, and I'm like, I I just I I wanna win and I'm I wanna be back and I wanna keep playing and I'm not done and um as much as you have your dark days is you just kind of keep pushing through and if you've got the right people around you, it it just helps a lot and um yeah, it's just a lot of long days of just literally sitting on the lounge, you know, um looking at my hand, looking at my scar, and I'm just like this is just shattering, but you know, if I can find a way to make it work, then make it work, and it was probably the first stage of everything was um you know getting the stitches out and all that stuff, and then bending the fingers, um, and trying to loosen up the the tendons and stuff, and that was very shattering, but um then you gotta make a fist, and that was the hardest thing I've ever done.
00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.960
Uh trying to make a fist.
00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:06.079
There was progress and then stopped progress and then progress and then stopped.
00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:12.400
And probably for like two months I couldn't move my my fingers past like a straight.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:20.880
And she I'm just looking at my therapist and she's like, like, you know, well god, I don't know.
00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:26.559
And they they they obviously they were trying to stay as positive as they could, but they didn't know what was gonna happen.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:39.359
And I'm kind of just lying there, shattered mums kind of holding me and and dads around me, and they're just like, you just gotta keep going, like don't stop, like keep going, keep going.
00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:57.039
And um we ended up going back to a therapist, and probably the biggest saving grace we had was um she got out a rice bucket, um just a bucket full of rice, and she's like, Alright, start moving your hand in the rice.
00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:06.720
And something kind of clicked, like I I used to do rice bucket stuff for forearms, you know, at college, you know, most days.
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:19.599
And that was kind of something that I don't know, kind of clicked my mind over, and I had a bit of progress um for the first time in months, and I'm like, oh my god, like that's moving.
00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:21.920
Like, mind you, I couldn't feel them.
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:39.039
So like I went to I went to the the shops to do some shopping and I and I pull Wooly's bag and I put it on my hand and something felt wrong, and I'm holding it like this, like the bag's in between my two fingers, and my two fingers are sticking up.
00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.960
I'm like, oh my god.
00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:45.119
I didn't even like I couldn't even know because I couldn't feel them, you know.
00:26:45.359 --> 00:27:07.920
So learning to be aware of my hand like fully functioning and watching what I'm doing and being careful and doing all that stuff, like yeah, I mean I look back at photos and stuff now and it just completely shatters me every time I look at it because I'm just like like how how does that happen?
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:38.480
Um but you continue to move forward and you know I finally had that progress, and as soon as I was able to kind of put my hand even just slightly around a bat, I had a bat, and I was just sending photos to everyone and um videos to people and you know they're all behind me and yeah, it's uh it's such a crazy, crazy time to go through.
00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:42.160
Um, but you really find out that you're not by yourself.
00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:58.720
Um and you know, I had Gary always reaching out to me, I had all my mates always reaching out to me, and I had mom and dad and you know finally as soon as I was able to swing, I was telling the videos and yeah.
00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:12.160
Um I'm so so grateful to have the surgeon that I had, the therapist that I had, the people around me that I had, you know, without them I wouldn't I wouldn't be here with you right now.
00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:15.759
Like I wouldn't be signed, I wouldn't be anything.
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:42.640
I'd be sitting at home probably trying to keep moving my hand, you know, and sure it's a credit to myself for staying true to myself and going through with everything, but you know, it's a it's an effort from everyone to help me get through it, and uh you know, I didn't I didn't stop, I just did stuff every single day, whatever I had to do, and you know, now now I'm back here.
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:53.519
And your ability to stay positive through all that, no doubt, is I mean, one of, if not the main reason why you're back on the field.
00:28:53.680 --> 00:29:00.799
I mean, it's it's an incredible story, Jalen, because there's so many people that would have given up that would have just said, you know what, it's not worth it.
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.559
I had my opportunity.
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.160
It's not gonna happen for me.
00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.279
It wasn't meant to be, right?
00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:06.799
That would be the easiest thing to say.
00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:17.039
Um and I've heard ball players before that have gone through you know what they thought could have been devastating career-ending injuries and talking about the mental place that you need to be in.
00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:19.519
It's like, well, I know I've got to walk through the sand.
00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:24.079
I can pretend that that sand's on the beach, or I can pretend that that sand is in the middle of the desert.
00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:27.359
They're both sand, but the outlook is way different, right?
00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:32.160
So you having that ability every single day to go, you know what, I'm walking on a beach in the sand.
00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:38.079
I'm in the sand, I might as well be in the best place possible, walking on the sand, not in the middle of the desert.
00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:46.559
And it feels like you were able to keep that mentality and every little tiny win that you had was that another step forward if maybe this is possible.
00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:55.119
I I remember a conversation that you, me, and uh Solomon McGuire had ahead of game three of the ABL championship series.
00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:58.640
And I mean, of course, you're you're sitting there with your fingers in a sling.
00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:05.440
Solo's got a sling over his shoulder um with the injury that that he faced before the season started.
00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:14.480
Uh and I know you guys obviously were having conversations back and forth about trying to keep each other up and and and stay right rally in terms of getting back on the field.
00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:23.759
Was there anybody else that you spoke to from a player standpoint that had had you know a devastating injury previously that that that sort of helped you get through that?
00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.960
Because I often find that I mean, obviously the answers are in your peers.
00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:41.519
I mean, obviously your parents were in your corner, coaches were in your corner, the Blue Sox organization was in your corner, but I imagine it was probably some of that encouragement from your peers that maybe meant most of all, or maybe was was the most calming at times to go right, other people have done this.
00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:45.920
Someone else that I know really well that I've played with is going through it now.
00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:49.200
Why can't I keep forward just to see what happens?
00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:52.240
Yeah, I mean, I mean, you hit the nail on the head.
00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:57.519
I mean, solo, you know, the the things he's had to go through in his career.
00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:01.279
Um, you know, you wouldn't wish it on anyone.
00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:18.559
Um and he's been probably the biggest um guy that I've had to kind of talk with and rely on and you know, really question like how he gets through everything mentally, you know, because you know, the things he's been through, I'd be shocked.
00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:29.119
And the mental fortitude that he has just to keep continuing to um, you know, recover and come back and keep trying, you know.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:34.160
He's been a dude that I've relied on a ton 'cause I'm like, how do you do it?
00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:34.799
You know?
00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:37.759
And he's like, you just gotta look at the bigger picture.
00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:42.880
You just gotta keep keep looking forward and not look back.
00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.440
Keep going and don't stop.
00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:48.640
As soon as you stop, you know, you're shot, you're dead in the water.
00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:49.920
Just keep going.
00:31:50.079 --> 00:32:08.720
Whether whether it's hard right now or whether it's easy, just keep going and you know, I've had I've I've been lucky because a lot of those boys on the Blue Sox I'm really close with off the field, like, you know, Harry Fort and and Joe Stevens and um, you know, really any of them.
00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:15.680
Um and you know, I've even had the Wells boys reaching out, you know, making sure that I'm okay and things like that.
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:30.880
And I've had, you know, tons of tons of people um that reached out to me that I didn't think I'd hear from and stuff, and you know, it's you don't know about it until you're in it.
00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.000
Right?
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:42.400
Like if someone asked me something about it when he was injured I would just say, hey, try and stay positive, like as in like I would know.
00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:47.839
You know, and now that I'm in it, I'm like the battle is really it's like it's a battle.
00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:57.759
It is like you're you're fighting yourself every single day and the biggest win you can take is the win against yourself.
00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:03.440
And you know, I put myself into this situation, I've got to get myself out.
00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:12.000
And the only way I can get myself out is by continuing to do everything that I have to do to get better regardless of how I feel on the day.
00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:33.200
Like I mean, even yesterday, you know, I was in the sun all day working just completely shot and I I was so tired and I didn't want to I came home, I'm like, I'm I just want to sleep and um all I could think about was like last year, like I wouldn't let myself sleep.
00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:38.880
I'd have to go and make sure I got my swings in and I had to go to the gym.
00:33:39.279 --> 00:34:01.759
And I knew that even right now I'd feel like I'd feel arse but you know, at at the end of the day I can go to sleep knowing that I did what I had to do and regardless of what happened, and that's kind of how I was trying to treat my injury was you know, last year I put in all that work regardless of how I felt it didn't matter.
00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:07.599
I just put it in because I knew the outcome was greater than how I felt right now.
00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:12.400
Um and yeah, I mean it helps.
00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.000
It helps.
00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:20.960
I mean, I can't really say I I messaged a whole lot of people kind of around because you know it's hard.
00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.400
It really is hard.
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:27.119
Um, but the people that I did speak to, they know.
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:30.480
Um and you know, they helped me a lot.
00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:50.800
Well, and look, I think your story has the potential to inspire, you know, something that we obviously don't wish on any baseball player, but I mean the injury is an inevitability in any sport on on or off the field, um, and what you've had to endure in the last uh 12 months and to get back to where you are is inspiring.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:54.400
Um, I'll say that to you, um, us two sitting here now.
00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:17.920
If you were motivated last year, which clearly you were, I think that ramps up another bit this year to prove the hand is back to a point where I can produce at an elite level to get back to being a 400 hitter, which we all want to see again with elite defense, and the ability to get back to the northern hemisphere and play professional baseball somewhere else.
00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:25.199
So when you look at the prospect of a season ahead, which I imagine in your head may feel even freer.
00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.960
You talk about playing free last year.
00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:31.199
Maybe you feel like you're really playing with house money now in 26, 27.
00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:44.559
But aside from the obvious of just getting back on the field, being back with the guys, I mean, I talked with Gary about a whole new group of young Australians that are coming through and New South Wales kids that'll be on the Blue Sox that you would have grown up playing with.
00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:48.639
And, you know, you talk about that thump in the order that came last year from import guys.
00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:55.440
We're gonna see that this year with the likes of Blake Cavill and Brent Tyredale, who who are guys that we're really excited to have back in the fold here in New South Wales.
00:35:55.679 --> 00:36:03.360
So, aside from the obvious of just getting back on the field, pulling that Blue Sox uniform on for the first time at the beginning of the year, which I know will be emotional for you.
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:09.280
What are some of the other things that you're looking forward to heading into this 26-27 season?
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:28.079
One where it really does feel like the Blue Sox still have uh momentum, even though the teams have been different the last couple of years, back-to-back minor premierships fell short in the playoffs, but it really still does feel like this Blue Sox organization is gaining steam, and you and that local group around you have had a lot to do with that.
00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:38.079
So I'm gonna I'm just curious of knowing the prospect of the type of team that that is going to be put together with the Blue Sox this year, what's what's got you stoked for the year upcoming?
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:42.880
I've been saying it, you know, the last two years.
00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.679
Um, I want to come back here and win.
00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.960
I just want to win.
00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:48.320
That's that's all I care about.
00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.400
I want to come back and bring a championship.
00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:59.360
It's been far too long, you know, and we've been talking about it, you know, since we were youngsters, you know, that we want to win here.
00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:12.159
Um and the change that we've kind of brought the last few years compared to years prior, you know, we were a bottom team, and the last two years we've taken it to the top teams, you know.
00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:17.119
We've finished my premiers, sure that doesn't really mean a lot when it comes to postseason at all.
00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:26.719
Um, but you know, we've had two years of experience now in the finals, and we're one game short last year, and I don't know, man.
00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.920
I'm just so excited.
00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:31.199
I've just got that feeling, it's not even the season yet, you know.
00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:51.440
And um the boys that we're bringing in, you know, they know how to win, they know how to play, they've been around big teams, big organizations, um, and you know, we've got a bit of experience and um we've got that fire, you know, um, and that's that's something that you need to have if you want to win too.
00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:56.960
It's not just um it's not just talent, you need that, you need that ticker.
00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.960
Um and I feel like we've got that.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:06.320
And um I'm so excited and humbled to be able to be a part of this again.
00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:08.880
Um, but you know, our job isn't done.
00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:13.599
Um, you know, sure we'd like a minor premiership again, but we want that.
00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:15.199
We want that claxon shield.
00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.880
We're bringing it home.
00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:19.760
Um, and this this is gonna be the year.
00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:30.719
And before I let you go, one thing that I'm interested in, because you know I'm a bit of a storyteller, because you know, when you're in the booth on your own three and a half hours a day, you've you've you've got to have stories up your sleeve, Jalen.
00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:31.599
I'll give you the tip.
00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:37.840
Um getting the opportunity to play with Blake Cavill again after you played with him in college.
00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:54.159
I can't think of an instance in which two players from Australia have gone and played D1 college baseball at a high level at the same university and then get a chance to play in their home state professionally in the Australian baseball league.
00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:56.320
That's an incredible story for me.
00:38:56.400 --> 00:39:07.119
Um I don't know if you guys have spoken about it, what what what that'll mean, but to me that's an embodiment of what uh progress for the sport and the country looks like.
00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:11.440
But I'm interested in it from a player standpoint, and I'll ask him the same question.
00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:13.679
Um Have you guys spoken about that?
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:17.199
Because to me, that's that's an incredible story, right?
00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:20.239
Yeah, yeah, I mean, we have for sure.
00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:23.119
I mean, I speak to him, I speak to him most days.
00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:26.880
Um he's a funny dude, right?
00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:32.639
He's he's a guy, and I'll continue to say this with complete respect.
00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:39.280
He's a guy you want on your team, and when you when he's on your team, you love him, when he's uh against you, you hate him, right?
00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:40.320
And it's probably the best.
00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:47.920
I think we saw a lot of uh I think we saw a lot of universities thinking that exact same thing in the in the college postseason, college world series last year.
00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:48.800
Yeah.
00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:54.719
One thing I know though with Blake is you know when he's on your team, he's 100% brought bought in.
00:39:54.880 --> 00:40:00.159
Um and that was one of the funniest years I've ever had living with him.
00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:04.000
Um living with him and then playing.
00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:07.760
Um look he's a he's a character, that's for sure.
00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:27.039
But um, you know, I love him, and we had so much fun together that year, and he's a good player, man, knows how to hit, knows what he's doing, and um brings a lot of energy to the team, which is exactly what we've had the last few years, and it's just another guy to kind of add on to it and um I'm fired up for it.
00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:29.199
Uh the boys are fired up for it.
00:40:29.280 --> 00:40:36.960
And um, yeah, we we can't wait to kind of all finally get back together, and it's like the band getting back together again.
00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.239
And um yeah, we can't wait.
00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:42.480
We're so excited, it's gonna be so much fun.
00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:50.960
Well, look, man, I could I could tell you were keen in text message exchanges back and forth the last couple weeks and now having chatted to you for a little less than an hour.
00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:52.320
Uh you've affirmed that.
00:40:52.480 --> 00:41:01.440
So I I I think there's a lot of a lot of Blue Stocks fans now that appreciate what you've gone through and uh are also about ready to run through a brick wall uh in anticipation for this season.
00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.280
So look at all your busy, brother.
00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:05.280
Really appreciate you giving us some time and opening up.
00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.519
That was uh it was incredible to hear your story.
00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:10.320
Uh we're all working for you and looking forward to getting back in the park.
00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:14.639
And uh really appreciate it.
