Full Transcript for Daniel Brooks

dream and I my goal is to get to the big leagues, but I can't control that at the end of the day. All I can control is just giving my best and my preparation and the results. Lay where they lay. Ben Weaver: Yeah, man. with that being said, you know, do you have any kind of like chip on your shoulder feeling that, you know, everybody kind of passed up on me, you know, and like, but here you are just dominating at whatever stop you're going to? Like, is there what do you feel now that looking back on your season and everything is like, okay, I know I can do this, or is it like, yeah, I showed you guys. What what are you feeling whenever it comes to that? Daniel Brooks: I it's I do have a chip on my shoulder, but it's not necessarily like I'm trying to prove something to s somebody. again, I just I think I'm just trying to play the game to the best of my capability. And you know, throughout this year specifically it came in injured. Vila was down, went then it went up and then towards the end of the season I started starting, it went down again. And I think what I learned a lot is it's less about what stuff you have, because nine times out of ten, you don't have your best stuff. It's more of what goes on inside your mind when you're pitching. Like, are you pitching with conviction? Are you pitching scared or are you pitching confidently? And I know that that doesn't work necessarily for everybody, but I think that that's where I had to grow this year. And you know, when I'm out there, I'm not trying to pitch to prove a point to somebody. I'm pitching to try to give glory to God. And I think that's why. baseball or sports is so be like amazing and a lot of people want to watch it is because people are giving their best from both sides of the ball, hitting and pitching. And so it's really fun to watch when someone's giving the best part or max effort they can into their talent or skill. ryan: What is the difference in game prep for you between college and professional ball? Daniel Brooks: when I first got here, they the Braves have been amazing. They taught me a lot of different stuff. just you know, in college, I would just get out to the field and I would start warming up out there. But once I got to professional baseball, they show me that there's a warm up before you warm up. And so I'd spend like a thirty minutes to an hour of activating certain muscles, heating them up with actual like heat, like a I don't know what you call it, like a heat sleeve, I guess. And like there's a lot and mobility and there's a lot more stuff that goes into before you throw, getting yourself ready to throw than when you're actually out there. Versus in college, I just show up to the field, do do some dynamic stretch bands and then throw. So that's the biggest thing Ben Weaver: So Daniel Brooks: I've seen the difference in how I prepare versus when I got here. Ben Weaver: So going off of that as well, going from preparing as far as a bullpen role goes, where you started out this year, to going to preparing for your starts there at the end of the year, what would you say, you know, what would be the difference with those? If if there if there is any difference there, I mean, you know. Daniel Brooks: Yeah, I mean s I mean relievers in professional baseball, we throw a couple hours before the game. Starters, since you know you're throwing that day, you throw right before the game, throw a pregame bullpen, and then you go in. But I mean, I started in college for three to four years. So I mean, I have I had a routine. It's changed quite a bit this year. And one of my low A coaches in Augusta, Nina, also helped me with preparing routine along with our other like pitching coordinators. and getting that ready where it shifted a little bit. And in college I used to have like a leg kick and then once I got here they they suggested that I take that away so that I can have better repeatability and control my body better, which it did help a lot. Ben Weaver: I wish I would have had somebody tell me that whenever I was pitching. I was a I was a starting pitcher growing up and everything and I ended up blowing out my arm and, you know, my shoulder and my elbow Daniel Brooks: jeez. Ben Weaver: and everything like that. So it was, you know, not fun. But if yeah, I I'm glad that, you know, they have guys, especially once you get into college and the pros that really help you, you know, learn how to use your body to your advantage. Cause you're a big guy. I mean, you are you're Daniel Brooks: Yeah. Ben Weaver: listed at six, seven, two fifty. And I'm sure, you know, whenever you're releasing the ball at ninety-two, ninety-three, I'm sure it's getting on a hitter probably closer to ninety-eight, it feels like, you know, cause your extension and everything. What are some of the biggest aspects of your mechanics that you kind of keep an eye out for, whether it be extension, whether it be arm slot, you know, things of that nature. What what is something that you pay the most attention to on a day to day basis? Daniel Brooks: well, for me personally, I'm kind of a guy that can get in my head a little bit about mechanics. So this year I try to simplify everything and take it back to the basics where it's literally all I told myself is I need to step and throw 'cause sometimes I'd start to throw before my front foot hits. So it's kind of that those kind of things, not like I need to get more extension. if anything, like f to create more extension, I would think release the ball late. Or hand speed late has been a cue that I've used. but I don't really try to chase a metric in terms of extension or release height or anything like that. because I think when I do that, that's when I get into issues. And I think that's why I can get hurt sometimes. Is because I think, okay, this is what my body should look like when I'm pitching. These are the positions I need to be in versus like the feel. Like we talk about this in pitching, feel

versus real. Like what does it feel like? And, you know, how I throw and what I feel may be different from what other people do. And the more I've thrown in my career, the more I've realized there's not like one set of like these are the perfect pitching mechanics because it's different. There's different variants of different people, heights, all that stuff. Ben Weaver: yeah. yeah. Right. ryan: So game after game, what are you looking to improve on? Daniel Brooks: well this year when I'm I mean when I'm in the game, it's kind of interesting. Like you're trying to still compete as to win the game, but I focus more of my on my process and the output because there's been times in the past where I've had the same process but different result. so in the game, it kind of goes like I black out, like I'm not trying to think about anything specifically. I'm just like, okay. Like I'm trying to win the at bat, I'm trying to essentially dominate the hitter. And that's kind of what I think out there. I I'm not really thinking about too much. But throughout a season, the goals are to maintain VLO, to maintain health, which both I did not do well this year. And just make sure I'm hitting all my checkpoints in in those categories. Ben Weaver: I mean, let's be honest here, i maintaining VLO and maintaining health. You had a injury, you you said you had Tommy John, what, a couple of years ago now. I mean, that Daniel Brooks: Hmm. Yeah. Twenty three. Ben Weaver: do that stuff does take time to come back. And plus playing your first professional baseball season, I mean, that's a whole other animal, especially even from the college season itself. So I think next year with a full off season, I mean you should be you should be back to maintaining your VLO a little bit deeper into the season, all that kind of good stuff. my next question and kinda I'm gonna keep it a little bit lighter here. What was your favorite moment from this season? Just overall, you know, it could be getting promoted, it could be n being named a starter, it could whatever. Just your favorite moment from this season. Daniel Brooks: I don't know if I could pick one. I know that when I got promoted when I finally got out of Florida to go up to Augusta, that was a big moment. and it was interesting because this is my first year being married. So my wife and I have been kind of like learning the process together. And so she's we were we were kind of like trying to figure it out. And it's just cause it's very abrupt because they can tell you like, hey, you gotta be here at this time, you gotta pack up all your stuff. Especially as a married couple, we have a little more things than I would have had if I was single. But so we had to pack up a lot of stuff and move. but those those moments of when they call you and tell you that you're getting promoted are always special. And I remember vividly the one from Florida to Augusta and then Augusta to Rome. but I would say like as far as like pitching on Fourth of July, it was we had a huge crowd in Augusta. And I don't know why, but I was just getting worked up inside, just frustrated with the umpires or something. And I just remember the last out of the game. It was like ninth innings, close game. and I struck the guy out and I remember like yelling and I was pretty pumped Ben Weaver: Yeah. Daniel Brooks: up about it. but yeah, I would just say the promotions were big. Starting was kind of caught me by surprise. but then Fourth of July, I I remember that game and it was very fun to pitch in. Yeah. Yeah. Ben Weaver: Yeah man. Well that's good right there. Right? ryan: So you mentioned the pitching coach and Augusta. Who have you been who in Atlanta's organization would you accredit most of your brain picking to? Daniel Brooks: I mean our coordinators worked a lot with me on my pitching setup and how I throw like that's why I went started stopped going with leg kick to like st essentially stepping and throwing. And then more of when I was talking about Augusta, he was a huge mental coach for me and he taught me a lot. about the game mentally. and he he got all the way up to triple A himself and I think he s told me he was on the 40 man, but I asked him a lot of questions about his experience. and he kind of took me under his wing a little bit out there. Cause our coordinators, we don't get to see them as much, but he I s I mean I saw my pigeon coach every day. and he made an impact on me. Just from the way that he carried himself, he's a man, I would say that when he says something, he means it. And I think that's what we all aspire to be as men. But like he I feel like I picked that up about him. and I really respected that about him. And I think that that's why he was one of more my more transformational coaches that I learned from mentally. but as far as pitching, I would say like all of them equally. Like they all taught me something. mechanically and help me move along in the process. Ben Weaver: Well, you know what Yogi Berra said. Baseball's ninety percent mental and the other half is physical. So, you know, you Daniel Brooks: Yeah. Ben Weaver: gotta you gotta make sure that you got you keep your mind right, especially over the course of a long season for sure. Daniel Brooks: That's true. H hundred percent. Ben Weaver: Ryan, what else you got? Muted. You're muted. ryan: kids. Ben Weaver: Okay. ryan: So w of after watching you throughout Augusta, throughout Rome, you do an amazing job of tunneling, specifically with your slider off of your fastball. How do you get that slider to play so well off the fastball? Daniel Brooks: huh. I mean, I just try to throw both pitches the same. I try to throw my slider just as hard as my fastball, which I guess helps. And then my sights just change for when I'm trying to throw, depending on where I'm trying to throw my slider, whether it's in the zone or out of the zone. and I think that what helps me most though to answer your question is just trying to

throw the slider as hard as my fastball, because I think Where sliders that pop out of my hand are all speed pitches that pop out of my hand are when you try to slow it down because you know it's an off speed pitch and so you're trying to make it move more. And that's where I can get into trouble, but when it tunnels well, I I'm throwing it. I'm trying to throw it hard. Ben Weaver: I think we might have time for one or two more, Ryan, if you wanna go ahead and wrap us up and then I'll end with just a non baseball question just to kinda end it out. But Ryan, what what else you got? ryan: Well, I just had two more. What are you gonna be working on on the off season and what are your goals for twenty seven? Daniel Brooks: Well all season right now I'm working on a change up. just getting a change up back into the arsenal. And then yeah, he's got a good one. He's got a very good one. Ben Weaver: Talk to Davis Polo, please. Talk to d yeah, talk to Davis. He's got a nasty one. Daniel Brooks: and then I'm not mechan I'm sure some things mechanically, but those are some things that our co my coordinators will like point out to me as we go out throughout the all season and help me with. and then twenty twenty seven, my goals. Number one would be stay stay healthy and like I wanna come in. I don't care if I did bad, is if I'm doing healthy, if I'm available, that's that's the best thing for me instead of being out. and number two, which I wanted to build off this this year, was just I felt like I've thrown the ball, I mentioned this earlier with conviction, more this year than I have in my entire baseball career. Like I didn't care what hitter it was. and I didn't care what count it was. I just threw the ball the best I could and I didn't try to some I would try to throw it to a location, but I wouldn't like, no, like if it's not there, then I'm screwed. Like they're gonna they're gonna hit it. which has been my mindset in the past. And I feel like that helped me out. but as far as like where I'll be next year, I don't know. it I mean it all depends on performance and results. Again, I can't control those, but I'm hoping I'll keep keep climbing next year, but we'll see. Ben Weaver: I'll tell you right now, if you keep pitching like you were this past year, you're gonna be at least in Gwinnett. All right. That's the very least by the end of the year. Daniel Brooks: We'll see. Ben Weaver: but I Ryan, you got anything else before? ryan: I mean, your dad's your biggest fan. What he he posts Ben Weaver: Dude, my gosh. my gosh. Daniel Brooks: I know that. ryan: everything that Ben or I post, he reposts it er he never misses a tweet. So Ben Weaver: Never. ryan: what kind of role has he played in your love of baseball? Daniel Brooks: I mean, he's definitely one of my biggest supporters has been a battle between my wife and him now for number one. But I mean he's he's always loved baseball. He's always loved me. and he's always done as much as he could to help me in my career and help me fulfill the dream that I had since I was younger. but it's meant a lot and I know he cares a lot. but It's funny because it's hard to get him off the subject of baseball sometimes because that's how Ben Weaver: Yeah. Daniel Brooks: much he l he loves it. But it's been great and I know not a lot of kids have the same opportunity as me and their dads. Some of them may not even be present, but s even if they are, they are not as invested as he is. So I I try to remember and s be grateful for how involved and how invested he is in my career and in me. Ben Weaver: Hey, well he like like Ryan said, he's your biggest supporter, and we're not far behind him because we want you to do good too, man. but I think my last question, you said you got married this year, or this Daniel Brooks: Yes. Ben Weaver: is your first year being married, so congratulations on that. it's Daniel Brooks: Thank you. Thank you. Ben Weaver: a big blessing. Me and my wife have been together for about two and a half years now, or been married Daniel Brooks: Wow. Ben Weaver: for two and a half years. So but I Daniel Brooks: Congrats to you. ryan: Yeah. Ben Weaver: yeah, thank you. I think my question If you get if we got anybody who's thinking about getting married out here, what is your one piece of marriage advice in your year being married that you can pass along? Daniel Brooks: well I heard this the other day, but it I think some of the best advice I ever got, and this is not my own advice as someone that that told me this was like if you want a good marriage, get advice from people who have good marriages. And I think when I growing being a guy like a lot of guys like like just get talk about their wife like, the old ball and chain. And you know, I never I never grew up hearing a lot about a lot of guys talking like positively about it. So I would just say if you want a good marriage, go to people who have good marriages and learn from them and what works and choose wisely. Ben Weaver: Yes, choose wisely. I know Daniel Brooks: Yeah. Ben Weaver: and sounds like you got a good head on your shoulders, so it seems like you probably chose wisely. And I know I did, I know Ryan did as well, so you know we're we're we're all good here. But Daniel Brooks: That's good. Ben Weaver: other than that, man, we're thank you again for your time. I know we went a little over what we said we were gonna do, but we appreciate you coming on and we hope to have you back again at some point before you know before you make it to the big leagues because then you'll be too big for us little timers here. But Daniel Brooks: No. Ben Weaver: we we appreciate it, man. Thank you so much. And we you know we'll we'll talk to y'all later. Yes. ryan: Congratulations on an amazing season. Daniel Brooks: Thank you. Ben Weaver: Congrats. Daniel Brooks: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Thank you.