Catching Up With Troy Hanzawa
Had a chance to chat with 2009 BlueClaws shortstop Troy Hanzawa earlier today. He’s currently out in the Arizona Fall League with Scottsdale and a number of other Phillies prospects. Hanzawa hit .267 with 2 home runs and 47 RBIs for the BlueClaws this year while playing an excellent shortstop. He played in all but 12 games as Lakewood won the 2009 SAL Championship.
Some thoughts from Hanzawa, 24, who is on the team’s taxi squad, which means he can only be active one day per week…
- When asked if he looks back now at the 2009 season…“Definately. It’s great, there were 16 teams in the league and we came out on top. I’m thinking about what the ring looks like too.” (He won’t find that out for a few months).
- When did you think the team was good enough to win the whole thing…“We felt early on we were good enough, once we played a little bit we felt we had as good a shot as anyone. About 3/4 of the way through we stumbled a bit, but we got some guys to come in and help. It was all good.”
- What he’s taking from his time in Arizona…“The biggest thing is just watching the caliber of players out here. You try to learn a little from everyone. I haven’t gotten that many at bats or innings so you really try to make the ones you do get count.”
- With most of the other players from AA or AAA, he talks about the difference in experience…“It’s significant, but really on any given day if a hitter is feeling good he can hit. So I’m just trying to pull from them, and learn what they’re doing and different approaches to the game.”
- Now basically in his seventh straight month of baseball, how does he feel physiaclly…“Right now I’m allright. I take BP every day, take grounders every day. I think my body has recovered from the season. Afterwards, I’ll probably just go straight into workouts and get ready for 2010.”
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