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| Andrew in last year's game against Stanford. Photo by Michael Pimentel, GoldenBearSports.com |
He kids that he was a suitcase baby, moving around
and living in hotels until he was five years old. That’s when his dad, Mike,
retired from baseball.
Mike spent 11 seasons catching in the minors, seven
of them in AAA. He was drafted by the California Angels and finished with the
Seattle Mariners, playing in numerous cities along the way including Midland,
Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Andrew hopes to continue to follow in his dad’s
footsteps. He already plays the same position, catcher. He attends Cal, just
like his dad. The next step is being drafted, but for right now he is focused
on the season and his team.
Andrew, a junior, was named first-team Preseason
All-American by Baseball America. The
last Cal Bear to receive this honor was Brett Jackson in 2009. Brett is with
the Chicago Cubs and is slated to start in AAA this season.
Andrew has spent his last two summers playing the
game he loves. In the summer of 2011 he led the Northwoods League in hitting with
.500 and drove in 33 runs. And, last summer he played in the prestigious Cape
Cod League for the Chatham Anglers. In 40 games, he batted .293 with 13
doubles, 8 home runs, and 29 runs batted in.
In the season opener he hit the game winner—a bases-loaded
single up the middle to defeat
Michigan 5-4 in extra innings.
In game two of the series he hit a two-run homer to left field.
And,
on Sunday, March 3, against Houston he went 4-for-5 with a double, home run,
and three RBI.
I sat down with Andrew recently and he shared his
story.
PJ:
Your dad played baseball at Cal. Was this the only college you wanted to
attend?
Andrew: My dad played catcher here in 1985, 1986. He
transferred from Sacramento City. Growing up I went to a lot of Cal baseball
and football games. I never saw myself wanting to go anywhere else. Through
high school I was not highly recruited. So, I started looking at other places a
little. But, in my junior year I played good…hit around .500 and got an
incredible offer from Cal. It’s the school I always wanted. My dad’s dad went
to Cal; my brother is coming next year. It’s in my family.
PJ:
How long have you been playing catcher?
Andrew: Since my freshman year in high school. When
Devon (Rodriguez) went down last year, I played first base and outfield. I was
behind Chadd (Krist, all Pac-12 catcher who holds Cal’s all-time doubles record
with 65 and was selected by the Cubs in the ninth round of the 2012 draft), a
four-year starter. I learned from watching him. It’s where I am most
comfortable and where I will thrive later in baseball. One of the things I take
pride in is my handling of the staff. I have guys who want to pitch to me and
enjoy throwing to me. We have chemistry and they trust me. With me back there
they have more confidence in their pitches and have faith that I will catch and
block them.
PJ:
Last year was tough…losing one of your key players in Devon Rodriguez. What was
it like facing this
challenge?
Andrew: When Devon went down, we lost a huge part of
our team. He’s a team leader on and off the field, definitely. It was a big
blow to us, but it’s not like this team hasn’t dealt with adversity. It took a
full team effort last year. That experience and what we learned from it will
help us this year. Playing in different positions and now being back in our
regular positions just gives us a different perspective. And, with Devon back
we will be that much better.
PJ:
Tell me a little more about the adjustment you had to make to play other
positions last year.
Andrew: It was tough as I never really played first
base. I like to see myself as an athletic guy…just knowing how to play, where
to throw the ball. I was out early before every practice and every game taking
ground balls and fly balls under the lights. I had to fill a big spot with
Devon gone. I was just trying to fill some of the void.
I have more confidence and am a much better catcher
now. Now we have a catcher being a catcher, a first baseman being a first
baseman. Last year was a stretch and there was always that little question of
is this going to work? Is he really a shortstop if he’s never played shortstop?
PJ:
What are your goals for this season?
Andrew: If the team has a good season, I have a good
season. We need to get back into the playoffs and win the Pac-12 championship.
We have the hardest conference in the nation. If you end up on top you have a
good chance going to the College World Series. I want to be a leader on and off
the field. Whatever it takes for the team to succeed is what I’m going to do.
PJ:
When did you decide to become a switch hitter?
Andrew: My dad was a right handed hitter in the
minors and was told that he would have gone further if he had been a switch
hitter. So, it was my mom who turned me around and told me to hit left handed.
In little league I hit right handed, but when I was 13 I made the change. Now
it’s 100% natural and it even feels more natural left-handed. It took two to
three years to get good. It takes a lot of commitment to stick with hitting
left handed. I have to hand it to my dad because he kept me going.
PJ:
What are your overall baseball goals?
Andrew: I would like to pursue a professional
career. I am always getting better. I’m going to ride it as long as I can.
Going to Cal I am getting a good education and will earn my degree. I will end
up in baseball no matter what, even if it’s on the business side. Baseball is
my life now and in the future. 
