Q&A with Tampa Bay Rays Prospect WILL INMAN
I recently had a Q&A session through e-mail with Red Sox prospect Will Inman.
Buffalo Ballhawk: What is your favorite ballpark to play in?
Will Inman: “When Portland, Or was still a baseball field I think it was the best hands down. Since it’s not though I would say probably Salt Lake Bees,” Inman replied through e-mail.
BB: What was your favorite team growing up?
WI: “It has to be the braves because they were the team I got to see the most. I grew up in sticks of southern Virginia and TBS was all we got to see most of the time,” Inman replied through e-mail.
BB: Was there any player in particular that you admired growing up?
WI: “It would of been Greg Maddux if anyone,” Inman replied through e-mail.
BB: What is the greatest baseball related moment you have had so far?
WI: “I’d say the best moment I have had would either be winning my first state championship as a junior at my high school in 2004. ( I know cliche.) Or either playing in the futures game at the Old Yankee Stadium in 2008,” Inman replied through e-mail.
BB: What other sports did you play growing up?
WI: “ I played football until I was 12 and my pops pulled me off the field one day and said ‘This is dumb… You’re way too good at baseball to be trying to hit these other idiots.’ ( My pops is a little redneck. lol),” replied Inman through e-mail.
BB: Do you think you will be involved with baseball after your playing career?
WI: “After you have been in baseball as long as I have (going on 20 years or 9 professionally) you can’t get away from it even if you wanted to. What am I going to do, go to college and not have any input on the baseball team? Go home and never go to the main event of the week, the baseball game at Turnstall High School in Dry Fork, Virginia? No. Whether it be professionally, or not, I will be involved somehow,” replied Inman through e-mail.
BB: What are your goals for the 2013 season?
WI: “My goals this year are the same as they have been since about 2011. Just go out there and leave it on the field. Control what I can and let everyone else worry about the rest,” replied Inman through e-mail.
BB: What’s your advice to have for kids trying to make it to the pros?
WI: “My only advice is that remember its just a game. Not who you are. Do it because you want to not because anyone else wants you to,” replied Inman through e-mail.
More On Will Inman
Will Inman was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft at age 18 by the Milwaukee Brewers. He started his career right away in 2005 with the Helena Brewers. In 2006, he had a career high 10 wins as a 19 year old with the South Atlantic League’s West Virginia Power. On July 25th, 2007, Inman was traded to the San Diego Padres with pitchers Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher in exchange for for relief pitcher Scott Linebrink. During the 2010 season, Inman underwent ulnar nerve transposition while he was with the Portland Beavers. After the 2011 season, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. After the 2012 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2013 season and received a non-roster invitation to spring training. Hopefully, he will make his MLB debut this year! Thanks again, Will, for doing this!
-Danny
Nice interview, Danny. He seems like a player to root for. Maybe I’ll see him if he’s with the Durham Bulls in May. Oh, and I really like the Bisons new uniforms, too. Simple and classy.
-Mike
Nice post Danny. Hopefully we get to see him play when the Bulls come to town this year.
-Quinn
http://www.milbballhawk.mlblogs.com