Episode 51 - Hunter Fitz-Gerald

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I'm Aaron

And I'll.

and you're listening to the Monas podcast. Baseball is in full swing, and our Monarchs have won 23 games already and Hunter Fitzgerald, it's a huge part of that success. Join us on the show as the 6 5 230 pound junior first baseman at Al Margate, Florida. Hunter, welcome to the best and only o U podcast.

Hello guys. Thanks for having me.

Hey, thanks for joining us. you've been at ODU for about eight months now. How is Norfolk treating you?

It's go, it's going good so far. It's been a little chilly here and there, but, takes some getting used to, but it's go, it's going good.

All right, hunter. So your father, Todd, he's got an amazing reputation as a high school baseball coach at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High, having won National High School. Ball Coaches Association Coach of the year, like four times. What's it like learning from such a highly respected coach who happens to be your dad?

It's awesome. I mean, just growing up in that background him being there for me my whole life, pretty much pushing me and, giving me all his knowledge that he knows and sharing a lot with me, helped me grow as a player and a person. I just learned a lot from him, from. The playing side and you know, coaching side too. You could just view the game differently. I feel like when you have different different types of coaching aspects like that, that he gives and stuff and, and mindset stuff.

You started your college career at Florida Southern. Is that.

Yep, that's right.

Covid hits, and then you transferred to Florida Southwestern State where you hit 10 bombs and drove in 49 runs and less than 200 at bats. Talk to us about your recruitment when ODU jumped on your radar, and why you ultimately decided to become a monarch.

Going into my spring season last year is when I was first contacted by Logan, when he was still here, Logan Robbins and It gave me a call in like December before I even started my season and just wanted to hear where I was at in the recruiting process and h see my thoughts and stuff. And at the time I didn't really think much of it and I was told him I was gonna weigh out all my options, see how the season goes and make a decision towards the end.

So we know playing opportunities. That's huge for you. I was reading an article With your dad and was talking about a little bit of your journey of where you first started and then Covid hit, and that kind of gave a backlog into the opportunity to play. So, how much awareness did you have with regards to what it might look like this season for you? Playing with all the graduations and draft stuff with Monarch last.

Talking about this season here at odu?

Yeah, the opportunity to kind of step right in and being able to play based upon what Covid did to you in your previous stop.

Yeah, I mean that was one of the big things. They mentioned here and recruiting me that I was gonna come in and play right away and be a key part to the team's offense and team's success and come in here and have the opportunity to do that and have an impact right away. And be able to be a leader and help some of the young guys you know, learn the culture and keep it going. And I felt like I'd done a great job fitting in and clicking with everyone and it seemed to be working out so far.

So you mentioned the culture and we've had kind of a culture shift on his last three years for Old Dominion Baseball. And it's all about dingers now. Two years ago, 105 home runs as a team. Last year, 128. We're over 60 this year already behind you, Jake Tyson, cam Grimes kind of leading the way there. Talk to us about what makes you guys be able to put on a show like that at the.

I think it just at the end of the day, it just all goes back to, to your work ethic and what you're putting in and what you get out of it. I mean, our coaches do a good job of making sure we're on top of ourselves and pushing us to get better. And we have some good hitting guys to help us with our swings and know what we're doing at the plate.

All right. I'm sure Mike is gonna come back to this swing, what you think about a little bit later in the show, but I'm curious as what's been the easiest and the hardest adjustment for you this season? Old Dominion, playing a Sunbelt schedule as compared to your last couple seasons.

I would say, Easy adjustment. I, I mean, it's, you know, you still playing baseball you've done it your whole life. I mean, as the game progresses, you naturally, I would say evolve into a more, like there's more talent along the way at each level, so you kind of evolve into it and. And it just becomes normal. I wouldn't say anything's overwhelming or anything. I, I've seen many good arms and many good hitters we face in the past. And Florida Jucos, no joke.

So no breaks in and out bat you. You're gonna be facing some tough dudes every time you're coming to the plate.

Yeah, you really gotta I would say be locked in for every at bat no matter what team you're facing or, or who, what the pitcher is, how hard or how slow he is. It's everyone can get you out with any pitch. And the teams we face, we play good schedule, so their coaches know how to call pitches and they know how to get guys out. So that's what they try to do.

All right, so, you talked about swing mechanics earlier and the coaching. Have you tweaked your swing at all or how often do you tweak your swing? And if you do tweak it, what kind of decision tree do you go through before you make any changes?

I, I haven't tweaked my swing much at all. Coming here or, or swing set up or nothing like that. It is more so little cues of trying to hold the ground a little longer with my legs. And just riding my, my back leg as long as I can. Keeping my head still allowing me to be able to see the ball as long as I can. And read the pitches better and longer through the zone. And sometimes I could get a little drifty at the plate, so the accused of staying in the ground.

So a lot has been made about the chemistry building and kind of the wind tunnel that it creates at the bud. I'm interested to hear your opinion on whether you think it's had a big impact on hitting home runs, when the wind is going out towards right field.

It definitely, I would say it definitely does help a little bit some days. I don't think we've had as many really good wind days as we have had bad, to be honest. I mean, we've, we've had a lot of days where we've had the wind blowing in or a dead wind or just maybe cuz of the cold air. But we have had some really good wind days and it does help if you. If you don't get all of it, but for the most part, the ones we do hit, like me and Jay Cam, like they're gonna go regardless.

So we've had a few people ask this question with regards to walkup music. So what's your walkup music and how'd you choose?

It's called de la Ma Ma it's a Hispanic song. Basically my teams in the past three years being on the juco, I mean, pretty much all bunch of Latin guys on my team, and they've all been my pretty close friends with the past few years. And whenever you're hanging out together in the weight room, That's all you hear is the, that type of music, it's all upbeat and like always get your like, head moving or you can get in the rhythm with it. And some of the songs are just catching.

Bring a little bit of home with you too.

Yeah, why not?

All right, so baseball is known as a superstitious game. Are you a superstitious guy and if so, what are your superstitious?

I wouldn't say I'm, I'm overly superstitious or anything. The only thing I really do the same, I, I have the same routine going up to the play and I always put I always put my helmet, my elbow guard, my leg guard on the same order, and then my back and gloves. And go up to the plate. But other than that, no. Nothing different really. Like, that's, that's pretty much it.

All right, good lead in here. Now, how about your teammates? Is there anyone that you see that you think has either a weird or a funny superstition?

I feel like there's a good amount of them that do, I don't, I'm trying to think some off the top of my head. I know a bunch of 'em like to have like a energy drinker for a game here and there, something like that. Like, like my roommate Cam will like to eat a, a reesey's take five sometimes before games. I know Kenny likes to always have a reesey's peanut butter cup before games. And Dangler eats about 10 oranges for a game. We have a dugout. So just like little stuff like that is what I notice.

All right. Sticking with this teammate angle who is the funniest teammate and can you share an example of why they're so?

I would say Kyle Edwards he just, he is just always on go. He's such a high motor and he is always talking, he is always cracking on people and just, He's just always making people laugh. He, it's just really funny and he just loves throwing around jokes and stuff. No matter what type of day is, no matter what type of mood anyone else is in, you can, he's always gonna make somebody laugh or himself be laughing. He likes to do impressions on people and impersonate people and it's pretty funny.

Now, I don't know if you heard it this weekend, but there was a guy at the end of the dugout for Southern Mess who was talking trash all, all day Saturday, and I could hear it, it, it got kind of annoying. But I'm wondering who do you think is the best trash talker?

On our team.

Yeah.

Man, I'm not, I'm really not sure I. I would say it's kind of hard sometimes for me to hear it cuz I'm playing first base and our dugouts on the other side, or when we're hitting I'm, I'm more towards the end of the dugout to where like our on deck circle is to be with like the hitters side. Like I'm sure the pitchers have a bunch of stuff they got going on down there, but I never really, I think Blake throws a lot of Blake throws a lot of stuff out there sometimes. He'd be saying stuff.

All right, so you guys travel a lot. You're with each other all the time, whether it's on the road or rooming. What is a, I would say a hidden talent that Monarch Nation wouldn't know that one of the guys in the squad has. That you could.

We got some guys, I, I know Bailey ma mate can play the piano and I, Joey d can sing a little bit. He likes to sing. So, those are some hidden talents, I guess.

I wonder if Joey D got that from his dad.

Sure. Bobby D's a

Yeah, he that.

when I asked that question about trash, Chirping. I was expecting Joey to be the guy because of how good of a chirp his dad is.

Yeah, I mean, I'm sure, I know Joe does throw around a bunch of stuff too. I just, I just can't think of who, who's the most off the top of my head. Just, I guess, gotta be down there a little bit more, I guess, paying attention to him.

Alright, so we, we asked this question a lot on the, on the basketball show, but, and I think we all know the answer before I even ask. What is your favorite play to make in a baseball game?

Favorite play,

Yeah.

like, defensively or on offense?

Dealer's choice here.

Definitely hitting home runs.

You were right Mike.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's gonna be the answer for pretty much everyone we talk to, unless we talk to one of the pitchers

Yeah, I'm sure.

or Kyle.

Yeah. Eddie? No, Eddie, he'll probably now, he'll probably say hit a home run too. He calls himself the Batman. So,

Oh, you gotta tell us why.

He is just, he has so much like, confidence, like when he is in the box and going up to hit and practice every day he calls himself the Batman. He is like, It's like, man, if they put, if they put Batman in right now, I'm gonna tight his game up, or I'm gonna leave the yard, like no matter what. He's always, he's always saying that.

Talking about himself in the third person. I like it.

Yeah.

All right, so we're gonna shift to some Localized questions we ask everybody. These favorite restaurant in.

Restaurant. I don't really al go out to eat so much. Fast food chain place, I would say Chipotle. Other than that, I I'm trying to think of what else. I mean, chicks down and BB is pretty good. I've been there for, they've got some good food. But I think that's like one of the only like restaurants. Restaurants. I haven't been to many around here.

Chicks is a solid answer. Everyone loves.

Yeah.

Yeah. All right. So if you're not at the bud or you're not hitting in the indoor facility, what's your favorite spot on campus?

I don't, I, I don't really have a, a favorite spot, I guess so to say, cuz when I'm on campus and we're always at the field, like you said we're in cages. Other than that, we're. Kind of at home, we're playing video games with each other at, at our place right across the street. And I'm lucky enough to be in all online classes so I don't have to go to campus or anything, so that's pretty cool.

All right, so what game is the go-to game for the.

The go-to game the beginning of the year in the fall, we were all playing Call of Duty together the Modern Warfare two, and now everyone got the new M l b, the show. So they've been grinding that playing a bunch of that. And some of our guys bring their consoles when we go on the road and we all hang out in a, in a room and play.

All right. If you were gonna grab the fellas to watch a baseball movie, which one would it.

Ooh, baseball movie to watch. Let's see. I always liked Rookie of the Year growing up. That's one of my, my favorite ones, I would say. Bad News Bears is, is a classic too, I would say

The original or which, which one?

original.

Yeah.

Original. Yep.

Butter Maker, I mean, yeah. What a classic.

Yeah.

All right. Musical artist or band.

I'm a big I, I like rap a lot. That's pretty much all what I listen to most of the time. I like listening to Lil Baby and Kodak Black.

All right. If you could sit down with any person past or present and have a conversation, who would it be and why?

I would try to get with Barry Bonds maybe, and just pick his brain a bunch about hidden. Thought process and just mindset, all that, just about the game and just day-to-day life in, in the big leagues and facing like arms like that every day and how you approach that and your thought process going into, going into that day in and day out.

All right. If you could match up with any pitcher that are alive, doesn't matter who it is, who would you pick? Why, and what are you gonna do with that pitch?

Um, I would man any picture? Well, I'll tell you what, it wouldn't be, it wouldn't be Randy Johnson. Cuz that would be scary. I bet.

talking about the scariest lefty on lefty.

yeah, I know that's, that'd be brutal. I would love to face like, like, deGrom and hopefully it'll group me a fast ball over the plate and I'll try to, try to get it over the fence. I feel like that'd be a, a fun batter or show. Hey, maybe too, it'd be interesting.

All right, so I know you're well established on the baseball team. But if you had the opportunity to play on another old Dominion sports team, which one would it be? And.

Maybe football. I played football growing up. So I was always liked playing football and I mean, I feel like I could compete on the field, like physicality wise. So that'd be pretty fun to just go hit some people on the field, play some defense yeah. Or some tight end or something like that.

So you did. Is that the position you put?

When I played growing up, I played I played a little bit of tight end and I played safety a little bit as well. And receiver,

Safety is a tough position, man.

yeah.

What is your top personal and team goal for this year, and what will it take for you and the team to get there?

Team goal. We want to definitely, definitely be at the top of the conference by the end of the regular season. And we definitely plan on being in a regional and our goal is to get into that regional and win it and being a super and go ourselves the best chance of. Of, you know, hopefully going to, going to Omaha. Like, that'd be pretty cool. And I think we're definitely capable, capable of getting ourselves into the regional and, and winning that.

Yeah, that'd be awesome. I know Mike and I have been talking about wanting to make that trip to Omaha for a while, so that would be a great reason to.

Yeah, I mean, I, this, I would just love to go play like a regional at, at, at somewhere else and play in front of a bunch of fans. Like I've been talking about that with, with my roommates a little bit. I feel like that'd just be so cool to do, just go travel somewhere else and play in front of a bunch of people that, that don't like you. So, I mean, it'd be pretty fun.

Okay, that we're gonna go off this a little bit off script, a little Mike. You mentioned that about wanting to play in front of some people that just don't like you, that a challenge sounds like you got a little chip there and kind of wanting to go into someone else's house and then take it for yourself.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like it'd be such a cool thing to do, like, you know, you have all odds against you, I would say. Their whole fan base is there where wherever, wherever it may be. And them all rooting against you cause you know, you're like the underdog so to speak because probably cuz we're a mid major and we're gonna be probably in a regional at a Power five school, but it doesn't matter. We're gonna go in there and, and computer and play our best.

All right, so this is gonna be my last question for you, and then Aaron's gonna close us out. Finney, he's voracious reader. Has he given out book recommendations to the team and have you read anything?

He does, he does send a lot of videos and quotes excerpts in our group chat often and every day pretty much before we start practice. He'll read a little he'll read us a little something out of either a book or an email. He. Something he subscribed to. Just all sorts of different authors and, and stuff like that.

All right, hunter. We really appreciate you coming on with us today. One of the big reasons why we do this podcast is to help build a better connection between Monarch Nation, old Dominion, student athletes, coaches, and just the community in general. Do you have a message for Monarch Nation? Where can people find you on social media? Is there anything else that you wanna really get out to get out to ODU U and its fans?

Nothing much really besides for, I mean, I'm just, I'm excited to, to see what the rest of the year brings us and how we do as a team and just gonna keep having fun balling with the guys on the field and. You know, hopefully bringing a, bringing a ti title back to the school. And it's, it's nice having people's support out there coming to our games and especially when they're you know, when they're chirping the other team a little bit.

Hunter, thank you again for joining us. Now, you know about dollars for Dingers. You know that each home run is gonna bring more money to the, the program.

yeah, we'll get on it. We'll get on it, we'll get back to it. We got some, we got some warmer weather coming up, so, that'll be nice. Get back to it.

keep raising the bill for OD fans.

Yeah, hopefully we get some tomorrow too. That'll be a a big win if we pick that up on the road over there on

Yeah. You were talking about going into someone's house. That was a very good team in being able to make an impact. That's a great opportunity.

Yeah, and I heard their fans like to talk a little bit too, so that'll be, that'll be

Oh, they, they, they'll be tripping all game.

That'll fun.

Best of luck. Thanks again for joining us. We'll be at the bud cheering you on this weekend.

Sounds good. Thanks for having me.

All right. Go Monarchs.

Yes, sir. I see you guys go monarchs.

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