Episode 1
Travis Swaggerty Interview
Guest
Travis Swaggerty
Hosts
Shane Herman & Evan O’Dwyer
About This Episode
Evan O’Dwyer: So we’re here with Travis Swaggerty.
Travis Swaggerty: What’s up guys Thanks for having me.
Evan O’Dwyer: Oh, we got him here. He’s really nice guy. And Shane’s going to ask some questions and then I will.
Shane Herman: How did you feel about being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Travis Swaggerty: You know it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever gone through. I got to go to the draft in New York with the MLB or the MLB studio or whatever. Studio 42. That’s where like they do “Quick Pitch” and other different places or different shows on MLB Network. And it was cool. I feel like I’ve been there before, but it was definitely the coolest baseball experience I’ve ever had.
Evan O’Dwyer: Oh, what is your favorite food?
Travis Swaggerty: Bull crawfish. See, I’m from South Louisiana, so not a lot of people like that, but it’s my favorite.
Shane Herman: When you were a little kid, who was your favorite baseball player?
Travis Swaggerty: I’m going to say Jacoby Ellsbury when he was in Boston. Not, not Yankees Jacoby, but Boston. Yeah, pretty similar player I would think.
Evan O’Dwyer: What kind of equipment do you use?
Travis Swaggerty: Um, so I’m sponsored by Adidas, so I use Adidas cleats and like Adidas arm sleeve and all that. I have a Wilson Glove and then I use Louisville Slugger bats.
Shane Herman: Um, when you reach the majors on the Pittsburgh Pirates major league affiliate division, now you’re in the Single A advanced affiliate, who are you looking forward to playing with the most in Pittsburgh?
Travis Swaggerty: Eew, that’s a hard one. Um, you know what, I don’t say there’s one particular guy. Uh, I just want to get there really. And uh, you know, I know basically everyone in the organization, so I feel like anyone that, anyone in the organization is my brother now, so I’m just excited to get there and strapping on with those guys.
Evan O’Dwyer: Uh, what age did you start playing baseball?
Travis: I didn’t start playing until I was 10, so, um, I didn’t play tee ball or anything like that. And then after Hurricane Katrina, I moved. And then once I moved, it was like, okay, here’s a way to make friends. Like always like sports. I never played, so, uh, I got into baseball and basketball and football and all that just to make friends. I ended up loving baseball.
Shane Herman: Yeah. Um, so, uh, you obviously travel like when you go like different cities, especially in the Florida State League. Um, where’s your favorite place to travel to? Like when you’re on the road?
Travis: In the Florida State League?
Shane Herman: Um, yeah. Or like anywhere.
Travis Swaggerty: Hmm. That’s a hard one. I like Tampa just because Tampa is the Yankees affiliate and that’s probably the nicest complex in the entire place or in entire league. Um, but Daytona Beach is really fun too, but it’s not bad. This place is pretty cool too, so yeah, not bad.
Evan O’Dwyer: Um, how many hours a day normally practice?
Travis Swaggerty: Um, in the off season or during the season?
Evan O’Dwyer: Uh, I guess both.
Travis Swaggerty: Um, you know in the off season I’ll probably go to the cages for like an hour, hour and a half. Don’t want to overdue it and then I’ll go work out for about an hour, hour and a half, and that’ll be it. Um, the off season is a lot about downtime and recovery, so, but during the season, obviously we, it’s a pretty long day. I think today we got here at 2:30 and now it’s 9:30 or so that’s a typical day.
Evan O’Dwyer: Thank you. Um, do you mind when people ask you for autographs?
Travis Swaggerty: Not at all. I enjoy it. Um, you know, it comes with the territory and you know, especially when kids I’m autographing. That’s a special feeling for me.
