Episode 2

Nolan Gorman Interview

Guest

Nolan Gorman

Host

Shane Herman 

About This Episode

Shane Herman: I’m here with Nolan Gorman of the Palm Beach Cardinals, the Single A Advanced affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals. Nolan, how are you?

Nolan Gorman: I’m good. How are you buddy?

Shane Herman: Good. So you were recently selected to the Futures Game in Cleveland this summer coming up in a few days actually. How do you feel being selected?

Nolan Gorman: You know, it’s a true honor. There’s a lot of good players. Getting selected for that event and to be a part of that bunch, it’s a real honor and you know, I’m ready to get out there and play some ball.

Shane Herman: Yeah. Who are you most excited to play with in the Futures Game?

Nolan Gorman: All of them man. They’re all really good. So it’s going to be a good learning part for me and I just get to pick the brains of guys who have been in the game for a little while now and um, you know, just get something out of it.

Shane Herman: Yeah. Who are you most excited to play with in the St Louis Cardinals, MLB affiliate?

Nolan Gorman: Um, you know, Paul Goldschmidt’s always kind of a go to guy. There’s a couple of guys that I’ve talked to for a little while now. So, Colton Long you know, he’s talked to me quite a bit and you know, it’s a good group of guys and they’re really helpful.

Shane Herman: Yeah. What age did you start playing baseball at when you were a kid?

Nolan Gorman: I was three years old.

Shane Herman: Were you the best player on your little league team?

Nolan Gorman: Uh, I mean, I don’t know that, I guess I was super young when I played little league. So I was playing with older guys, but you know, I try to be the best on every team. It may not happen, but you know, you strive to be the best, so…

Shane Herman: Yeah. What is your favorite major city to visit?

Nolan Gorman: Oh man, that’s tough. I love New York City. I like the fast-paced life and you know. But home’s always going to be Phoenix. That’s where I’m from. But if I had to choose one, it’d be New York City.

Shane Herman: So you were recently moved up to the Florida State League here in Florida, obviously. So how do you feel about moving up? Like, is it a better lifestyle than the regular Single A or how is it?

Nolan Gorman: Yeah, it’s a lot better in a bigger city. You know, and the competition is a step above. So are you are facing better pitchers and you’re facing better fielders that have a little bit more range and more skill. And so, you know, you learn and you have to adjust quickly to the bigger lifestyle and you know, you’re living on your own, so you got to find a place to live. But it’s been good. And you know, I like it down here in Palm Beach.

Shane Herman: Yeah. Is it hard to adjust from the Single A pitching to the Single A Advanced pitching and like how is it?

Nolan Gorman: You know, everyone throws hard these days. So fast ball wise, it’s not too hard to adjust to that. But, these guys can have a little bit more control over their off speeds and kind of put it where they want. So with that, you just gotta really know your approach, and go at it each at bat, one by one.

Shane Herman: Yeah. Um, so what’s your favorite food to eat?

Nolan Gorman: Oh man! I love Mac and cheese and pizza.

Shane Herman: Mac and cheese and pizza are always good.

Nolan Gorman: Yeah, I love those too. But you know, you gotta sometimes be healthy. So, I started eating fish recently and it’s a good place to get it too down here in West Palm?

Shane Herman: Yeah. So what kind of gear do you use? Like equipment?

Nolan Gorman: I mean I swing Louisville. I’m with Wilson for my glove and then I got a deal with Under Armour. So, I’m wearing their cleats and their arm sleeves and their batting gloves and all the other stuff.

Shane Herman: Are they sponsoring gear?

Nolan Gorman: Yeah.

Shane Herman: Nice. So the final question. So you were drafted in the first round. How did that feel about being drafted with first rounders, like in the class of first rounders?

Nolan Gorman: You know, that’s always a special moment. You know, being selected by a team with their first choice is definitely something that you kind of wear and it’s an honor. But, at the same time you get out here and you know, you’re with 200 other guys that are just all fighting for the same job. And they, you know, they’re coming for you. So, you definitely have to embrace it and, you know, work, you work hard even more.

Shane Herman: Okay. Well that wraps up the interview. Thank you so much for doing this.

Nolan Gorman: No problem, thank you bud.