Episode 189: Ryan Sloan (Mariners Prospect) + Live From Winter Meetings

[00:00:00] Welcome to episode number 189 of the Marine Layer Podcast, live from the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

[00:00:05] We welcome on Mariners pitching prospect Ryan Sloan for a chat about his time in the Mariners organization and what he's looking forward to next season.

[00:00:13] We'll also talk about all the things we've been doing here in Dallas throughout this weekend and into this week here on day two officially of the Winter Meetings.

[00:00:24] Here's your guys reminder before we start this podcast. If you're listening, make sure you're downloading on all the audio platforms. Make sure to rate and review.

[00:00:32] Come on guys, let's get those ratings up. We've got a bunch so far. We can get even more. Leave that five star review. It really does help us out.

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[00:00:51] Let's get it rolling.

[00:01:05] And we welcome you to this episode of the Marine Layer Podcast, part of the Just Baseball Podcast Network recording on Tuesday, December 10th, live from Dallas at the Winter Meetings.

[00:01:18] We are in the Hilton Antle. What is this? The second room. This is the room in the back of the Winter Meetings.

[00:01:26] It is chaos around here. There are people everywhere. Ex-players, agents, scouts, executives.

[00:01:33] Jerry DiPoto might walk past us here.

[00:01:35] What a spot. What a setup we got here.

[00:01:38] This is the most distracting podcast we will ever do. Not our interview with Ryan Sloan, which is awesome, by the way.

[00:01:45] That we just did from our normal setup.

[00:01:47] But sitting here in the middle of the hallway at the Winter Meetings with all these people walking by.

[00:01:51] If we're not always looking directly at the camera for this one, you know why?

[00:01:54] Because your eyes wander. There's hundreds of people walking around.

[00:01:58] Talk about having to be a multitasker for this one. This might be the hardest podcast we ever do.

[00:02:02] Think about this. What if Nelson Cruz walks past? Nelson Cruz has been wandering these halls today.

[00:02:09] He's been talking on the phone a lot. I will give him credit as the couple times we've walked past him.

[00:02:13] Like, what if he walks past and wants to hop on the Marine Layer pod and talk to wonderful Mariner fans out there to hear from the great Nelson Cruz?

[00:02:22] Like, it's just things like that. We have met a ton of people this week. We're hoping to meet a ton more.

[00:02:27] This is our last day here. We're flying out on Wednesday morning when this podcast comes out.

[00:02:31] What a fun experience, man. We've been, we have, as we noted, we've been to the Winter Meetings once as job seekers.

[00:02:37] This is the first time as media, and it has been an enlightening, really just enlightening experience.

[00:02:43] So, so far, we still have a night left. What's, what's been the favorite thing?

[00:02:48] I think it's been all the people that we've gotten to meet. It's not me losing my voice, I can tell you that.

[00:02:52] So, for anybody wondering, I would say I lost 70% of my voice on Saturday as ASU beat the brakes off of Iowa State, and those boys are going to the playoffs.

[00:03:02] Oh, my goodness. What, what? The weekend could not have been started any better.

[00:03:06] So, I lost my voice from that, and now being in a place where you have to yell in a loud lobby or a couple of lobbies to try and talk to people, yeah, my voice has not been helped.

[00:03:16] I'm about 100 Rakolikov drops in, a bunch of water in, and it's slowly coming back, I guess.

[00:03:22] Yes, but, yeah, that's, that's the reason behind the lost voice in this podcast and all the social media stuff you hear, etc.

[00:03:28] But, yeah, I think my favorite thing has been all the people we've gotten to meet, and I just continue to stress.

[00:03:32] I talked about it during All-Star Week. I'll talk about it now.

[00:03:35] I just think it's so cool that the whole baseball world is under one roof for a couple of days, and it's so easy to connect with people, like former players, media, scouts, agents.

[00:03:46] There's a ton of Mariners people here from their staff that we've seen walking around the halls over the last couple days.

[00:03:51] I would say my favorite thing within that note of all the people you get to meet is everybody that hangs out at the bar at 10 p.m. and on in the lobby.

[00:04:00] It is a madhouse, and it's a really fun, free-flowing time to get to meet a bunch of people.

[00:04:06] I mean, Theo Epstein's sitting there at the front, drinking his hand, just hanging out.

[00:04:09] And we tried, but Theo was a busy and popular man, as you'd expect.

[00:04:16] But it's just all the people you can imagine to meet there.

[00:04:19] I mean, I think even Jerry popped into the bar at one point.

[00:04:21] We didn't see him.

[00:04:22] Somebody saw him in the bar.

[00:04:25] I hadn't seen Dan Wilson out there.

[00:04:26] But they have gotten to speak to the media.

[00:04:28] There's a couple notes you want to get on for what they've talked about throughout this week.

[00:04:39] Sourroom here at the Hilton here in Dallas.

[00:04:42] So, man, just what an experience.

[00:04:44] And we're looking forward to one last night.

[00:04:46] We're going to probably pull an all-nighter and fly out Wednesday morning to get back to Seattle.

[00:04:51] And it has been a fun experience.

[00:04:53] It was, as I said on the earlier pods, it was going to be fun to start.

[00:04:58] Fun to start a little bit more business once the meetings got going.

[00:05:02] But it's really – it has all been a blast.

[00:05:04] It has all been fantastic.

[00:05:05] This is a really, really good host site.

[00:05:08] Yeah.

[00:05:08] And who are a bunch of the people we've gotten to see and talk to?

[00:05:11] I mean, we've seen a bunch of our friends already.

[00:05:13] Jake and Jordan from Sesma's Family Barbecue.

[00:05:15] Obviously, all the Seattle beat writers.

[00:05:17] Divish, Adam Jude, Daniel Kramer.

[00:05:19] We got to give Divish his hat.

[00:05:20] Yeah, he loved his hat.

[00:05:22] He tried to smile.

[00:05:24] I would say his exact words were when he saw us on Monday for the first time.

[00:05:30] He looked right at us, shook his head, and said,

[00:05:33] I really hate you two.

[00:05:35] As he probably should.

[00:05:37] It's fine.

[00:05:38] But we've gotten to meet a bunch of new people, too,

[00:05:40] in addition to all the people we already know and have some connections with.

[00:05:43] We got to meet Robert Murray, who's really awesome.

[00:05:46] We got to talk to Rob Bradford of WEEI, who TJ knows a little bit.

[00:05:50] We've gotten to talk to a bunch of different people.

[00:05:52] I'm probably leaving people out.

[00:05:53] Lance Brostowski.

[00:05:54] Well, I was going to say, we know him.

[00:05:57] But a lot of people, man.

[00:05:58] It's been really, really fun.

[00:06:00] And we've talked to some scouts.

[00:06:02] We've talked to some agents.

[00:06:03] We've really gotten to know some people.

[00:06:05] And it's fun.

[00:06:06] All the conversations are very, I'd say, genuine.

[00:06:10] People want to get to know one another.

[00:06:13] I get why people like the winter meetings.

[00:06:14] I think this is really, really fun stuff.

[00:06:16] I got to tell you.

[00:06:17] Oh, we did meet Passan for a couple minutes, too.

[00:06:19] You left out the biggest one very briefly.

[00:06:21] But, yes, we did get to meet Jeff Passan.

[00:06:24] Greg, oh, Greg Ampsinger, last one.

[00:06:25] I know.

[00:06:26] Now we're doing a name off.

[00:06:27] Bob Nightingale.

[00:06:28] Yeah, I mean, we can keep rolling.

[00:06:29] I mean, it is everybody you could possibly think of.

[00:06:33] Last thing I want to give ourselves a little bit of credit for before we actually start talking shop here and talking Mariners.

[00:06:38] It was not easy to find a podcast set up in this place.

[00:06:40] It gets to Tuesday here.

[00:06:42] And TJ and I are like, I think we have to record an episode.

[00:06:45] And we're looking around, and they didn't really have many tables set up specifically for podcasters and radio.

[00:06:51] So we're like, where are we going to do this?

[00:06:54] We found this big, long table right in the middle of the hallway.

[00:06:57] We're looking around.

[00:06:58] It doesn't say reserved.

[00:06:59] Nobody's using it.

[00:07:00] It's loud.

[00:07:01] But we say, you know what?

[00:07:02] We're going to sit down, and we're going to record this podcast because this is the space we got.

[00:07:06] We got the Christmas music piping in.

[00:07:08] We got, again, all these people walking past us at all times of day.

[00:07:12] Who knows?

[00:07:13] We could be talking Roki Sasaki and his agent, who we heard from earlier, could walk through here.

[00:07:19] And we're like, hey, you want a quick comment?

[00:07:22] Quick comment on the Marine Layer podcast?

[00:07:24] That would be you.

[00:07:25] That would be some good job there.

[00:07:27] So let's talk that job, and let's start with Roki.

[00:07:30] Which part should we start?

[00:07:31] Should we start from Roki's camp?

[00:07:33] Should we start from the Mariners' side of Roki?

[00:07:36] Let's go chronologically just because the Mariners talked about Roki Monday,

[00:07:41] and Joel Wolfe, Roki Sasaki's agent, spoke on Tuesday.

[00:07:44] So let's start with the Mariners.

[00:07:46] They said, look, we've had speculation about this for a while, right, about their interest in Roki Sasaki

[00:07:51] due to the fact that he's not going to cost any money, Seattle has a real appeal,

[00:07:55] and again, right up the Mariners' alley, he's not going to cost – oh, yeah, I said that.

[00:08:00] He's not going to cost anything.

[00:08:01] But in addition to that, yes, do they have a plethora of starting pitching?

[00:08:04] Of course.

[00:08:06] But this guy's upside is higher than anybody in this rotation.

[00:08:09] This rotation's amazing.

[00:08:10] But none of these guys have two 80-grade pitchers like Roki Sasaki does.

[00:08:15] So, of course, the Mariners should be interested, and Jerry DiPoto talked about Monday.

[00:08:19] Yes, we are interested.

[00:08:21] This is one of our priorities.

[00:08:23] We are going to make a push.

[00:08:25] I'm just glad they finally admitted it and put it on the record that a logical, smart decision

[00:08:30] that is well within their budget is one of the top things they should do.

[00:08:34] I think people are paranoid.

[00:08:35] We've talked about it.

[00:08:36] People are paranoid they are not going to make the moves.

[00:08:38] I would imagine they have a pretty good pitch to Roki Sasaki.

[00:08:41] We've ran down all the reasons besides Roki, the player himself, the ballpark fit,

[00:08:48] the pitching development fit, keeping guys healthy.

[00:08:50] He dealt with injuries this year.

[00:08:52] He still needs to be built up innings-wise.

[00:08:53] He's topped out at 127, 130 innings.

[00:08:57] Not very much.

[00:08:58] That's someone who still needs to be built up.

[00:09:00] And the Mariners have shown they can take low innings counts and make them near 200-inning guys.

[00:09:06] And that was some really good stuff to hear from the Mariners camp.

[00:09:10] So then when we heard from Joel Wolfe today on Tuesday when it came to Roki Sasaki,

[00:09:15] the dots started lining up even more.

[00:09:17] The biggest thing that jumped out, and we had heard this,

[00:09:20] that Roki would consider small markets because he thinks he would be a better fit,

[00:09:24] and a change of pace from Japan where it just doesn't sound like he's being received all that well

[00:09:30] once he announced he was going to go to Major League Baseball.

[00:09:32] He got a lot of crap from the media in Japan when he had started floating the idea out there

[00:09:39] that he wanted to go to Major League Baseball.

[00:09:43] And what would sort of alleviate that would be he going to a market in Major League Baseball

[00:09:51] where that's not a thing.

[00:09:52] And would that happen in Seattle?

[00:09:54] I mean, we just started running off the list of, like, what would you have to deal with in Seattle?

[00:10:00] In all respect to everyone in the Seattle media space, it is not a rough media market.

[00:10:05] No. I mean, maybe some people every now and then will have some opinions.

[00:10:10] That's just any media market.

[00:10:11] But you want to talk about a soft landing spot, and Joel Wolfe, his agent, used that exact wording.

[00:10:18] Seems like Seattle would be that.

[00:10:20] L.A., as much as he's been rumored to go there, is not that.

[00:10:23] Now, does that mean he's not going to end up with the Dodgers?

[00:10:25] No. In fact, I'd still say they're the favorites.

[00:10:27] But if you want to look for potential door openings elsewhere, I think there are some.

[00:10:32] For a couple of reasons.

[00:10:34] First off, Joel Wolfe said, look, all those rumors that are out there that he has predetermined where he wants to go

[00:10:38] and a deal's already de facto in place, that's not true.

[00:10:42] He is still open to everything.

[00:10:44] So, it sounds like his market's very fluid.

[00:10:47] He hasn't made a decision.

[00:10:48] He's done a lot of research on his own, and it sounds like that's important to him.

[00:10:52] But to the Mariners' point, yeah.

[00:10:54] I don't think there's a ton of media that would be super tough on him.

[00:10:57] It's not like L.A. It's not like New York.

[00:10:59] Think about how many people cover the Mariners on a daily basis, right?

[00:11:02] There are four main reporters on the Seattle beat.

[00:11:06] Both the Seattle Times writers, Divish and Jude, Shannon, and Daniel Kramer.

[00:11:11] It's not a huge contingent of media people, and they are all very, very good at their jobs,

[00:11:17] and part of that is they are not unfair.

[00:11:19] They are not overly critical.

[00:11:20] Like, nobody's going to be super hard on him.

[00:11:22] So, I don't know how much research they've done into that,

[00:11:25] but if that's what they care about and they want to get away from that Japan setting in that way,

[00:11:29] I think Seattle can be that.

[00:11:30] On top of all the other things, well, Joel Wolfe said,

[00:11:33] he doesn't have any preconceived notion of where he wants to go.

[00:11:37] He's going to go into this process with an open mind.

[00:11:39] They're going to field however many presentations.

[00:11:42] I think he said half the league was out there scouting him this past year.

[00:11:45] There's a lot of teams that would be interested in Roki Sasaki.

[00:11:49] It just makes, it feels like it makes sense that it's the West Coast,

[00:11:53] and there's the three main, now I would say in our mind, three main spots,

[00:11:58] L.A., San Diego, and Seattle.

[00:12:00] That's what that kind of feels like in that retrospect.

[00:12:02] It's just starting to line up.

[00:12:05] Now, he also said Roki on his own has been doing a bunch of his own research.

[00:12:09] One would wonder what kind of things he's found about the Mariners.

[00:12:12] Has he found about their pitching development?

[00:12:14] Did he happen to tap back to some articles in 2021?

[00:12:17] Let's say February of 2021 and found some interesting things that were written about the Mariners.

[00:12:26] Written, maybe said at the Bellevue Rotary Club.

[00:12:31] I don't know.

[00:12:33] Let's hope not.

[00:12:34] Let's hope not.

[00:12:34] Definitely not back into like 2008, 2009, 2010.

[00:12:39] Hopefully not.

[00:12:40] Yeah.

[00:12:40] If we want to talk about the positives here, which we should, let's talk about what he has likely found about the Mariners.

[00:12:46] I'm sure he has learned if he's doing research on his own because I think TJ is right.

[00:12:50] Does the Mariners being third in line mean they're going to land them or they have some amazing chance to land them?

[00:12:55] Not necessarily.

[00:12:56] But I think they're ahead of a lot of teams.

[00:12:59] And if you're Roki Sasaki doing research on the Mariners, while they are not a franchise that has historically won year over year,

[00:13:08] they have been very competitive since 2021.

[00:13:10] That part is true, even though they haven't been winning at the highest level.

[00:13:14] Paired with best pitchers park in baseball.

[00:13:16] Roki, if you're going to go on Baseball Savant and look at Park Factor, nowhere is going to favor you more than Seattle.

[00:13:21] You want to look at this pitching staff and what they've done with these guys in this rotation?

[00:13:25] It's not just the first rounders and the Logans and the George Kirby's and the established stars like Luis.

[00:13:31] Brian Wu, sixth rounder.

[00:13:32] Bryce Miller, fourth rounder.

[00:13:33] By no means we're guaranteed stars.

[00:13:36] Well, they're stars now.

[00:13:37] And if you can do that with guys like that who are lower profile pitchers coming out of college,

[00:13:41] imagine what they could do with you, buddy, where you are as talented and have as much potential as any arm on the planet.

[00:13:47] You go to the Mariners staff, Pete Woodworth, Trent Blank.

[00:13:51] Oh, they could make you a multi-time Cy Young winner for all we know.

[00:13:53] So, yes, if you're Roki Sasaki, I would bet he knows those things about the Mariners.

[00:13:59] You would hope so.

[00:14:00] Do you have anything else on Roki?

[00:14:01] Because there are some other interesting Mariners things we've sort of learned here.

[00:14:05] There's been a lot of talk about this rotation here.

[00:14:08] And now Jerry has talked about it a little bit.

[00:14:10] There's been reports that come out this week that the Mariners are inching closer to Plan Z.

[00:14:17] The budget, there's been no talk of the budget opening up.

[00:14:21] There's been no hard links to higher profile free agents.

[00:14:25] I think of what we know based on what Jerry said yesterday.

[00:14:28] They're going to use free agency to target first base.

[00:14:30] And they're going to use trade to address second base and third base.

[00:14:33] When he says free agency for first base, I take that as Justin Turner and Carlos Santana.

[00:14:39] Yes.

[00:14:40] Most likely.

[00:14:41] Yes.

[00:14:42] And I don't want to say unfortunately because we know both those guys are great dudes.

[00:14:46] They mean a ton to the clubhouse.

[00:14:48] It feels like the Mariners do need somebody like that.

[00:14:50] The adult in the room, as people often say.

[00:14:52] But the unfortunately side to that argument is, look, it's not Christian Walker.

[00:14:58] That's the guy they could use at free agency to fill first base.

[00:15:03] I know that I'm trying not to bitch about the budget here.

[00:15:06] I'm really, really not.

[00:15:07] But you could trade for other guys to play the other two positions and use your funds to go sign that guy.

[00:15:14] It just costs a little more than 15 a year.

[00:15:17] Just a little bit.

[00:15:18] You're talking maybe 18, 20, 22.

[00:15:20] It's not that much.

[00:15:22] Maybe they can open up some budget.

[00:15:23] But it's probably going to be Santana or Turner.

[00:15:27] I'm just hoping it's not.

[00:15:28] Oh, and as we say that, you know how we talked about how crazy things are just going on in this hallway?

[00:15:32] Nelson Cruz just walked right by.

[00:15:34] Big, blue jacket, air pod in.

[00:15:38] Yep, this is what goes on at the winter meetings.

[00:15:41] Does Nelly think the Mariners could use some more hitters, too?

[00:15:46] Yeah, Nelly probably thinks the Mariners could use Christian Walker.

[00:15:49] Does he want to learn how to play first?

[00:15:51] Take him off his feet just like a little bit.

[00:15:54] That would be okay.

[00:15:55] Okay, opening up the budget.

[00:15:56] Let's get to the other big thing that we've sort of, I'd say, taken away from these winter meetings.

[00:16:03] Luis Castillo's name has started to now officially sneak more and more and more into some of these discussions,

[00:16:12] some of these reports from other teams.

[00:16:14] We've talked about it on our social pages.

[00:16:16] The Boston Globe recorded earlier this week that from the Red Sox side of things that Luis Castillo was an option for the Red Sox,

[00:16:26] and we'd imagine the player on the other side was Tristan Casas.

[00:16:30] And I can imagine it's not just the Red Sox who would have interest in Luis Castillo.

[00:16:34] The Cubs and Nico Horner's is an idea there as well.

[00:16:38] And there's one thing that really stood out to me.

[00:16:40] So Jerry did his first press story yesterday.

[00:16:42] He's going to talk again later today.

[00:16:44] But he did his MLB Network hit on Monday.

[00:16:46] He did a SiriusXM hit on Monday as well.

[00:16:49] On a SiriusXM one, he was walking through and he was describing why they didn't want to trade guys in the rotation.

[00:16:56] And then he noted this, especially, he said, the young guys, especially.

[00:17:00] And then he name dropped four of the five starters is is my Tim Boyle hat on a little bit.

[00:17:06] Yes, it is.

[00:17:07] But that's what we're doing here.

[00:17:08] That's why we podcast.

[00:17:09] He mentioned Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Brian Wu did not say Luis Castillo.

[00:17:17] And from what we picked up, talked to a couple people.

[00:17:21] Doesn't seem like that no trade clause is going to be much of an issue.

[00:17:24] It seems like there's a little bit of confidence that if Luis Castillo even has somewhat of an open mind to a team,

[00:17:30] huge wave is no trade clause.

[00:17:32] That's how you open up the budget, Lyle.

[00:17:34] Like that's how that money is there.

[00:17:36] And you would probably take a little bit of money back, especially with Nico Horner.

[00:17:39] It's not going to be very cheap.

[00:17:40] We've found some Cubs people here to pitch that idea to of Nico Horner.

[00:17:46] And it sounds like it's realistic.

[00:17:49] So the two teams, to your point, that we keep hearing about at these meetings,

[00:17:53] and it's the same thing that's out there publicly for the most part, Cubs and Red Sox.

[00:17:57] Those are the two teams we keep hearing.

[00:17:59] And the two names, yeah.

[00:18:00] Nico Horner, Tristan Casas.

[00:18:02] And to your point about how you open up the budget, let's get creative here.

[00:18:06] Let's say the Mariners make that trade, Luis for Nico Horner.

[00:18:09] Maybe the Mariners have to eat a tad of Luis's money.

[00:18:12] But for the most part, no.

[00:18:14] Nico Horner is going to make $12 million.

[00:18:16] Luis Castillo makes $24 a year.

[00:18:18] Let's say the Mariners eat an additional five.

[00:18:21] Let's say five, yeah, so it's even.

[00:18:22] Okay.

[00:18:23] Well, it's not even, but because then the Mariners, oh yeah, so that's 17 versus 19.

[00:18:29] Yeah.

[00:18:29] So then an extra $2 million open up for the Mariners in that situation, right?

[00:18:33] They go from $15 million in the budget to 17.

[00:18:36] Opens things up a little.

[00:18:37] And then you also have another bat in place and a position filled at second base.

[00:18:41] What if, like we've talked about, you can just find some way to move Mitch Hanager?

[00:18:46] What if you can shed just some of his money?

[00:18:48] Can it open up just enough to go get you Christian Walker?

[00:18:51] Can it open up just enough to go after first baseman in the free agent market?

[00:18:54] Because look, this $15 million budget is ridiculous.

[00:18:57] We will not let it go.

[00:18:58] However, if they find ways to open up more in this budget, that's how you can go target

[00:19:03] the Christian Walkers of the world.

[00:19:05] And Dan Wilson talked a little bit about the two Mitches today in his press conference.

[00:19:08] Nothing really groundbreaking, but I'd say another thing we picked up too is that if you're

[00:19:13] looking to clear money instead of Mitch Hanager, it actually might be Mitch Garver,

[00:19:16] who's a little bit easier because backup catchers are coveted in baseball.

[00:19:20] Teams need backup catchers.

[00:19:21] And there are some people who probably think Mitch Garver has more juice left in the tank

[00:19:26] if he's in the right scenario.

[00:19:28] Even if the Mariners eat a little bit of Mitch Garver's $12 million, or let's say they eat

[00:19:33] half of it, that's $6 million that open up.

[00:19:35] And the replacement for a backup catcher in Mitch Garver definitely wouldn't cost you $6 million.

[00:19:42] That honestly, at this point, Lyle, feels like a little bit more realistic.

[00:19:46] It sounds like Mitch Hanager's at least going to show up to spring training.

[00:19:50] That's what it sounds like.

[00:19:51] Probably shouldn't happen, but that's what it sounds like the Mariners are going to do

[00:19:54] based on the situation they're in.

[00:19:56] Garver looks like he is a possibility, a more likely possibility to open up that money

[00:20:01] as logical as Hanager's is.

[00:20:03] So let's do the math on that again.

[00:20:05] $6 million for Garver get moved.

[00:20:07] Budget goes from $15 to $21.

[00:20:08] If you trade Luis Castillo and eat $5 million for Horner, again, you save a couple million bucks,

[00:20:15] and then that goes to $23 to $24, right?

[00:20:17] That's Christian Walker.

[00:20:18] That is Christian Walker.

[00:20:20] And if they can do that, then all of a sudden you've turned in an impactful offseason.

[00:20:27] Third base is still a question.

[00:20:28] You'll have to fill it somehow.

[00:20:29] But if you have an offseason that involves getting Nico Horner and getting Christian Walker,

[00:20:35] that's a really good offseason.

[00:20:37] That's an impactful offseason.

[00:20:38] If you do that and somehow also get Roki Sasaki, you might win the offseason, period.

[00:20:43] Seriously.

[00:20:44] Your offseason looks like Roki Sasaki, Christian Walker, Nico Horner.

[00:20:47] Maybe aside from the Mets getting Juan Soto, that could be the win of the offseason.

[00:20:51] We have an interview with Ryan Sloan coming up.

[00:20:54] But before that, I want to float it to you because we have here, you and I have a little bit over 24 hours,

[00:21:01] actually less than that.

[00:21:02] It's like 18 hours left here at Winter Meetings.

[00:21:03] Will Jerry DiPoto make a trade or a notable transaction before we're gone?

[00:21:09] I say no.

[00:21:11] Now, things come together quick at the Winter Meetings because everybody's in person.

[00:21:14] Things can come together fast.

[00:21:15] But I think it'll likely be a no.

[00:21:21] That is my answer is no, which is funny because the Mariners usually make moves quickly.

[00:21:25] Hasn't happened yet this year.

[00:21:26] Jared Kelnick was traded on the Sunday of Winter Meetings last year.

[00:21:29] I think part of it too, man, you guys can hear my voice.

[00:21:32] I think part of it too is think about all the pitchers still out there in free agency,

[00:21:37] Max Freed, Corbin Burns, etc.

[00:21:40] I think if the Mariners move a pitcher, say it's Luis, they may wait.

[00:21:45] They may wait until some of these teams that miss out on all the marquee free agent arms

[00:21:49] need starting pitching, don't have impact options left,

[00:21:54] then get a little more desperate, come calling to the Mariners and say,

[00:21:58] fine, we will give you the return you want for Luis Castillo.

[00:22:01] So in that regard, I can understand why maybe things haven't happened yet.

[00:22:07] But you still need other moves than that.

[00:22:09] You still got to go find other bats.

[00:22:10] So in that regard, you know, hopefully it picks up.

[00:22:13] And that's why everyone being in the same place at the same time is really good.

[00:22:16] You don't have to call somebody.

[00:22:17] Everyone is just here.

[00:22:18] You can go hang out at the bar, grab a drink and get that kind of stuff done.

[00:22:22] It should be a fun final few hours for us here at the Winter Meetings.

[00:22:25] We're looking forward to meeting all the other people between now

[00:22:27] and when this episode comes out when we're on a plane back home.

[00:22:30] It has been a lot of fun here in Dallas.

[00:22:32] And this is the first...

[00:22:35] No, we've done a podcast.

[00:22:36] Last time we were in Dallas, we did a podcast just like this in a hotel room.

[00:22:40] But this is the coolest podcast setup we've had.

[00:22:42] No doubt.

[00:22:43] And I can't wait to do it again next year, to be honest with you.

[00:22:46] I don't know where the Winter Meetings are next year, but wherever they are...

[00:22:48] We'll have to find out.

[00:22:49] We'll find out.

[00:22:50] Okay.

[00:22:51] Before we get to our interview with Ryan Sloan,

[00:22:53] let's take a quick pause to talk to you guys about our friends over at Pogaccia's Pub 85.

[00:22:57] That's over in Kirkland.

[00:22:58] It's an awesome, awesome spot to go hang out with your friends,

[00:23:00] watch a bunch of games, eat some food, play pool, play darts.

[00:23:05] And those happy hour special, guys, they're as good as you'll find.

[00:23:07] 2 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

[00:23:10] Drinks are $3 and $4.

[00:23:11] Again, that is an awesome, awesome happy hour deal.

[00:23:14] $3 and $4 drinks from 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

[00:23:17] So if you want to have some drinks, watch some games, football, basketball, hockey.

[00:23:21] College football playoffs are coming up.

[00:23:23] Playoff is coming up.

[00:23:24] Go Devils.

[00:23:25] Way to get into there, boys.

[00:23:26] Way to win the Big 12 title game.

[00:23:29] Woo!

[00:23:30] You want to go watch those guys in the playoff?

[00:23:32] Go over there.

[00:23:33] Head over to Pogaccia's Pub 85 in Kirkland.

[00:23:36] Well, Ryan Sloan was pretty awesome.

[00:23:38] He was pretty awesome.

[00:23:40] Unfortunately, this interview took place when we were back in Seattle.

[00:23:45] It would be cool if Ryan Sloan was here at the winter meetings.

[00:23:47] Fun interview, though.

[00:23:48] He's a young kid, a high school, high second round pick,

[00:23:51] was by some mocks projected into the first round last year.

[00:23:54] Mariner said to really want this guy.

[00:23:55] I want people to remember this.

[00:23:58] The Mariners had to really want this guy to sign him.

[00:24:00] They nearly doubled his projected slot to get him.

[00:24:03] And you could tell why listening to this interview.

[00:24:05] He's a physical specimen.

[00:24:08] Big kid.

[00:24:09] Power fastball.

[00:24:10] Really good personality.

[00:24:12] As an 18-year-old, he is very well-spoken.

[00:24:16] He's smart.

[00:24:17] Knows his stuff.

[00:24:18] And I think you guys are really going to enjoy it.

[00:24:20] Ryan Sloan said it himself in this interview.

[00:24:23] He's a ball-knower.

[00:24:24] And we second that.

[00:24:25] He is a ball-knower.

[00:24:26] I'll tell you what.

[00:24:27] At 18 years old, there's no way I could be as well-spoken and charismatic in an interview as he was with us.

[00:24:35] But he was.

[00:24:36] And I think that was just yet another reason.

[00:24:38] People are going to be really excited about Ryan Sloan.

[00:24:40] So we're looking forward to having you guys hear this one.

[00:24:42] Let's get you down to that interview with Ryan Sloan.

[00:24:47] All right.

[00:24:48] We've got Mariners pitching prospect Ryan Sloan on with us.

[00:24:51] He joins us from Chicago where he's spending some time this offseason.

[00:24:54] I was trying to do some research before we started this and try to look up some famous people from your high school.

[00:25:00] It's just as like a way to break the ice a little bit.

[00:25:02] But I felt like I was coming up short.

[00:25:05] So can you help us with this at all?

[00:25:06] Is there anybody famous either from your high school or from your hometown that we're missing here?

[00:25:11] That's a tough one.

[00:25:13] I feel like I haven't lived in Elmhurst all my life.

[00:25:16] Like I used to live in Oswego.

[00:25:18] I moved to Elmhurst when I was in like fourth or fifth grade.

[00:25:22] So probably the most famous person I know is probably like my dad.

[00:25:25] Me and my dad went to the same high school.

[00:25:29] So, I mean, other than that, we have a couple of guys.

[00:25:32] We have a decent amount of guys.

[00:25:33] Since we have a really big school, we have a couple of guys that go play D1 sports.

[00:25:36] Don't know if they go anywhere after that.

[00:25:37] But, yeah, I don't know.

[00:25:38] I don't know.

[00:25:39] I'd be interested in who you found because I can't think of anyone, you know?

[00:25:43] So the couple I found was Danny Jansen was the name I recognized the most with the Blue Jays.

[00:25:49] Did he get traded this winter, TJ?

[00:25:52] Not this winter.

[00:25:52] At the deadline?

[00:25:53] Well, we tried to trade him to the Mariners, remember?

[00:25:55] Right.

[00:25:55] Right, right.

[00:25:55] Yeah.

[00:25:56] So Danny Jansen, who's in the big leagues.

[00:25:58] There's a former NBA player.

[00:26:00] And it wasn't your high school, but it was your town.

[00:26:01] It was Elmhurst.

[00:26:02] Oh, okay.

[00:26:02] All right.

[00:26:03] But that was about it.

[00:26:05] Yeah, there wasn't like a long laundry list of celebrities.

[00:26:08] But, yeah, we were just curious.

[00:26:10] Sometimes in these towns, you find some odd, obscure people that grew up there and then went on to be celebrities.

[00:26:15] So we were just curious if you had anybody in your back pocket.

[00:26:18] Nothing for you.

[00:26:19] Nothing.

[00:26:19] Could you claim someone else from a different town that you know of?

[00:26:24] A celebrity?

[00:26:26] Like, okay.

[00:26:27] I actually just saw him at dinner.

[00:26:29] Me and my family went out to dinner for my sister's birthday a couple days ago.

[00:26:32] And Dick Portillo was there.

[00:26:34] Oh, like the Portillo's guy?

[00:26:36] Exactly.

[00:26:37] He was at the same place we were in dinner at.

[00:26:39] So I think he lives pretty close to here, where I'm at.

[00:26:42] I think he's in a neighboring town.

[00:26:43] So, yeah, I saw him.

[00:26:44] Could you do us a favor and could you grab us, like, 150 cake-shaped coupons?

[00:26:49] Cake-shaped coupons?

[00:26:50] Cake-shaped coupons?

[00:26:51] Oh, yeah.

[00:26:53] The old cake-shaped.

[00:26:54] It's a calorie bomb.

[00:26:56] Well, you can handle that.

[00:26:58] First of all, you're enormous.

[00:27:00] And you're still 18, right?

[00:27:03] So, like, that's perfect for you.

[00:27:07] I will say, I don't know if we could have told you the first thing about Portillo's

[00:27:11] that the two of us not gone to school in Arizona.

[00:27:13] If we had just grown up in Washington and stayed there our whole lives,

[00:27:15] I don't even know if I could have told you what Portillo's is.

[00:27:17] But because it's pretty popular down in Arizona,

[00:27:21] yeah, we had it more than a few times when we were down there.

[00:27:23] So it's pretty good, I will say.

[00:27:25] Like, is Chicago hot dog?

[00:27:26] I mean, you're probably biased.

[00:27:27] But is Chicago hot dog your favorite type of hot dog?

[00:27:30] I would say so.

[00:27:31] I can't really think of any other, like, named hot dog other than, like,

[00:27:34] a Chicago hot dog.

[00:27:35] So, yeah.

[00:27:38] Because there's not really any other area dogs, though, Lyle.

[00:27:41] Right?

[00:27:42] It's just an old Chicago dog.

[00:27:43] Like, we even have, like, a team named the Chicago dogs.

[00:27:46] Yeah, the Independent League team.

[00:27:48] Yeah, exactly.

[00:27:50] That's hilarious.

[00:27:51] Yeah, there's probably, like, a New York.

[00:27:54] I think New York versions have, like, onions on it.

[00:27:56] But, like, the Chicago dog is definitely the most, I'd say, definitely the most notable one.

[00:28:02] I would say, Ryan, some of the, I guess, other notable things about you growing up in Chicago

[00:28:07] is that you are a Cubs fan.

[00:28:08] And I thought this was kind of crazy as I was looking back at this.

[00:28:12] So I would imagine.

[00:28:13] So since you are a Cubs fan, you mentioned this to us before you started recording.

[00:28:17] I'm going to just take a guess.

[00:28:19] One of your best early memory, early or mid-early memories for baseball is them winning the World Series in 2016.

[00:28:26] Am I correct?

[00:28:27] Yes.

[00:28:27] That's fair to say.

[00:28:28] Just to think about that, it's like, you know, I'm dating Lyle and us.

[00:28:33] When I think about that team, we were, you know, we were the age you are right now when that happened.

[00:28:40] And I'm trying to think of, like, a Mariner's second-round pick is 10 years old at that time.

[00:28:44] I was like, oh.

[00:28:46] That doesn't sound right.

[00:28:48] That does not sound right, but it actually is.

[00:28:51] I wanted to think about that, though, as you were, you know, growing up watching that team, just of how the pitcher you are right now.

[00:28:58] What did you think back then when you watched someone like Kyle Hendricks pitch?

[00:29:03] I always remember thinking, like, even though he threw way harder than me, I'm like, this guy, how's this guy doing well?

[00:29:10] Like, you got to throw us, like, 88.

[00:29:11] I don't even, I think he's still on the Cubs, too.

[00:29:14] He's still throwing 88 and has had a long career.

[00:29:16] And then, like, how does this guy have success?

[00:29:19] And you have people like Jake Arrieta, who was a Cy Young that year.

[00:29:22] It was really fun to watch.

[00:29:24] So it was just, like, interesting watching that.

[00:29:26] Did it ever come into your mind when you got to high school?

[00:29:30] I know there's, we'll get into your development here in a little bit.

[00:29:33] But when you got to high school and you were reported to have thrown one pitch at 88 miles an hour when you were a freshman in high school,

[00:29:40] when you saw that number, did you think, oh, I just matched Kyle Hendricks as a 14-year-old?

[00:29:45] I, if, like, if me and my dad were watching, like, a game, that's a pretty common occurrence.

[00:29:50] Like, even since when I started to get older, it's like, we'd go to a game and be like, you know, I throw the same speed as this guy.

[00:29:56] Like, that's kind of crazy.

[00:29:57] And I was, like, kind of having the same experience back when Kyle Hendricks was throwing high to low 90s.

[00:30:04] So, yeah.

[00:30:06] Who did you like to watch growing up?

[00:30:08] Was it somebody on that Cubs team that you were a fan of?

[00:30:10] Like, especially pitching-wise?

[00:30:12] I liked Jake Arrieta.

[00:30:13] And then he ended up leaving after the, what was it?

[00:30:16] I think it was 2017 or 2018 he ended up leaving.

[00:30:19] So, got him for a short amount of time.

[00:30:21] And then really after that, like, I couldn't really put a name on it.

[00:30:24] Just baseball pitching in general, I would say.

[00:30:28] So, who did you nerd out, though, on the most, though?

[00:30:30] Because I would imagine you expanded then, at that point, beyond the Cubs.

[00:30:34] Yeah, I mean, I would really watch a lot.

[00:30:37] Like, okay, it's the most random thing.

[00:30:39] Like, my friend, he's a fan of, like, the most random teams possible in every category of sport.

[00:30:44] He's a Marlins fan.

[00:30:45] He's a Buffalo Bills fan.

[00:30:47] It doesn't really make sense.

[00:30:48] He's all over the place.

[00:30:49] But I would get stuck watching a lot of, like, Sandy Alcantara.

[00:30:53] I know he's hurt this last year.

[00:30:54] But a lot of him, I'm trying to think who else.

[00:30:58] A lot of, like, Scherzer, Verlander, like, old of them.

[00:31:01] And really when they were, like, 28, 29, when they were both throwing, like, 100.

[00:31:05] You know, it's a lot of that stuff.

[00:31:08] Okay, so first I'll say, I don't think it's random at all to want to watch Sandy Alcantara.

[00:31:12] The guy is a Cy Young winner.

[00:31:13] So, power to you for wanting to watch that guy.

[00:31:16] But second thing I wanted to follow up with you on is, is it fair to say you're kind of a pitching nerd?

[00:31:21] And I have a follow-up to this as a reason why I ask.

[00:31:23] I would say so.

[00:31:25] Like, I'll just start throwing baseball to my dad just in the, like, living room.

[00:31:30] Just randomly.

[00:31:31] So, like, it's on my mind a good amount, I'd say.

[00:31:34] So, I remember after you got drafted and you came out to Seattle.

[00:31:38] You signed your contract.

[00:31:39] You did a tour around the ballpark.

[00:31:41] You did the media session.

[00:31:42] And I remember during your media session, you got asked what pitcher you would love to take a pitch from and put it in your own arsenal.

[00:31:50] And usually when you hear questions like that, you hear people say, yeah, I'd love Justin Verlander's fastball.

[00:31:56] I'd love Max Scherzer's slider, et cetera.

[00:31:58] And you just right out of your back pocket, you go, yeah, I'd really love Seth Lugo.

[00:32:02] I'd really love to have Seth Lugo's curveball.

[00:32:04] That thing's got about 3,500 spin rate.

[00:32:06] And I'm sitting there thinking to myself, this dude's 18, and he just pulled Seth Lugo right out of his back pocket.

[00:32:11] So, something tells me you watch a lot of baseball.

[00:32:14] Is that fair?

[00:32:14] I would consider myself a pretty valid ball knower.

[00:32:18] I follow Pitching Ninja, so I probably saw a Pitching Ninja clip of him, like, a week before, and it just happened to be on my mind at that second.

[00:32:27] So, yeah.

[00:32:28] What is it that fascinates you the most?

[00:32:30] What do you, like, zero in on the most when you look at that stuff?

[00:32:33] I know, just, like, everyone's, like, so different in how they move and just the ability to make the ball move how people do and make it spin and make it go different directions is very fascinating to me.

[00:32:45] I know not everybody focuses a ton on spin rate.

[00:32:49] Every pitcher really has their thing that they focus on.

[00:32:53] Was spin rate something, even in, like, the middle of high school when you start learning more about it, that is what you specifically focused on?

[00:33:00] Honestly, no, because, like, I don't have the strongest spin rates, but it's, like, just watching these guys, like, have the ability to do it and even maybe, like, pick up on something that they do, whether it's a grip or, like, a cue or something that they do really well and kind of try to make it my own was always kind of something I tried to do.

[00:33:18] Is there a reason why you don't?

[00:33:20] Because, like, it feels like you have all the physical capabilities to do so with, like, a wide wingspan.

[00:33:27] You're tall.

[00:33:27] You're big.

[00:33:28] You're powerful.

[00:33:29] That, I feel like that should lead to a ton of spin.

[00:33:32] Yeah, right?

[00:33:32] I mean, I do hit the rice bucket every once in a while, so hopefully that can help me out this upcoming season or in the future.

[00:33:39] So, yeah.

[00:33:41] Interesting.

[00:33:42] Do they teach a lot of that stuff in high school nowadays?

[00:33:45] Because clearly you know a decent amount about it.

[00:33:47] Or was it just you and learning on your own and watching Pitching Ninja?

[00:33:50] Yeah, so for me, high school, our coach was, like, super old school.

[00:33:55] Like, he had us doing, like, towel drills.

[00:33:57] Like, you won't see that ever in, like, a travel ball team.

[00:34:01] So, a lot of the stuff I learned was kind of just off Pitching Ninja, different type of Instagram guys.

[00:34:06] And then I worked out at a place called The Bow Dome where we got a track man this last offseason.

[00:34:11] So, a lot of the knowledge I kind of have now has just stemmed from that and me and my coach kind of just learning about it as we went.

[00:34:18] What would you try and learn from Pitching Ninja?

[00:34:21] What videos would you go watch and how would you sort of digest them?

[00:34:25] I mean, for me, you just see so many people throwing just really nasty stuff.

[00:34:29] So, it's like, why wouldn't I want to try to emulate or see how they do this?

[00:34:35] Because it's really cool to see a guy that makes a slider move 25 inches.

[00:34:39] Is it watching?

[00:34:40] Oh, sorry.

[00:34:41] No, go ahead.

[00:34:42] Is it watching, like, the tunneling of how he builds the tunneling videos?

[00:34:47] Is it going and watching the interview and the player explaining it?

[00:34:50] Which part of that is it?

[00:34:51] I like just this thing.

[00:34:52] It's everything.

[00:34:53] Like, I find that so fascinating.

[00:34:55] Like, I would go watch that in my free time just to, like, learn.

[00:34:58] Even if it doesn't help me, like, directly, just being able to, like, learn what these guys do and how they go about it is really special.

[00:35:05] We can use this sort of as a transition into the Mariners pitching culture and what you really hope to sort of develop in this organization.

[00:35:13] But in terms of what you've seen from some of the Mariners pitchers, is there a pitch that you've seen there that you picked up and been like, whoa, that one's pretty cool?

[00:35:23] Like, everyone there that I've talked to just says they're amazing at developing sweepers.

[00:35:28] Which, for me, I'd be like, go right ahead.

[00:35:31] I would love a gross sweeper.

[00:35:33] Like, that'd be great for me.

[00:35:34] So, I got a pretty good change of a pretty good fastball.

[00:35:36] So, it's like, why not add that and make it even better than it is already?

[00:35:40] Have you seen Matt Brash?

[00:35:41] I have.

[00:35:42] I have.

[00:35:43] Yeah.

[00:35:44] Uh-huh.

[00:35:45] That one's pretty good.

[00:35:46] It'll play.

[00:35:47] It'll play.

[00:35:47] I was going to say, you got your two cents on that one?

[00:35:50] It'll play.

[00:35:51] It'll play.

[00:35:52] I was going to ask one thing before we get back to the Mariners development stuff, which is you said you were doing towel drills in high school and that's pretty old school.

[00:36:01] What would new school and high school be considered now?

[00:36:04] Like, are there high school teams out there with the plyo balls from driveline and stuff?

[00:36:07] Oh, 100%.

[00:36:08] Like, I feel like it's a less public school and more private school you see that just because they have more money to spend.

[00:36:13] Like, we literally just got a pitching machine.

[00:36:16] It's like last year that I was a senior.

[00:36:17] So, it's like they're just like miles ahead when it comes to tech just because of the money they have to spend.

[00:36:24] And then we don't really have as much as a team.

[00:36:27] When you say pitching machine, do you mean those like the screens that can put any pitcher up there and you get the arm angle and you get the different pitches, that type of thing?

[00:36:35] Oh, man.

[00:36:36] If we had that, we'd be in a lot of debt.

[00:36:38] No, we just kind of ended up being like a hack attack.

[00:36:40] Yeah.

[00:36:41] So, you didn't get like a normal standard pitching machine.

[00:36:43] Oh, we did get a hack attack.

[00:36:44] Exactly.

[00:36:45] We had like some old janky one.

[00:36:47] I don't know what brand it was from.

[00:36:49] It would throw like banger or just splitters into the dirt.

[00:36:52] And it was just like no one would touch it and we finally ended up getting a hack attack.

[00:36:56] So, yeah.

[00:36:57] So, I'm thinking way too deep.

[00:36:59] Yeah, you're thinking up here.

[00:37:00] We're farther down here.

[00:37:02] Got it.

[00:37:03] Got it.

[00:37:03] Got it.

[00:37:05] So, okay.

[00:37:06] Getting back into some of your Mariners time, and I know it's been short since you got drafted back over the summer.

[00:37:14] But I'm always curious to ask guys this once they got drafted, which is before you heard your name call, before you knew you were going to the Mariners, one, had you ever been to Seattle?

[00:37:24] And two, how much did you know about the city of Seattle before getting drafted?

[00:37:29] Never been to Seattle.

[00:37:30] I've never really been anywhere on the Northwest at all.

[00:37:34] But the only thing I really knew about Seattle was the fish market, the Space Needle.

[00:37:41] Yeah, that's pretty much it.

[00:37:43] I'm guessing that's the normal answer you get, but yeah.

[00:37:46] You are not alone.

[00:37:47] That is extremely on par with what most people say before getting drafted by the Mariners, especially if they're not from anywhere near the West Coast.

[00:37:56] I mean, well, I'll ask you this.

[00:37:57] Did it live up to the hype when you got to see the Space Needle in Pike Place when you toured it?

[00:38:02] Okay.

[00:38:02] First off, I'm scared of heights.

[00:38:05] I'm not really scared.

[00:38:06] It's just like more of an uncomfortable thing, I guess you could say.

[00:38:10] Like I can go get up on the Space Needle.

[00:38:12] I won't be like standing on the side.

[00:38:14] But so that's just one thing.

[00:38:16] But the fish market was really cool.

[00:38:17] I could get with the fish market.

[00:38:20] It was packed too when we went.

[00:38:21] Like you're like going in and out of people, like, you know, trying to make your way through.

[00:38:25] So it was cool.

[00:38:27] Did you enjoy the spinning see-through floor?

[00:38:30] I did.

[00:38:30] I didn't find that too bad.

[00:38:31] I was able to look on down.

[00:38:33] I didn't find it too bad.

[00:38:35] That's actually one of the more shocking things I hear from out of the mouth of someone who says heights make me uncomfortable.

[00:38:42] That feels like just like a queasy stomach waiting to happen.

[00:38:48] Like for me, it was like once I got up to the top and kind of could look down, just the comfortability factor started to gain on me.

[00:38:54] So when I got down, I realized we were down a floor.

[00:38:56] So it felt a little bit better.

[00:38:59] Like, I don't know, man.

[00:39:00] I just felt a little better.

[00:39:02] Yeah, I can't do those glass floors.

[00:39:05] I'm kind of scared of heights too, to be fair.

[00:39:07] And not like, it's not like my biggest fear.

[00:39:09] But when you get that glass that's just the see-through and you're high up, oh, that's tough.

[00:39:14] I don't blame you.

[00:39:15] Yeah.

[00:39:17] How much, if we get into your time, like joining this Mariners organization and getting to sort of absorb all of this since you were drafted this past summer.

[00:39:26] Going into the draft, how aware are you of all 30 teams' reputations when it comes to developing pitchers?

[00:39:35] I would say a solid amount.

[00:39:39] A decent amount.

[00:39:40] I think there's, I think there's, I had a good awareness of like there were some that were better than others.

[00:39:46] So yeah.

[00:39:48] You don't have to reveal a list or anything, but do you build out a list of your look and it's like, these would be great.

[00:39:54] These would be okay.

[00:39:55] These would not be as great when it comes to, you know, targets and bonus amounts and like where you would be comfortable going at what point.

[00:40:04] I don't know.

[00:40:05] I think we kind of just like, because for me it was so weird.

[00:40:08] The fact like my range, I felt like it was very wide.

[00:40:11] Like it was anywhere from like the middle of the first round to like the late, like second.

[00:40:17] So it was like, we didn't really have like a range where you thought you could go.

[00:40:21] So when you don't have that, it's kind of tough, difficult and tough to like plan for where you think you could go just because it's so wide.

[00:40:27] You don't want to do a deep dive for all 30 teams.

[00:40:30] Cause essentially that couldn't end up happening or go to any 30 team.

[00:40:34] So yeah.

[00:40:35] So then is it just setting your number?

[00:40:37] And if some team hits your number, great.

[00:40:40] You're a professional.

[00:40:41] If not, you're going to one of the best pitching development schools in the country.

[00:40:44] Is it as simple as that?

[00:40:46] For me?

[00:40:47] Yes.

[00:40:48] But like mentally just like having to endure that, like as you're just going through all these different picks and seeing different guys go off the board was very difficult just for everyone there.

[00:40:57] Cause we have a bunch of family and my dad's restaurant.

[00:41:01] So just having to like think about that and just stay relaxed, like, you know, going to college is a win and also getting drafted.

[00:41:08] Someone hits the numbers also wins.

[00:41:09] So yeah.

[00:41:10] By the way, did you ever had all 30 teams at your draft party?

[00:41:14] Cause I remember when they called you, you already had a Mariners hat on.

[00:41:17] I did.

[00:41:17] I did.

[00:41:18] I had all 30 teams there.

[00:41:19] Yeah.

[00:41:20] Smart.

[00:41:20] That's smart planning by your family and friends and whoever set that up.

[00:41:23] So, so on the topic of reputations of teams and conversations you had before the draft from what's out there and what Scott Hunter talked about is you guys spent a lot of time together before the draft.

[00:41:35] So on the Mariners front and the conversations you had with them leading up to the draft, what did you learn about them?

[00:41:40] And especially about the reputation they've developed about how well they have helped develop pitchers over the last few years.

[00:41:47] I mean, I think it's pretty evident just when you go look at all the people that have came through it and you see all the starters that they have that are all homegrown.

[00:41:54] And then you have to see the guys that like the Logan Evans and the Morales is that are coming through the system and have benefited a lot from coming through it and learning a ton and getting way better than they were when they came in.

[00:42:06] So I think it was pretty evident just that they know what they're doing and they have a system and they're going to stick to that.

[00:42:13] And if you stick, if you go with that system that they implement, you should be pretty well off.

[00:42:19] After you were drafted, I would imagine you sat down with them again and talk through your plan through throughout the rest of the season and now into the off season as well.

[00:42:29] I'm curious what you were able to learn when you guys actually sat down and talked about your plan for development.

[00:42:37] What did you learn in that?

[00:42:39] Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of the stuff I was just like trying to take in, a lot to learn, like really trying to take it all in.

[00:42:49] But for me specifically, a lot of it was just like continuing to like challenge myself, you know, like whether it's catch play, whether it's a bullpen, like continuing to make things harder.

[00:43:02] Because like catch, when you do it every single day, it can kind of start to get easy, you start to get lazy, you start to do all these different things.

[00:43:07] So just keeping challenging yourself, throwing different pitches, moving differently, like trying to make it as difficult as you can and try to fail so then you can learn from it.

[00:43:17] Was part of that just almost focusing on throwing strikes?

[00:43:22] Because from everything we heard, everyone gets the chart of like, here's what happens when you go ahead 0-1.

[00:43:28] Here's what happens when you fall behind 1-0.

[00:43:30] Look at the drastic difference.

[00:43:31] Never let this happen.

[00:43:33] Exactly.

[00:43:34] So what is something you do?

[00:43:37] So for me, just in like catch play, it'd be like moving around.

[00:43:42] So like moving like a catch or doing like a pick off, like not looking at the person or doing like starting with your foot pointing at them.

[00:43:51] Like all these different movements to just kind of like take your mind off of throwing and just be an athlete.

[00:43:57] You know?

[00:43:58] Because like when you're on the mound, when you're pitching the best, you're not thinking.

[00:44:02] Like I don't think you'll talk to anyone where it's like they're pitching really well and they're totally thinking these things out.

[00:44:07] They're just kind of like in the flow state like everyone talks about.

[00:44:10] So just trying to get there in catch play, which I know is difficult because when you're in catch play, you're trying to get better.

[00:44:15] You're trying to work on things.

[00:44:16] But just being able to move, being able to change things up and still hit a target, which is person's chest is what we're aiming for.

[00:44:24] Okay.

[00:44:24] So you talk about wanting to stay alert during catch play and people benefiting from staying alert during catch play.

[00:44:30] I've got an idea and maybe you've already done this, but I'll just throw it out there.

[00:44:33] Does it help you stay on alert if you decide to play catch with Durangelo one day?

[00:44:37] Because one minute he's thrown from the right side, the next minute he's thrown from the left side.

[00:44:41] And you're like, oh, well, he's got a different angle coming at me.

[00:44:44] I can't fall asleep.

[00:44:45] Yes, that will definitely help, especially when he's going sinker from the left and that's a rise fastball from the right.

[00:44:51] So definitely have to pay attention for that, you know?

[00:44:55] And then him just switching arms out of nowhere.

[00:44:58] It's like, I don't like you really got to stay alert.

[00:45:00] You got to be waking up for that.

[00:45:02] Was it wild to see that in person the first time you saw it?

[00:45:05] It honestly was.

[00:45:07] I mean, I think a lot of the time we threw close to like the same amount of throws, which is interesting.

[00:45:12] I thought I'd have to like call on like a sub to come throw for me, but didn't end up doing that.

[00:45:16] But it was just weird.

[00:45:18] The fact that he would come back in, I'd be throwing with my right because I don't throw both plays, which is kind of weird nowadays.

[00:45:24] But yeah, so it was like he started throwing lefty changeups and he threw righty changeups and jumping all over the place.

[00:45:31] And I'm just here catching his like little mini pen, you know?

[00:45:34] So yeah.

[00:45:35] How hard can you throw left-handed?

[00:45:39] Maybe like 60.

[00:45:40] I think 60 is a good baseline.

[00:45:42] That's pretty good, actually.

[00:45:43] I'll tell you that that's a good answer because we asked Brandon Garcia the same thing about a month ago.

[00:45:48] And he was like, I can actually throw Deason from the right side.

[00:45:51] I could get it up to, I don't know, maybe somewhere in the 80s.

[00:45:53] And then we've had both Logan Evans.

[00:45:56] The 80s?

[00:45:57] Come on.

[00:45:58] Yeah.

[00:45:58] I know Brandon, too.

[00:46:00] I was just with him for five weeks.

[00:46:01] No way he's throwing 80 from the right side.

[00:46:02] Come on, dude.

[00:46:04] Come on, now.

[00:46:05] That answer lines up perfectly with what both Morales and Logan Evans told us, which was like, we were watching that episode with Brandon.

[00:46:13] We heard him say that and we both look at each other and they're like, absolutely not.

[00:46:17] Come on, though.

[00:46:18] Yeah.

[00:46:18] Yeah.

[00:46:19] So that's funny.

[00:46:21] Yeah.

[00:46:22] So now 60 from the left side sounds about right, which for somebody that throws 100 from the right side or has hit 100, that's not bad from the left side.

[00:46:30] Which, by the way, when you did that in high school, did you have any type of reaction to it when it happened for the first time?

[00:46:38] Because that's a big deal.

[00:46:39] Like, did you fist pump?

[00:46:40] Like, anything?

[00:46:41] Like, how did you find out about it once you hit it on the radar?

[00:46:43] So I didn't even find out during the game.

[00:46:45] I found out, like, after the game.

[00:46:47] I got sent a video and I was like, damn, that's pretty cool.

[00:46:50] You know, because I was like, oh, it was kind of close to it.

[00:46:52] Like, the speed difference between, like, 99 and 100 is like, it's more of like an ego thing.

[00:46:57] I feel like, oh, I hit 100.

[00:46:59] I hit 99.

[00:47:00] Like, the hitter's not really going to perceive that that much faster.

[00:47:04] So I was like, okay, that's cool.

[00:47:05] Like, now I get to move on.

[00:47:06] You know, just keep pitching, you know?

[00:47:08] That right there is the mindset of a professional baseball player.

[00:47:11] Because I'll tell you what, if I ever got anything close to 100, that's going all over social media.

[00:47:16] And it's the senior quote in my yearbook.

[00:47:17] It's, hey, remember me?

[00:47:19] I hit 100.

[00:47:21] Yeah.

[00:47:23] Ryan, what are you like on the mound?

[00:47:26] I'm pretty relaxed.

[00:47:28] I think I pitch better when I'm just, like, relaxed and just kind of chilling.

[00:47:35] Like, yeah, I never really get fired up like crazy.

[00:47:37] Like, my dad always kind of taught me.

[00:47:39] My dad played baseball at Austin Peay.

[00:47:40] He's a catcher there.

[00:47:42] So he's just always, like, I always kind of just brought from him, like, the people in the crowd shouldn't be able to tell if you're having a good or bad day.

[00:47:50] So, like, when I'm walking off, it's kind of always the same, like, modest attitude.

[00:47:55] You know, you couldn't tell if I just let out five runs or if I threw an immaculate inning.

[00:47:59] Like, is it emotionless or just how would you help?

[00:48:05] I wouldn't say emotionless.

[00:48:07] I just say it's, like, it's extremely, like, relaxed.

[00:48:11] Like, if I came in to, like, close a game, like, I came in to close a game for to go to state.

[00:48:18] And I was pretty fired up.

[00:48:19] But, like, I don't think if you're in the crowd, you wouldn't know that I was, like, uber fired up to, like, be in here pitching.

[00:48:25] You know, like, I don't think I show it as much as I feel it, if that makes sense.

[00:48:30] A different way to frame this, do you talk to people when you pitch?

[00:48:33] Or are you tunnel vision?

[00:48:36] I can't say a word to anybody.

[00:48:40] Um, I usually don't talk to people.

[00:48:42] Okay.

[00:48:43] I'm usually just chilling, chilling to myself, eating a PB&J before the game.

[00:48:48] I'll just go about my routine.

[00:48:50] That's a great answer.

[00:48:52] TJ's laughing because that's my single favorite food on planet Earth.

[00:48:54] And it will never be any other way.

[00:48:57] I had a peanut butter and jelly before, like, every high school start.

[00:49:00] And you wonder why you got drafted in the second round.

[00:49:04] Exactly.

[00:49:04] And I remember the Mariners.

[00:49:06] What do you use?

[00:49:08] Creamy, crunchy peanut butter?

[00:49:10] Oh, creamy all the way.

[00:49:11] I can't do crunchy.

[00:49:12] Smart.

[00:49:13] What do you, like, do you use Skippy, Jif?

[00:49:16] Like, what's your go-to?

[00:49:17] Jif.

[00:49:18] Okay.

[00:49:18] I think we haven't, I think we got, like, the three-pack from Costco.

[00:49:22] I think it's Jif.

[00:49:23] Smart.

[00:49:24] Because if you buy the three-pack of peanut butter, you're probably the same way as me.

[00:49:28] You're like, well, it's getting used.

[00:49:29] It might be a month from now, but it's getting used.

[00:49:31] Like, peanut butter's not going to expire, so it's like, you might as well get the three-pack.

[00:49:34] So, you know.

[00:49:36] Strawberry, raspberry, grape, what are we putting on there?

[00:49:39] Okay.

[00:49:40] To be honest, a lot of time I don't even make the PB&J.

[00:49:43] It just gets thrown in my lunch.

[00:49:45] Because my dad owns restaurants, so he just loves cooking things up or making food.

[00:49:50] So, he usually just gets thrown in my lunch.

[00:49:52] But last year was unique because during the baseball season, during the spring, I didn't have a sixth, seventh, or eighth period.

[00:50:01] So, I would get out of school at, like, 1218, 1230, go lift, and do, like, this, like, pre-throw thing, and then come back to the field and actually get ready for the game.

[00:50:14] So, I'd have that PB&J.

[00:50:16] PB&J just sitting in my lunch and marinating all day.

[00:50:18] And then I get to go eat it when I get to the field.

[00:50:21] So, it was pretty nice.

[00:50:23] Okay.

[00:50:23] So, while you're not building it, do you actually, though, have a preference of jelly?

[00:50:27] I really don't.

[00:50:28] Whatever we got, you know, I'm okay with.

[00:50:31] A little more versatile than Lyle is.

[00:50:34] Yeah, I can adapt to the jelly.

[00:50:36] I mean, I like a variety, but if I have the option to just use strawberry jelly, I'm going to use strawberry jelly.

[00:50:41] I will say, though, I think it's hilarious to hear you say you're just thinking about it all day.

[00:50:45] I do the same thing.

[00:50:47] I eat one just about every day, and every day I'm looking forward to it.

[00:50:50] There's all these people that will be like, don't you get sick of it after all this time?

[00:50:53] And I say, absolutely not.

[00:50:55] Couldn't be more opposite.

[00:50:57] Every day I look forward to it.

[00:50:59] So, yeah.

[00:51:00] For me, it's almost like a weak thing.

[00:51:02] You look forward to the PB&J, the upcoming start, you know, because I'm already looking forward to the start, and I get to think, like, oh, I get a peanut butter and jelly the same day.

[00:51:10] Like, I'm not as much of an enthusiast about it as you, but it's a nice little buildup before the game to get some food in the tummy, you know?

[00:51:17] Oh, yeah.

[00:51:18] Does it not make you feel a little sluggish, though, out there on the mound?

[00:51:21] Every time I eat one, like, it's great, but the peanut butter slows me down a little bit.

[00:51:26] I really, like, I wouldn't.

[00:51:30] For me, no, because I drink a lot of water.

[00:51:33] So it's like, as long as I have a water next to me, it's like, you can't eat a peanut butter and jelly without, like, a beverage next to it, or else you're just going to dry your mouth and just not be a good experience.

[00:51:44] So having water, I think, is real important next to you.

[00:51:47] And when you say – so I did read your dad, and you mentioned your dad owns a couple of restaurants, and he loves cooking.

[00:51:53] And therefore – so was he making you, like, gourmet ones, or are these just standard?

[00:51:58] These are bread, peanut butter, and jelly with another piece of bread on top.

[00:52:02] Yeah.

[00:52:04] That's good enough.

[00:52:05] Standard as a dad.

[00:52:07] When you were down at high-performance camp or just in Arizona after you got drafted, who did you start to vibe with that was down there with you?

[00:52:15] We're always curious, like, who gels, who talks among, like, the Mariners minor leaguers and where the friend groups are.

[00:52:21] So, yeah, who did you connect with when you were down there?

[00:52:23] I'm trying to think.

[00:52:24] Like, first at the draft camp, I'm trying to even think.

[00:52:28] Like, Durangelo – Durangelo's my roommate, so we kind of have to bond together just in that way because, like, I kind of feel like you have to build a bond with the person you're living with.

[00:52:37] Like, you can't just, like, ignore them.

[00:52:39] So him.

[00:52:41] I'm trying to think who else.

[00:52:43] That draft camp.

[00:52:45] I'm trying to think who was there.

[00:52:48] It's, like, Phil so long ago, but it's really not.

[00:52:52] I think who I went out to dinner with.

[00:52:54] Like, Higgins.

[00:52:55] Thomas Higgins I went out to dinner with.

[00:52:58] Matt Tiberio I went out to dinner with.

[00:53:01] Karen.

[00:53:03] Ike.

[00:53:04] It was a lot of different people.

[00:53:06] Like, just trying to get to know everyone, like, get a feel for everyone, I feel like.

[00:53:10] And how about down at HPC?

[00:53:12] Because there was more guys there during that.

[00:53:13] Yeah, right.

[00:53:15] HPC was more, like, I would go golfing with Ty.

[00:53:17] I would go golfing with Karen and Ike.

[00:53:21] I would play video games with, like, Morales and Logan Evans and BG or Brandon.

[00:53:30] But, yeah, we played a good amount of 2K during that time.

[00:53:33] I spent a good amount of time on 2K that little five weeks.

[00:53:37] Are you good?

[00:53:39] I was, like, a wing.

[00:53:40] I'm, like, a 6'7 wing.

[00:53:41] I was, I could shoot it.

[00:53:43] I could shoot it well.

[00:53:45] Uh-huh.

[00:53:45] What about on 2K?

[00:53:48] 2K?

[00:53:50] 2K, I'm pretty solid at it, too.

[00:53:52] Pretty solid.

[00:53:53] Are you the best of the group?

[00:53:55] Like, I'm not going to get called, like, the worst.

[00:53:57] Like, I'm not bad, but I'm not, like, a great 2K player.

[00:54:01] Like, I get the job done.

[00:54:03] You can count on me for a clutch three in 2K.

[00:54:06] Does Morales take the cake with that one?

[00:54:10] As being the best 2K player?

[00:54:12] Yeah.

[00:54:15] Probably not.

[00:54:16] I don't, like, diss on him.

[00:54:18] I don't, he didn't shoot the rock very well when we played with him.

[00:54:22] Trying to think who's good.

[00:54:23] Like, Brandon was good.

[00:54:26] Logan was good.

[00:54:28] Trying to think who else we played with.

[00:54:29] Cole Young was good, too.

[00:54:31] So that would be the group we play with.

[00:54:34] That's cool.

[00:54:36] Ryan would like to learn a little bit about your arsenal.

[00:54:39] How would you describe your pitching arsenal?

[00:54:42] Yeah.

[00:54:44] Throw a four-seam fastball.

[00:54:47] It's pretty good.

[00:54:48] Throw pretty hard.

[00:54:51] Throw a slider, slider, changeup.

[00:54:53] And then I start throwing a cutter.

[00:54:55] Like, I can just been playing around with cutters, sinker.

[00:54:59] Really a lot of catch play in bullpens, but I haven't really had anything stick yet.

[00:55:03] So, yeah.

[00:55:04] The changeup's the pitch that has at least a little bit of an online story to it, or that's been written about a little bit.

[00:55:11] You've talked about it, where you needed an out pitch against lefties in, it was an international tournament, right?

[00:55:17] It was in PDP.

[00:55:19] Yeah.

[00:55:20] What is that?

[00:55:21] USA Baseball's, like, thing to make the USA Baseball team.

[00:55:27] Yeah.

[00:55:27] Right.

[00:55:28] But you needed it, and you started throwing the changeup, and it's worked for you ever since.

[00:55:34] How did you – who did you model it after?

[00:55:36] Where did you get the grip idea and how to throw it?

[00:55:40] Yeah.

[00:55:41] So, I mean, it was really just, like, a mosh posh of everything that I've kind of, like, learned from people there.

[00:55:47] I asked, like, 10 different people how they throw this.

[00:55:49] I was asking coaches, players, like, what's your grip?

[00:55:51] What do you think?

[00:55:52] Like, I didn't even care if they had a good changeup.

[00:55:55] Like, I was kind of, like, desperate for anything at that point because, as you probably know, like, I went in my first time and kind of just got barreled.

[00:56:02] Like, I was fastball slider only, coming off high school, facing way better competition.

[00:56:05] So, I'm like, I need something to work.

[00:56:08] And I ended up throwing it.

[00:56:09] It was good.

[00:56:10] And then kind of just gone from there.

[00:56:13] What else do you want to add?

[00:56:16] Either cutter or sinker.

[00:56:18] I think sinker will be more beneficial.

[00:56:19] Just, like, but for me, I'm just so young where it's just, like, bettering all the three pitches I have as of right now.

[00:56:26] And then in the free time, I can go build on another pitch if I really need to.

[00:56:31] Are we talking, like, turbo sinker?

[00:56:34] Are we talking two seam?

[00:56:35] What are we thinking about?

[00:56:38] I don't know, man.

[00:56:39] I mean, whatever helps me the most, I guess.

[00:56:43] Like, I feel like we have so much data now where they can go look up what my best sinker would be based off X, Y, and Z.

[00:56:48] So, I'll probably just listen to that when it comes to that point.

[00:56:53] Now that you're in the organization, do you like to look into that stuff?

[00:56:57] Or do you worry about getting too caught up with all the numbers?

[00:57:01] So, for example, Logan Gilbert has talked about he is super into the numbers.

[00:57:05] But he still says there's obviously some limitation to it because he doesn't want to get too buried in it.

[00:57:10] No, right.

[00:57:11] I think I'm pretty similar in that ideology.

[00:57:13] Like, I think it's obviously a great resource that you kind of have to use just because it's like –

[00:57:20] just because there's a lot of, like – there's not a lot of, like, mistakes in it.

[00:57:23] Like, it's obviously data.

[00:57:24] So, like, there's not going to be, like, something wrong about it.

[00:57:26] I guess you could – if you get where I'm going with that.

[00:57:29] But, like, at the same time, like, you can't completely change what you're doing mechanically

[00:57:33] and think about all these different things just because you want to make X, Y, and Z shape, you know, with the baseball.

[00:57:40] So, it's like – I think it's just a happy medium of doing X or doing – using the data

[00:57:46] and then still being who you are as a pitcher.

[00:57:50] What is something that you didn't have access to in high school and at the training facility you were at in high school

[00:57:55] that the Mariners have that you thought was super cool?

[00:57:58] So, they have, like, a biomechan – like, one of those, like, slow-motion cameras I thought was really cool.

[00:58:03] You can see how it's coming out of the hand.

[00:58:07] And then just really, like, the database they have when it comes to pitching and all the pitches ever thrown,

[00:58:13] like, seeing what is really good and what's not so good.

[00:58:16] I think that's something I would definitely say.

[00:58:19] How would you use that camera?

[00:58:21] Like, what are you looking for in that?

[00:58:25] Like, I would say when you throw one really well, you can kind of see what it does out of the hand.

[00:58:30] Like, obviously, I feel like it's hard to just replicate that feel just because it's like you're talking about, like, the slightest differences.

[00:58:36] You know, or if you do something that didn't feel right, you can really go look at what you did compared to the one you did really well.

[00:58:43] So, yeah.

[00:58:45] So, Ryan, usually we end on five fun questions so Mariners fans get to know a little bit about each person we talk to.

[00:58:51] Dude, before that, I had one other question I wanted to ask you about, which was, are you bilingual by chance?

[00:58:57] Because I remember seeing your video when you got drafted and got to the ballpark of all your family and friends saying,

[00:59:04] hey, Ryan, good luck.

[00:59:05] This is awesome for you, et cetera.

[00:59:07] And there was a family in there that was speaking French.

[00:59:10] So I'm just curious.

[00:59:11] Like, can you speak French?

[00:59:13] No, so I took a French class in high school, I think up until my junior year.

[00:59:20] And I do have French family.

[00:59:22] I have family that lives in France and I have family that lives in Montreal now.

[00:59:28] But I do not speak French.

[00:59:30] I can understand it.

[00:59:32] None of my parents speak French.

[00:59:34] None of my little sisters speak French.

[00:59:36] So it's just English for me.

[00:59:39] Well, you're in the same boat as us.

[00:59:41] I mean, we took Spanish through high school, a little bit in college.

[00:59:46] And to be honest, like, I'd love to pick it up again.

[00:59:48] But to your point, like, yeah, like, I'm not bilingual.

[00:59:51] I just, it was interesting.

[00:59:52] I saw the video and I was thinking, oh, it looked like you picked up, you picked right up on it.

[00:59:56] And I was like, oh, maybe he's bilingual, which, no.

[00:59:59] Okay, that makes sense.

[01:00:00] But you took French through high school.

[01:00:01] That makes sense.

[01:00:03] So that's actually family member.

[01:00:05] Those are actually your family members that were speaking French in the video.

[01:00:08] That's who it was?

[01:00:09] Yeah.

[01:00:09] Gotcha.

[01:00:10] Gotcha.

[01:00:10] Gotcha.

[01:00:10] Gotcha.

[01:00:11] Okay.

[01:00:12] Yeah, let's move on.

[01:00:14] Yeah, let's wrap up with some of these questions that we always like to rapid fire at people.

[01:00:18] So Mariners fans can get to know a little bit more about you.

[01:00:21] First one is, I guess we talked about this a little bit already, but go-to pregame and postgame meal is what?

[01:00:29] Yep.

[01:00:29] Pregame PB&J and then postgame, like, either Chipotle or Chick-fil-A.

[01:00:38] What are you getting at Chipotle?

[01:01:08] Chipotle?

[01:01:10] Oh, yeah.

[01:01:11] Oh, yeah.

[01:01:11] The guac's been running in a little bit often as of now, you know?

[01:01:16] That is a full Chipotle bowl at its finest.

[01:01:19] Oh, I don't mess around.

[01:01:21] Uh-uh.

[01:01:21] I'm getting the most bang for my buck at Chipotle.

[01:01:24] I was going to say, and you watch them closely.

[01:01:26] It's like, I make sure you get a full scoop here.

[01:01:28] Oh, I'm like, if they don't give me the amount of rice I want, I'm not scared to ask for a little more.

[01:01:33] You know, I will get my rice.

[01:01:36] Smart.

[01:01:37] That's smart.

[01:01:38] Hey, that's good.

[01:01:39] You're just getting your money's worth.

[01:01:40] I respect that.

[01:01:40] Exactly.

[01:01:41] Next question is, your top three favorite TV shows ever are what?

[01:01:47] Top three TV shows.

[01:01:49] Oh, boy.

[01:01:52] Big Stranger Things, Big Breaking Bad.

[01:01:55] I'm trying to, like, think what I've, like, binge watched.

[01:01:58] I don't want to say Outer Banks.

[01:01:59] I used to be a bigger fan of Outer Banks when I was, like, younger.

[01:02:03] Longer, but not really anymore.

[01:02:05] Season one was great.

[01:02:06] The rest have been downhill since.

[01:02:08] Yeah, like, I just feel like I'm also growing up, too.

[01:02:10] You know, the taste is changing a little bit.

[01:02:12] But, um, TV shows.

[01:02:15] Like, yeah, really just Breaking Bad and Stranger Things have been my go-tos.

[01:02:21] Those are two good ones.

[01:02:23] And not the first time we've heard those answers.

[01:02:25] So, yeah, you're right in the line.

[01:02:27] I still need to watch them, to be honest.

[01:02:28] Like, I've seen a handful of episodes of Breaking Bad, and it's probably bad that I haven't watched the full show yet.

[01:02:32] But it's on the bucket list to watch it all the way through.

[01:02:35] It's a great show.

[01:02:36] Yeah.

[01:02:36] I'm a big fan.

[01:02:38] I know, okay, this is, you're only 18, so it's funny to ask you this question.

[01:02:43] But we'll fire it away anyway.

[01:02:45] If you weren't playing baseball, what do you think you'd be doing?

[01:02:49] A.K., if you were in college right now, what do you think your major would be?

[01:02:53] I'd probably be a business major, finance major.

[01:02:56] Yeah.

[01:02:56] I mean, after that, probably hope to, like, do something in the business field if I wasn't playing baseball.

[01:03:04] Maybe related to baseball.

[01:03:06] Being, like, an agent or an advisor or something like that, yeah.

[01:03:10] Did you look into a lot of contracts when you were growing up?

[01:03:13] Like, were you the kid that your friends could go to and say,

[01:03:15] Hey, what did this guy just sign for in free agency?

[01:03:17] I can ask Ryan and he'll know.

[01:03:19] No, I wasn't really up that alley.

[01:03:20] Like, I'd be more of a, like, name a guy.

[01:03:24] Like, I could go name for name with my buddy on a, like, you name a team, we could go name for name.

[01:03:29] Baseball players or basketball or football, you know.

[01:03:34] So if we gave you a team right now, you could give us a random player?

[01:03:39] I don't know a random player, but, like, I could go name for name of players on that team pretty well with my buddy.

[01:03:45] I don't know if I could put on the spot, but, yeah.

[01:03:50] So speaking of naming baseball players, your favorite all-time baseball player is who?

[01:03:57] Boy.

[01:04:00] Just being a Cubs fan, give me Arrieta.

[01:04:04] Why?

[01:04:06] World Series.

[01:04:08] That's a pretty good reason.

[01:04:09] Or Chris Bryant.

[01:04:10] Chris Bryant was a B-sayer, too.

[01:04:12] That's a good one.

[01:04:13] Okay, and last one for you.

[01:04:15] If you were to make your big league debut today, what would your walkout song be?

[01:04:22] Ah.

[01:04:24] My walkout song.

[01:04:28] Dude.

[01:04:28] I don't even know.

[01:04:29] I haven't thought about walkout songs in so long just because I didn't hit in high school.

[01:04:33] So it's like, I never had to think about this.

[01:04:36] Like,

[01:04:40] I honestly have no clue.

[01:04:43] Did they not give them to pitchers?

[01:04:44] Uh-uh.

[01:04:45] We did not have one.

[01:04:47] Nothing.

[01:04:48] I'm like, I'm trying to think of things of like, we would play like random songs.

[01:04:52] Like, our coach had like this old MP3 player that had like 60 songs on it.

[01:04:57] And we would just put it on random.

[01:04:59] So like every inning, you'd be walking up to something different.

[01:05:02] Like, it'd be like a random song.

[01:05:03] Like, I'm trying to think.

[01:05:04] Like, the one song that always stuck with me is like the Cheeseburgers in Paradise.

[01:05:07] That song would be, that would not be my walkout song by any means now.

[01:05:10] But like, that one always just reminisces in my head anytime I think about York baseball.

[01:05:16] It's just that song.

[01:05:17] But when it comes to like an actual walkout song, honestly, I couldn't tell you.

[01:05:20] I haven't been able to think about it at all.

[01:05:23] Do you have any artists specifically you like to listen to?

[01:05:25] I like rap.

[01:05:29] That's pretty much it.

[01:05:30] Not like any like heavy rap, but like Drake.

[01:05:36] Like, really anything.

[01:05:37] I'm a big fan of just anything.

[01:05:38] You show me something, I'll give it a listen.

[01:05:41] Well, this will be interesting to circle back to in a couple years whenever you make that debut and see what the song is.

[01:05:46] And we can circle back and say, well, he wasn't sure then.

[01:05:49] Maybe he's put some more thought into it down the road, which makes a lot of sense.

[01:05:54] Ryan, this has been a blast.

[01:05:55] Hopefully, Mariners fans have gotten to learn a lot more about you.

[01:05:58] We've certainly got to learn a lot more about you.

[01:06:00] We've had a blast talking to you.

[01:06:02] And we are certainly rooting for you.

[01:06:04] And obviously, we hope to do this again soon.

[01:06:05] Yeah, for sure.

[01:06:06] Thank you, guys.

[01:06:09] That was a really fun conversation with Ryan Sloan.

[01:06:12] Everything about him has the ceiling of a top-end rotation starter.

[01:06:16] At the very least, a big league starter with the upside that is really high.

[01:06:20] So buy stock now.

[01:06:22] Do your research now.

[01:06:23] Do your homework now.

[01:06:24] Two to three years from now, you'll be hearing about this guy plenty.

[01:06:28] And hopefully, you got to learn a lot about him here in this interview.

[01:06:31] With that, that'll just about wrap up this edition of the Marine Layer Podcast.

[01:06:35] You guys know the drill.

[01:06:36] You want to listen to the full-form podcast, you can do so wherever you get your audio pods.

[01:06:40] Make sure to download.

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[01:06:49] We're on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube Shorts, and Blue Sky at Marine Layer Pod.

[01:06:54] That's TJ.

[01:06:55] I'm Lyle.

[01:06:56] Thanks for tuning in from the winter meetings.

[01:06:58] It has been a blast.

[01:06:59] We'll be back in Seattle here in just a couple days.

[01:07:02] And we'll talk to you soon.