August 2, 2010
Vitek enjoying life in Lowell
by David Laurila/
Kolbrin Vitek is playing with the Lowell Spinners after being drafted by the Red Sox out of Ball State.
Welcome to pro ball, and to Red Sox Nation, Kolbrin Vitek. A 21-year-old third baseman out of Ball State University, Vitek was Boston’s first pick in the opening round of the Major League Baseball First-Year draft. A right-handed hitter who gets high marks for his athleticism and plate discipline, Vitek is beginning his professional career with the short-season Lowell Spinners.
New EnglandBaseball Journal: Going into your first professional season, what do you know about pro ball?
Kolbrin Vitek: I’ve heard quite a few stories – quite a bit about the minors leading up to the big leagues. I’ve heard it’s a grind. I’ve heard it’s a fun time and I’ve heard that you have to stay mentally focused and mentally strong, to get through the whole long run. I’ve talked to quite a few guys. I actually lived with a guy who played short-season ball in the New York-Penn League this past season at school, and he had some good advice for me. That was [former Ball State teammate] Brenden Stines, who is with the Houston Astros’ organization.
NEBJ: How much of this past season was about getting ready for the June draft?
KV: Quite a bit of it. I tried not to think about it too much, because I was still a college student and a college player, so I had to focus on my college career and ending that, but quite a bit of preparation went into it, leading up to this June so I could get here and play minor-league baseball.
NEBJ: What was the scouting process like for you?
KV: It was pretty interesting and a fun time. There were lots of eyes always watching me at each game, which I kind of liked because it helped me to stay focused throughout every game. It kind of just helped me play better.
NEBJ: How many times did the Red Sox talk to you leading up to the draft?
KV: Quite a few. They had a guy there almost every game and he usually stuck around and talked to me afterwards, or he met with me a few times at night in the hotel. So I talked with [Red Sox scout Sam Ray] quite a bit. I also had a chance to talk to the scouting directors and even to Theo Epstein when I visited Boston for my pre-draft workout.
NEBJ: What was your pre-draft workout like?
KV: Those are pretty much a little bit of defensive work and then taking batting practice on the field. That and it’s pretty much a meet-and-greet.
NEBJ: How much did the Red Sox stress defense during the workout?
KV: I worked out at three different positions actually, so it was stressed pretty well throughout the whole thing. They wanted to see where I was most comfortable at, so they watched me quite a bit at a few positions.
NEBJ: Did most of the scouts you talked to have a similar approach?
KV: Some were more laid-back and some were more aggressive. There were different questions and different approaches – it’s just the way that organizations run their systems. I noticed that Boston did more of a background check; they called more people from my hometown; they got more information about my history and things like that, compared to other organizations who were kind of just showing up to watch me play and learn about my present day.
NEBJ: What is it like to have scouts come to your house?
KV: It’s cool. It’s a compliment, I feel like. It’s nice having them around and talking to them. It makes it a little more relaxing when they’re at the games watching you play.
NEBJ: Teams routinely give psychological tests to prospective draftees. What were those like?
KV: They were cool. Some of them were just discussions and others were paperwork with multiple questions asked in different ways. I didn’t really have a problem with any of those. They were pretty much all similar.
NEBJ: Most players say they don’t care which team drafts them. Are they telling the truth?
KV: Yeah, I would say so. I mean, of course you favor some teams, especially an organization like the Red Sox, because they run things a lot cleaner than most other teams do. There are teams like that, but most guys are just looking to get drafted and get out there to play.
NEBJ: What was draft day like for you after your name was called?
KV: Lots of phone time. My phone was blowing up the rest of the night. I was on with a lot of media, and a lot of friends and a lot of family, just congratulating me. It was a very exciting night. It was also frustrating at times, because there is so much that you have to attend to, and so many questions that you have to answer, but overall it was an exciting night.
NEBJ: What about calls from members of the Red Sox organization?
KV: First I got a call from the scout, and then I got a call from the draft room, where the general manager and all of those guys who picked me were. They all congratulated me and welcomed me to the team and then the last call I had to talk to was the Boston media. That was a press call where several guys would beep in and ask questions.
NEBJ: I assume that you also got a call from the Red Sox before they formally committed to selecting you?
KV: Yes, that came three minutes before the pick, to make sure that I was still interested in signing, and for how much.
NEBJ: When does an agent come into play during the draft process?
KV: Well, an agent isn’t considered your agent until you sign with the team, and then you sign with him. Until then he’s pretty much considered your adviser and he doesn’t really do too much for you pre-draft, except for talking to the scouts and kind of trying to build you up. Once you sign, he becomes your agent and he’s in charge of getting you equipment, making sure that you’re doing the right things, and talking to the team that you’re playing for.
NEBJ: With all of that behind you, what is it like being here in Lowell?
KV: It’s great. You’re meeting new friends, you’re meeting the team you’re going to be playing with for awhile. You’re meeting the coaches. You’re getting introduced to everything and getting ready for a whole new experience. It‘s pretty exciting to be here.
