As a promising third baseman in the Detroit Tigers' Minor League system, Edgar Corcino is in charge of locking down the hot corner for the Connecticut Tigers this season. Reliable with the glove and exciting to watch at the plate, Corcino continues to work on both his offensive and defensive game in 2012 as he works towards making it to Detroit.

Born on June 7, 1992, Corcino was drafted by the Tigers in the 27th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Adolfina Irizarry De Puig High School in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. After playing in six games with Connecticut in the 2011 season, Corcino spent some time playing with the West Michigan Whitecaps for the Tigers' full-season Class-A affiliate. This year Corcino has appeared in sixteen games with Connecticut and is batting .222 with an OPS of .635. Highlights have included a 3-for-5 performance against the Tri-City Valley Cats (Houston Astros) on June 24 and a 1-for-2 outing featuring one RBI against the Jamestown Jammers (Miami Marlins) on July 29th. He has managed to be patient at the plate and reduce his strike outs while continuing to play solid defense.

Corcino took a few minutes out before his recent game against Jamestown to discuss his career.

Ryan Maloney: You have played for the Connecticut Tigers short season team, as well as the full season Class-A affiliate in West Michigan. How does playing in the New York Penn League compare to playing at the full season A-ball level with West Michigan?

Edgar Corcino: They certainly know how to play the game in West Michigan. Great confidence and the coaches have you make your own adjustments. If they see something in your swing, they help you adjust and if opposing pitchers see a weakness they attack it.

RM: What is it that you like so much about the game of baseball?

EC: I love baseball. Everyday I go out and learn something. Baseball is a great sport and even if you fail today, you have a chance to get better tomorrow.

RM: What part of your game are you currently working on?

EC: I am working hard on my hitting. It's not easy. I am always working to be a better hitter.

RM: What was it like to be drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of high school?

EC: That was great. To be in high school and already drafted with the chance to play professional baseball. That's great. They gave me a good chance, they knew that I was younger and that I need work but they are giving me a chance to deliver. I thought about going to college and everyone said I should maybe go to school and get a better deal later but I liked the Tigers offer and I took it.

RM: Was your high school program heavily scouted on a regular basis or did you bring the attention to the program?

EC: It's an enormous school and scouts go to the games often. If I make it to the Majors, I will be the first one out of my high school to make it.

RM: What would you say is the 2012 Tigers' greatest strength and what do you believe the team could work on as a whole?

EC: We are good at working on the little things that help you win such as bunts, hit and run - we execute every play to our best ability. We know we are not a slugging team that relies on home runs. We know we need to continue to work on the little things to help us win more games.

RM: How do you like playing at Dodd Stadium?

EC: We have some great guys on this team and the stadium plays pretty big. Our routine is not based on power hitting. We put the ball in play and then we just run. We won't hit many home runs so we rely on our speed in this ballpark.

RM: You have played both catcher and third base in the Tigers' system. Which do you prefer and why? Which do you believe you'd have the greatest chance of making it to the Majors at?

EC: I prefer third base. I learned how to catch but I love third base. Catching is very difficult and it's extremely hard to learn on this level. When I was in high school I caught a few games and they gave me a shot at every position because you never know. I learned almost all of them and the coaches felt my arm was strong. I did well but I'm best at third base. I love it and when you love something, it makes you work at it.

RM: What are your expectations of the rest of the 2012 season?

EC: We can do even better than we have been doing. You have to keep working hard, have fun and you never know what could happen.