Ask A RiverDog: Meet Matt Marsh

Righty Matt Marsh went undrafted, but the Yankees signed the former Liberty Flame as a free agent in 2014. He throws a palm ball like Trevor Hoffman and continues to keep hitters off-balance with the off-speed pitch. Meet Matt Marsh here!

Q: You throw a palm ball, that's not a pitch people see often, how did you get to throwing one and how has it developed over the years?

A: I never could get the feel of a true change-up, like a circle change, so I started throwing that and it developed a lot in Junior College, I didn't know what it was until JuCo and they let me know I was throwing one and since then, it's been my pitch. 

Q: What kind of action does the palm ball have that keeps hitters off balance?

A: Well, what hitters have told me is that it is so difficult to pick up out of the hand. It doesn't have the spin like a curveball or a slider, it's just something different, so it keeps the hitters off balance. 

Q: Your path to pro ball was a little different than most, you went from Junior College to Liberty University to undrafted, what has that been like for you?

A: I knew going in that my prior injuries made it tough for me to get drafted, but the Yankees called a few minutes after the draft ended and that was amazing. Last year I was shut down for the first month due to Tommy John Surgery, but ended in the GCL and pitched in Tampa this year, it's been a great trip so far. I got my opportunity, draft or no draft I got my opportunity and I could not be more excited. 

Q: Since joining the RiverDogs, you have moved from the bullpen to a starter, back to the bullpen. How do you feel your first few weeks in Charleston have been? 

A: It's been good. I was kind of surprised on my conversion from the bullpen to starter, but I like it, I'm down with it. 

Q: What has made the biggest impression on you so far with the RiverDogs? 

A: It's amazing all of the access to different information they have here, it's outstanding - we have so many resources available to us in hopes of making us better so I am just out here being a sponge soaking everything in. 

Q: Jimmy Downam is the RiverDogs trainer - also a Liberty Flame - did your paths ever cross?    

A: Yes, in fact he was my first trainer, rehabbing me from my bone spur surgery and then the second year I had his wife Nicole as my trainer. It's great to be back here with him, he's the best.