Giants Q & A with Brandon Belt
Joe Ritzo: What was the toughest adjustment that you had to make to the professional game?
Brandon Belt: I think the toughest part was just playing through the entire season. Making sure your body was ready to play everyday. The physical part of the game is on a totally different level than college. It was pretty hard to adjust at first, but throughout the season you kind of figured out things to get you through the day. But towards the end of the season, it was pretty tough to get that body going for the game.
JR: There was a lot of attention to the changes you made to your swing and batting stance immediately after you were drafted by the Giants. How difficult was that process?
BB: It was a little bit different at first, but I worked on it all offseason and I felt ready to go when I arrived for spring training. Even then, I felt a little off, but I just told myself to go up there and trust your mechanics and put the ball in play. I think from there, it kind of took off. Fortunately, I was able to keep it up for pretty much the entire year. It was definitely an adjustment at first, but I think I got to used to it fairly quickly.
JR: Were you surprised at how quickly you advanced through the Giants farm system last season?
BB: Yeah, I think I was a little surprised. I felt like I had it in me to do something like that because I've always felt I could hit the ball. But I never thought I would adjust that quickly to the new mechanics and move that fast through the rankings. It was very exciting for me and I'm hoping I can do kind of the same thing next year.
JR: What are you going to remember most about your time in San Jose?
BB: Probably the friends on that team. We were a pretty close team and it was a lot of fun playing with everyone. We had a really good time. Fortunately, I was able to spend more time with some of them in the fall league. I think it's the friendships that I'll take away from that team.
JR: What was it like to be a part of the first half championship celebration - especially given that it was the first team you played on as a professional?
BB: I've never had the opportunity to celebrate like that in the clubhouse. It was definitely a lot of fun and it's something I'll never forget. And even though I didn't finish the season with them, it was still pretty special that we could all win the first half together like that.
JR: How was the experience of playing in the Arizona Fall League?
BB: It was an honor to go there. You hear about all these prospects that get to go there and show off their skills. For me, it was just a lot of fun to be there and play against some of the best prospects in the minors. It was great competition. Basically you were playing an All-Star game everyday. My body was a little tried, but I had some adrenaline just because it was great competition everyday and it was a lot of fun for me.
JR: You were drafted twice (Red Sox in 2006, Braves in 2007) before the Giants selected you in 2009? How close were you to signing with one of those teams? Do you think about what could have been?
BB: Yeah, I do. I think the closest I ever came to signing was actually with the Cubs because we had a pre-draft deal set up after my high school year. They were going to take me in a certain round and I was going to sign for a certain amount of money. To me, it was a done deal. But things happen, it fell through and it didn't work out for me. At the same time, I went out there everyday trying to earn a spot on a team. Even though it didn't work out, it was a great experience and I'm happy I went through it because I can appreciate it more now.
JR: You pitched throughout your college days at the University of Texas. Did you think at one point that you were going to make it in the pros as a pitcher?
BB: Actually that's all I thought I was going to make it as. I never thought I was going to be a hitter in professional ball. I always knew I could hit, but didn't really think about it because I was a prototypical left-handed pitcher. I was tall, lanky, projectable and could throw pretty hard. I really thought I was going to be a left-handed pitcher in professional baseball, but like I said, some things just don't work out. I had a few shoulder issues that kept me from playing to the best of my abilities. But I feel like things have worked out for the best and I enjoy it now. I realized that I love playing everyday. I don't know if I could sit there for four days or however many days and just watch the game. I'm pretty excited with how it turned out.
JR: You're relatively new to the first base position, especially on a full-time basis. What do you feel is the most important aspect of playing that position?
BB: I think it's just making the other infielders feel comfortable. I want them to feel like that it doesn't matter if they make a bad throw. If they throw it up the line or in the dirt, I want them to know that I'm going to work my hardest to make those plays. I think putting the other fielders at ease is probably the most important thing for me. If they feel at ease, they're going to feel a lot better about what they're doing in the field. If I do that, I feel like I've done my job.
JR: What was your reaction to San Francisco winning the World Series?
BB: It was awesome. I hadn't really met any of the guys on the team, but just to be a part of this great organization and follow them throughout the playoffs was a special experience, even for the minor leaguers. It was a lot of fun. I'm excited to see what's going to happen at spring training as far as all the media hype and following the World Series team. It's going to be a lot of fun.
JR: What have you been up to this offseason?
BB: I got married a couple of weeks after I finished the fall league, so that was a lot of my time. I'm working out, hitting the gym, getting in the cages a little bit and hitting some balls. But mainly just relaxing and trying to get my body some rest and getting ready for the next season.
JR: What are you most looking forward to this spring in big league camp?
BB: I think just being able to learn from all of the veterans that are up there. It's going to be really cool to get to play with people you watched on TV growing up. It's going to be a pretty awesome experience. Hopefully I can get up there and learn some new things from the guys that have been there awhile. It's going to be a special experience for me.
JR: Finally, what are your expectations for the upcoming 2011 season?
BB: I think you always set goals for yourself. Obviously my goal, just like everyone else's, is to make the big league club at some time. Whether that's out of spring training or in the middle of the year or whether it's next year, I'm still going to go out there and play my hardest. Whenever the front office thinks it's time for me to move up, then they'll move me up.