Gregor: Keys to Corpus Christi's Heart

Take a hard-working, thoughtful, and disciplined Central Indiana kid, dip him in the South for a few years, and convey him to Corpus Christi.

That's Hooks first baseman Conrad Gregor.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Vanderbilt graduate, on his third Corpus Christi tour, first joined the club two years ago this Thursday. He then played a full Texas League season, earning 2015 All-Star recognition.

Gregor has vivid memories of that 2014 promotion from High-A Lancaster.

"Any time you get called up to Double-A, there's a lot of emotion and excitement," he explained. "You don't know what to expect at times. On your first day, everything speeds up a bit. You get a feeling of anxiousness, but it's all good nerves. Playing in front of more people makes the game more fun.

"And, when you first see Whataburger Field, it's pretty spectacular. I thought to myself, 'wow, such a cool, unique stadium - and in this setting at the Port of Corpus Christi.'"

It's been well-documented that Corpus Christi has a love affair with our national pastime. From its designation as the nation's top high school baseball city by MaxPreps (2010) to a 55-year-old ardent Houston Astros fan base, even outsiders will tell you: "Corpus cares about baseball."

Deeply… with an accompanying savviness from being steeped in the sport as participants and observers.

"The fans here are really great," Gregor said. "They understand the game. And, the game within the game, and the rules. They get to know the players. They appreciate the players who go out each day and compete, the competitors who play the game the right way, who play hard.

"I've gotten to know the fans and develop relationships with them," Gregor continued. "They are great people who want us to do our best on the field and bring championships back to Corpus Christi."

The 2016 Hooks have already clinched a postseason playoff berth. If they go the distance for their first league title in 10 years, Gregor is sure to be a key component.

His batting average over the last 19 contests is .290 with nine doubles, a triple, four home runs, and 16 runs batted in. Since June 18, Gregor's batting average has jumped 37 points to .200. He's had a long climb out of a deep hole after posting 73 RBI's last season, good for fifth in the league.

But he's never found himself at a career crossroads.

"I've always loved baseball," Gregor said. "I still love it as much as I ever have, if not more. Just getting the opportunity to play every day, to work toward playing Major League Baseball, to fulfill a childhood dream. There are always some dark times, but that's just the game of baseball. I'm so fortunate and blessed for the Astros giving me the opportunity to play a game I'm very passionate about."

Houston selected Gregor in the fourth round of the 2013 draft after he hit .308/3/48 as a junior on Vanderbilt's Super Regional team; Gregor comprised the right side of the Commodore infield with former Hook Tony Kemp.

Conrad was positioned for success by parents Marty and Megan, who raised him and siblings Hank (22) and Gretchen (18) in Carmel, Ind., an Indianapolis suburb ranked as one of America's most desirable places to live. Though Carmel High's enrollment is over 4,700 students, the town of 86,000 has a close-knit feel.

"It's a great community," Gregor reflected. "Family and friends were and are a big part of our lives. Midwesterners tend to be family-oriented people. There are lots of activities based on the seasons. Sledding and skiing in the winter, fishing and baseball in the spring. That made living in Carmel a great place.

"I was always outside, running around the neighborhood. There were always pick-up games of football, basketball, baseball. Of course, growing up in Indiana, basketball was the sport. My sophomore year in high school, I decided to focus on baseball, I had been playing football, too."

That enabled Gregor to take advantage of fall showcases, tournaments, and camps. Those extra months of baseball training with weights and strength and conditioning paid off, as he made the AFLAC, Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, and UnderArmour All-America teams and was a four-time first-team all-conference pick, plus all-state.

He was also first-chair string bass in the Carmel HS orchestra.

But academics were first in the Gregor household and, as a result, Conrad's preferred college options were Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Notre Dame.

"Climate was important, the baseball conference, the competition," Gregor recalled. "Once I set foot on the campus, I knew Vanderbilt was the spot for me. It was the one. Close to home, within about five hours driving distance, a prestigious university for both academics and sports.

"The baseball program was on the rise and Coach (Tim) Corbin was definitely a big reason I chose Vanderbilt. Now Vanderbilt is at the top of everybody's list. Stanford was a long plane ride away, and Notre Dame was chillier. Vandy was the right fit."

And its culture a significant benefit to Gregor.

"There are so many lessons I learned on and off the field at Vanderbilt," Gregor said. "First-hand lessons from older players when I was a freshman. Lessons from Coach Corbin. Everything I learned has helped me in one way or another during my pro career. In pro ball, the length of a season can hinder good performance if you don't have a good routine. I learned how to go about a process to prepare for a game. We always worked out to perform at the best of our abilities on the field.

"Going to a university that stresses academics, where you're challenged off the field, is an advantage as well. Competition always brings out the best in you. At the end of the day, the people who can compete and learn how to be victorious are the ones who make it. The academics were challenging. My classmates were competitive, like my teammates in baseball.

"It elevated my game, and as a result I'm able to deal with challenges and stresses on and off the field. I can effectively monitor them."

When Gregor is one day compelled to take a crossroad, he'll use a Finance and Entrepreneurship degree while transitioning from this life phase to the next.

He already has the roadmap.

"Coach Corbin was big on doing big and little things the right way. How I am is the person I became at Vandy and my parents helped along the way."

And that resonates with the people of Corpus Christi at Whataburger Field.