Giants Q & A with Chris Heston
Joe Ritzo: You led the California League in ERA and were an All-Star this season in San Jose. What were the biggest reasons for your success?
Chris Heston: I think the biggest reason was the momentum I had during the season. If I went out there and gave up a few runs, the team would help me and score some runs. Then when I would go out there and hold them, they would score just enough runs to get me the win. I think everything came together this year with them swinging the bats and being in the right place at the right time.
JR: Last year in Augusta and again this season in San Jose, your second half numbers were much better than the first half. How do you explain your steady improvement as the year progressed?
CH: I think it's just learning more. As the season goes on and after the first half, you really get a feel for the hitters, the ballparks and what team's approaches are coming into your ballpark. As the season goes on, you get more of a book on people. In the last two years, I've been able to have a better second half. It helps being able to see guys and learn more as the season goes on.
JR: For those fans that have never seen you pitch, how would you describe your pitching style? What are your strengths?
CH: I would say filling up the strike zone. My main focus is keeping the ball down in the zone, let my sinker work and let them hit a groundball. If I get to a favorable count, then try to put them away with a breaking ball or something to that effect. I'm just trying to pound the strike zone.
JR: What were some of your most memorable moments from the season?
CH: Definitely when we clinched that first half in Modesto. That was pretty special. I had never experienced anything like that. That's a memory that I'll keep with me for a long time. Being able to celebrate with all of the guys. All of the work that we put in leading up to that paid off. And then just overall, the year that we had as a team and the year I had personally. I think this year, in general, is going to stick in my mind as motivation for years to come.
JR: Why do you think the team came up short in the playoffs?
CH: I think that's just baseball. Sometimes you see some of the best teams lose and that's kind of how it goes. I think we got to the end of the season and went into the playoffs ready, but Stockton was playing well. They were swinging the bat and pitching well. They gave us a fight and came out on top. It was a fun year and we had a lot of success. It was too bad that we didn't come out on top, but it was a great year. I had a lot of fun.
JR: The California League is known as a tough place to pitch. How did you deal with pitching in so many hitter-friendly ballparks?
CH: Yeah, that's all I heard coming into the Cal League was how the ball flies. That just goes back to what I said earlier in keeping the ball down. It's tough to elevate a fastball that's below the knees with a little sink on it. Just trying to keep the ball down as much as possible. When you do make mistakes, they're professional hitters and will make you pay for it. You just try to keep the ball out of the air as much possible in that league.
JR: Did you have a favorite player growing up? Perhaps someone you tried to emulate?
CH: I was a big Chipper Jones fan. Growing up, I always tried to hit like him and play a position like him. Now that I'm a pitcher, you like to look at a lot of guys. I like to watch (Roy) Halliday. You can learn a lot from watching him pitch and what he can do with the baseball. I like to watch big league pitchers and see what I can pick up from them and try to incorporate into my pitching style and see if it works.
JR: You were drafted twice (Minnesota in 2007 and Washington in 2008) before the Giants selected you in the 12th round two years ago. What was it like to go through the draft process so many times?
CH: That was an exciting time. That's something you've worked for your entire life. Even as a little kid playing t-ball, you talk about wanting to be a professional baseball player one day. And the draft is kind of like that door opening and I got to go in. I went through it a few other times and didn't feel like I was quite ready to make the jump to professional baseball. I took the extra couple years of college and learned a lot, got stronger and it worked out for the best. Now I'm here and I feel more ready and prepared.