Saturday Spotlight: Matt Hague

This week's Saturday Spotlight shines on Crawdads rookie Matt Hague, whose video game prowess might be as high as his baseball ability.

The third baseman, hitting .317 through his first 44 games for the Crawdads, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2008 draft. After a week with the short-season State College Spikes, Hague earned a promotion on June 26 to Hickory, where he has excelled.

Now, Hague gets the chance to spill on his early pro success, the varied college career that saw him transfer from Washington to Oklahoma State and, of course, the video games he loves so much.

For the complete audio interview with Matt, including his thoughts on signing his contract so early, the draft picks who waited until August 15's midnight deadline to ink on the dotted line, and his favorite things about each of his baseball stops, click on the audio link to your right.

Matt, from college to being drafted to State College to Hickory, can you describe the whirlwind that 2008 has been for you so far?

It's actually been crazy but it's been fun. Going from Oklahoma, resting for about two days, then getting drafted for the Pirates -- this experience is fun, playing every day. Can't really ask for much better.

You were drafted with fellow Cowboy Jordy Mercer and both came to the Crawdads. What was that thrill like to both be drafted pretty high (Mercer - 3rd round; Hague - 9th round) and to realize your dream of becoming a pro baseball player?

It was awesome. It's kind of everything you work for your whole life and it got fulfilled this year, plus it's fun playing with a guy you played with all season.

Plus you've been doing great since you got here, still a .300 hitter for your pro career. You kind of take a very laid-back, easy-going attitude it seems and everything comes to you without too big of a hassle. How big a part of your success comes from that?

I've always been kind of laid-back I guess. If I make a mistake, I try to put it behind me. Not saying I don't think about it, but I just try to put it behind me and try to forget about it and just go day by day really.

Obviously you came out of Oklahoma State, but you spent a couple years at University of Washington -- The Dub [Hague laughs] -- originally, a pipeline of baseball talent as Duke Welker, Bradley Clapp and Harrison Bishop have all come from that area to play for the Crawdads this year. You laugh when I mention that, why is that?

Well it's The Dub, you know. I actually grew up around all those guys and it's fun, it's pretty cool already coming in here and knowing seven or eight guys already on the team. It's a pretty warm welcoming and it's fun, really fun.

What are some of the differences in the different places you've been, either from growing up in Washington then to moving to Oklahoma in football country, then State College and now here. Can you compare/contrast all the stops for you the last couple years?

Well I've never really had a constant home, I can tell you that. I've been moving everywhere. I think the big thing is the weather.

Up in Washington it's always raining. It's much better playing down South or along the East Coast because it's a lot warmer. It's been fun, moving around a lot, seeing new environments and meeting new people.

To get away from the baseball for a minute, something else you evidently dominate: video games. Obviously you had to get pretty good just coming out of college. How would you compare your video game prowess to your baseball prowess?

You think, I think at college we almost put in the same amount of time to video games as baseball. Especially during the winter, it's a tough climate and it's all snowy and stuff so you're trapped in your apartment. You just play video games with your teammates.

And you know, if anyone wants to play me in video games, that's fine, just let me know. I'll get their name and they'll get my gamer tag.

So the challenge is out there by Matt Hague, throwing down the gauntlet to whoever's interested. Any particular games you're best at or that you like more than others -- sports games, role-playing, Guitar Hero?

I'm not as good at Guitar Hero as I am at Halo or Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4. Even Madden or NCAA Football -- name your pick, it's good.

Is that something you bought with your signing bonus after this year's draft, a ton of new games?

I haven't gotten it yet! I'm still waiting on that, but games will definitely be on my list when I do get it.

Well thank you very much Matt. Anybody reading this or listening to the interview you'd like to say hi to?

Hi Mom, I love you!

Hague and the Crawdads enjoy seven more home games in 2008 after their home series against Kannapolis concludes. For complete information on tickets, promotions and end-of-the-season fun, call the Crawdads at (828) 322-3000 or visit www.hickorycrawdads.com.