WITH NOLAN GORMAN MAKING HIS
DEBUT.
JIM HAYES CAUGHT UP WITH THE
CARDINALS INFIELDER.
>> Jim: A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH
NOLAN GORMAN AND MAYBE HIS MAJOR
LEAGUE DEBUT AND HIS FIRST
AT-BAT GOT HIS FIRST MAJOR
LEAGUE BASE HIT.
HOW GOOD DID THAT FEEL?
>> Player: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT
OF GOOD MOMENTS IN MY CAREER,
BUT THAT'S THE TOP 1 FOR SURE.
FAMILY IN THE STANDS.
A BIG LEAGUE BALLPARK LIKE THIS.
I GOT TO 1st BASE AND FELT LIKE
I WAS FLOATING.
IT WAS AWESOME.
>> Jim: WHO GETS THE BALL?
ONCE THEY MAKE IT DISPLAY READY.
>> Player: IT'S GOING TO MY
PARENTS'S HOUSE.
MY DAD HAS A ROOM WITH ALL OF
THE TROVES OVER THE YEARS.
>> Jim: YOU WERE HAVING A
MONSTER YEAR AT TRIPLE-A.
FANS WERE LIKE WHEN WILL GORMAN
GET HIS CHANCE?
WAS THERE OF A THOUGHT LIKE,
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO DOWN HERE?
>> Player: NO.
I WAS GETTING THE CHANCE TO PLAY
EVERY DAY DOWN THERE.
THAT WAS THE BIGGEST THING.
COMING OUT OF SPRING TRAINING
OLLIE SAID DO WHAT YOU KNOW WHAT
TO IN TRIPLE-A AND FORCE OUR
HAND.
YOU WILL BE IN THIS LOCKER ROOM.
KEEP GOING.
AND HAVE FUN WITH IT.
ABOUT GOOD TO PLAY EVERY DAY
DOWN THERE AND GET CONSISTENT
AT-BATS.
>> Jim: I WORKED ON MASTERING
2nd BASE.
YOU WERE AT 3rd.
HOW DO YOU FEEL DEFENSIVELY?
>> Player: I FEEL REALLY GOOD
OVER THERE.
I PUT IN A LOT OF WORK OVER THE
LAST YEAR.
I FEEL CONFIDENT OVER THERE.
PRETTY MUCH ANY PLAY THAT
HAPPENS.
THAT'S A CREDIT TO THE CARDINALS
WITH STUBBY PUTTING ME THROUGH
EVERY SITUATION POSSIBLE.
>> Jim: IN TRIPLE-A WHILE
POSTING HUGE POWER NUMBERS YOU
HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB CAN
MAKING CONTACT.
>> Player: YES.
A LOT HAS TO DO WITH TIMING AND
PITCH SELECTION FOR SURE.
THEY TRIED TO TRAIN IN THE
OFF-SEASON.
AND TRAIN DURING THE SEASON.
PITCH SELECTION IS HUGE AND
BEING ON TIME AND READY TO HIT
THE PITCH YOU GET IN THAT
AT-BAT.
IF YOU DON'T GET IT TAKE YOUR
WALKS.
A LOT OF GUYS DO THAT WELL.
>> Jim: YOU WERE CHILDHOOD
BUDDIES WITH LIBERATORE AND YOU
WERE CALLED UP AT THE SAME TIME.
IF WERE A HOLLYWOOD SCRIPT, THEY
WOULD SAY THAT COULD NEVER
HAPPEN.
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE?
>> Player: PRETTY UNREAL.
WE TALK TO EACH OTHER.
I DIDN'T FIND OUT HE WAS GOING
UP.
HE KNEW FOR SOME DAYS.
>> Jim: AND DIDN'T TELL YOU.
>> Player: DIDN'T TELL ME.
I FOUND OUT ABOUT 5 MINUTES
AFTER I GOT THE CALL.
HE CAME IN THE CLUBHOUSE
AFTERBATTING PRACTICE.
-- AFTER BATTING AVERAGE.
WE GAVE EACH OTHER A HUG.
I WAS LEAVING ON A FACE.
WE FACE TIMED EACH OTHER.
WE WERE JUST SUPER EXCITED.
WORDS CAN'T TRIBE THE MOMENT
THAT WE GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I AM EXCITED TO WATCH HIM PITCH
TONIGHT.
>> Jim: WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING
YOUTH BASEBALL WAS THAT
SOMETHING YOU EVER TALKED ABOUT.
MAKING YOUR DEBUTS TOGETHER AND
BEING ON THE SAME TEAM IN THE
MAJOR LEAGUES?
>> Player: YES, BEFORE WE GOT
DRAFTED.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW CRAZY IT
WOULD BE IF WE WERE ON THE SAME
TEAM.
WE WERE LIKE WE REALLY DON'T
WANT THAT TO HAPPEN WITH HOW THE
DRAFT WORKS.
WHEN HE GOT TRADED OVER HERE, WE
SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE
WANT TO TAKE THIS TEAM AND HAVE
THE GREATEST SUCCESS WITH
EVERYBODY ON IT.
AND WIN A LOT OF WORLD SERIES
TOGETHER.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO