WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.669 (female announcer) Production funding for "Sports Files" is 00:02.669 --> 00:04.371 made possible in part by... 00:04.371 --> 00:06.807 (male narrator) Infiniti of Memphis has moved to Germantown 00:06.807 --> 00:10.244 road just half mile north of Wolfchase Galleria and is proud 00:10.244 --> 00:13.280 to support WKNO for its quality broadcasting and service 00:13.280 --> 00:14.281 to our community. 00:14.281 --> 00:16.950 Quality and service -- No wonder Infiniti of Memphis feels at 00:16.950 --> 00:19.953 home on WKNO. 00:27.461 --> 00:30.163 My guest today on Sports Files is Memphis Redbirds infielder 00:30.163 --> 00:31.899 Jacob Wilson. 00:31.899 --> 00:49.082 [theme music] 00:49.082 --> 00:51.552 The St. Louis Cardinals organization hasn't cornered the 00:51.552 --> 00:55.355 market in homegrown talent, but it sure feels like they have. 00:55.355 --> 00:58.058 Time after time, the big birds have dipped into their minor 00:58.058 --> 01:01.094 league system to bring up one of their valuable young assets, 01:01.094 --> 01:04.231 from the Steven Piscotty to Xavier Scruggs to Tommy Pham 01:04.231 --> 01:05.632 just to name a few. 01:05.632 --> 01:08.402 The Redbirds have provided some bonus babies for the parent 01:08.402 --> 01:11.171 club, filling voids left by injuries. 01:11.171 --> 01:13.407 It's been one of those seasons for the Cardinals who currently 01:13.407 --> 01:15.475 sport the big league's best record. 01:15.475 --> 01:19.046 It just seems that whoever gets the call-up produces. 01:19.046 --> 01:21.548 It's the benefit of having that type of talent waiting in the 01:21.548 --> 01:22.583 wings. 01:22.583 --> 01:25.085 Now one of those talented young players and prized minor league 01:25.085 --> 01:27.621 prospects is infielder Jacob Wilson, 01:27.621 --> 01:29.923 who is yet to get his opportunity at the major league 01:29.923 --> 01:31.992 level, but it's sure to come. 01:31.992 --> 01:35.395 Wilson is not only a primetime example of homegrown talent, 01:35.395 --> 01:37.731 but he takes the meaning to a whole other level. 01:37.731 --> 01:40.834 That's because Wilson is literally homegrown. 01:40.834 --> 01:43.637 He was born in Bartlett, played his high school ball at Bartlett 01:43.637 --> 01:46.039 High under the guidance of head coach Phil Clark, 01:46.039 --> 01:48.809 one of the state of Tennessee's all-time great coaches, 01:48.809 --> 01:51.411 and then attended the University of Memphis for four years, 01:51.411 --> 01:54.014 where he starred for Skipper Daron Schoenrock. 01:54.014 --> 01:56.717 After college, Wilson would be selected in the 10th round of 01:56.717 --> 01:59.186 the 2012 amateur draft by the Cardinals, 01:59.186 --> 02:02.322 and has rapidly advanced up the chain of the organization's 02:02.322 --> 02:03.857 minor league system. 02:03.857 --> 02:07.995 Wilson began the 2015 campaign in AA Springfield but moved up 02:07.995 --> 02:10.831 to Memphis in May and has never looked back. 02:10.831 --> 02:13.667 And while he's not currently on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, 02:13.667 --> 02:16.436 there's a good chance Wilson gets a September call-up, 02:16.436 --> 02:18.438 and if it doesn't happen this year, 02:18.438 --> 02:20.440 it appears it's only a matter of time. 02:20.440 --> 02:22.976 And while he waits patiently, Wilson gets to enjoy playing 02:22.976 --> 02:24.978 baseball in a very familiar setting, 02:24.978 --> 02:27.748 in his hometown and in front of friends and family. 02:27.748 --> 02:31.551 Today, Redbirds infielder Jacob Wilson and his attempt to climb 02:31.551 --> 02:33.553 the ladder all the way to the big leagues. 02:33.553 --> 02:35.455 And he's next on Sports Files. 02:35.455 --> 02:45.599 [theme music] 02:45.599 --> 02:47.434 Jacob, great to have you on the show. 02:47.434 --> 02:48.802 - Absolutely, it's a pleasure being here. 02:48.802 --> 02:49.936 - Thank you so much for your time. 02:49.936 --> 02:53.673 All right, before we get into your rise in the Cardinals 02:53.673 --> 02:55.909 organization, now playing of course here, 02:55.909 --> 02:58.879 your hometown team, the Memphis Redbirds, 02:58.879 --> 03:00.881 let me go back to the Pan-Am games. 03:00.881 --> 03:02.883 You just participated in the Pan-Am games representing the 03:02.883 --> 03:03.884 United States. 03:03.884 --> 03:05.886 That would be a great honor for you. 03:05.886 --> 03:07.888 - Yeah, that's actually the first time I've ever been able 03:07.888 --> 03:10.824 to put on the USA jersey and go compete. 03:10.824 --> 03:13.193 Had an opportunity in high school that didn't work out for 03:13.193 --> 03:16.730 me but being selected in that was kind of an honor to go up 03:16.730 --> 03:18.899 there and wear those three letters across your chest and 03:18.899 --> 03:21.201 play against, you know, other countries' best players, 03:21.201 --> 03:23.403 to compete for medals really. 03:23.403 --> 03:27.874 - I know every organization doesn't exactly have that same 03:27.874 --> 03:30.911 understanding and they won't allow players to play 03:30.911 --> 03:33.647 internationally during the season, 03:33.647 --> 03:35.715 but you had the Cardinals' blessing so even though you were 03:35.715 --> 03:38.151 in the middle of the Redbirds' campaign they said go up there 03:38.151 --> 03:39.352 and represent us well. 03:39.352 --> 03:43.190 - You know, I talked to some of our front office people about it 03:43.190 --> 03:44.925 and they were all about it. 03:44.925 --> 03:47.894 They wanted me to go up and get that experience, 03:47.894 --> 03:50.530 get in that kind of situation and pressure situation, 03:50.530 --> 03:52.933 really, and, I mean, baseball's still baseball, 03:52.933 --> 03:55.535 you go up there and you play the game and see how things work out 03:55.535 --> 03:57.737 and we were able to bring the silver medal home with us. 03:57.737 --> 04:01.374 - How strange was it though to pack your bags, 04:01.374 --> 04:03.610 leave for a while the team that you were playing with, 04:03.610 --> 04:04.945 the Redbirds? 04:04.945 --> 04:05.946 - It's different. 04:05.946 --> 04:08.482 You know there's not many things throughout the season that allow 04:08.482 --> 04:12.586 you to leave your season and go internationally and play. 04:12.586 --> 04:15.655 Being up there we actually opened up at Puerto Rico, 04:15.655 --> 04:18.525 and we have a player in Springfield right now, 04:18.525 --> 04:20.794 Anthony Garcia who's on the Puerto Rican team and that was 04:20.794 --> 04:21.962 our first game there actually. 04:21.962 --> 04:25.332 So you know, we gave each other a hard time up there and it was 04:25.332 --> 04:28.702 kind of a cool experience to get up there and meet a lot of other 04:28.702 --> 04:31.338 players from other countries and within...there's a lot of guys 04:31.338 --> 04:34.241 from the PCL on that league too that were on my team so getting 04:34.241 --> 04:36.243 around some of the older guys' experience, 04:36.243 --> 04:38.245 you know, you actually go up there and you learn a lot also. 04:38.245 --> 04:40.247 - And the University of Memphis well-represented, 04:40.247 --> 04:43.116 not only by you but Scott McGregor the pitcher who 04:43.116 --> 04:46.086 finished his career when you started yours at the University 04:46.086 --> 04:47.220 of Memphis. 04:47.220 --> 04:49.222 So even though you did not play together, 04:49.222 --> 04:52.292 I'm sure it was kind of neat being both members of at one 04:52.292 --> 04:53.493 time the University of Memphis. 04:53.493 --> 04:57.197 (Jacob) Yeah, you know, me and Scott go back all the way to the 04:57.197 --> 05:00.300 University of Memphis days because in his off-seasons he 05:00.300 --> 05:04.070 would come back and throw to hitters when I was still there 05:04.070 --> 05:07.307 so, you know, I had played and batted off him so we did have a 05:07.307 --> 05:09.342 good relationship going into it and going up there and playing 05:09.342 --> 05:12.812 with him for the first time outside of spring training or 05:12.812 --> 05:15.015 off-season was kind of a cool experience also. 05:15.015 --> 05:17.017 - As you said, you get the silver. 05:17.017 --> 05:19.019 So you come up a little short of the gold medal. 05:19.019 --> 05:20.020 You lose to Canada. 05:20.020 --> 05:22.022 I think that was...what was it, 7-6? 05:22.022 --> 05:23.023 (Jacob) Mhm. 05:23.023 --> 05:24.024 - In extra innings? 05:24.024 --> 05:25.025 (Jacob) Mhm. 05:25.025 --> 05:27.227 - But some funky rules in international baseball. 05:27.227 --> 05:30.230 Tell everybody without having to go into too lengthy... 05:30.230 --> 05:33.600 That rule change in extra innings as opposed to baseball 05:33.600 --> 05:34.601 here in the states? 05:34.601 --> 05:37.871 - International rules, extra innings, 05:37.871 --> 05:40.440 you start the inning, you pick your own two base runners to go 05:40.440 --> 05:42.943 to first and second base and you start your line-up wherever you 05:42.943 --> 05:44.010 want it to. 05:44.010 --> 05:47.013 So we led off the top of the 10th, 05:47.013 --> 05:49.616 put two guys on, started our lead-off guy, 05:49.616 --> 05:52.485 he bunted them over, ended up getting a big double out of our 05:52.485 --> 05:55.555 three hold, scored two runs, then bottom of the 10th things 05:55.555 --> 05:58.692 just really didn't go our way...for Canada to pull out the 05:58.692 --> 05:59.693 victory there. 05:59.693 --> 06:03.230 - Did you know all the rule changes or were you like what is 06:03.230 --> 06:04.231 this? 06:04.231 --> 06:05.232 What's going on? 06:05.232 --> 06:07.868 - Going into it we had no clue but we had a team meeting in 06:07.868 --> 06:10.370 North Carolina before we went up there because the team flew to 06:10.370 --> 06:13.773 Cary and had workouts together and we were kind of told of all 06:13.773 --> 06:16.977 these extra rules while we were up there so we could go ahead 06:16.977 --> 06:18.979 and use them and actually we were able to get a couple 06:18.979 --> 06:22.749 innings against the collegiate USA team where we practiced some 06:22.749 --> 06:24.351 with the extra inning rules. 06:24.351 --> 06:27.254 - What was the level of competition playing these 06:27.254 --> 06:29.256 countries as opposed to, let's say, 06:29.256 --> 06:30.824 AAA baseball. 06:30.824 --> 06:32.259 - Very equivalent. 06:32.259 --> 06:34.728 Due to the fact that you get teams especially with Cuba and 06:34.728 --> 06:37.597 Canada who...they're wanting to go and represent their country 06:37.597 --> 06:39.599 the right way so they're going to send, 06:39.599 --> 06:41.735 you know, their top players to try and bring a medal home to 06:41.735 --> 06:42.736 their country. 06:42.736 --> 06:46.473 So, you know, emotions were high every game due to the fact that 06:46.473 --> 06:49.776 everyone wants to bring that medal back so you did see very 06:49.776 --> 06:52.812 good players up there from these different countries because they 06:52.812 --> 06:55.382 weren't going to send players who couldn't compete at that 06:55.382 --> 06:57.817 level, because, you know, I said everyone wanted to bring that 06:57.817 --> 06:58.818 medal home. 06:58.818 --> 07:00.820 - And everybody wants to beat the United States? 07:00.820 --> 07:02.822 - That was the one thing we were told going into it, 07:02.822 --> 07:05.425 that they weren't going to like us much up there due to the fact 07:05.425 --> 07:07.427 that, you know, we're the United States, 07:07.427 --> 07:09.496 we're supposed to win those, if, you know, 07:09.496 --> 07:12.599 you look at it that way so teams wanted to come in... 07:12.599 --> 07:14.701 Like when Puerto Rico beat us in the opening game, 07:14.701 --> 07:17.337 they looked like they won the World Series, 07:17.337 --> 07:19.372 really, they had a blast with it, 07:19.372 --> 07:21.641 celebrating it on the field and stuff like that. 07:21.641 --> 07:22.776 But, you know, that's baseball. 07:22.776 --> 07:27.147 That's why it's hard to predict who's going to win in the long 07:27.147 --> 07:31.217 run when you play so many games to be able to find out who the 07:31.217 --> 07:32.218 better team is. 07:32.218 --> 07:34.220 - Is there anything, Jacob, you could take out of playing 07:34.220 --> 07:38.625 international baseball and to put it into your repertoire here 07:38.625 --> 07:40.727 playing professional baseball. 07:40.727 --> 07:41.995 - The experience was unreal. 07:41.995 --> 07:44.964 Like I said, you get to meet some players you've 07:44.964 --> 07:47.233 never...you've played against but never actually got to sit 07:47.233 --> 07:48.234 down and talk to. 07:48.234 --> 07:50.236 Our first baseman was Casey Pashak. 07:50.236 --> 07:51.237 (Greg) Yeah. 07:51.237 --> 07:53.239 - Plenty of big league talent, so being able to talk to him 07:53.239 --> 07:56.109 about hitting or defense, you learn a lot from those guys 07:56.109 --> 08:00.513 because they're older, better guys who want to pass on their 08:00.513 --> 08:03.283 knowledge to the younger guys to see them succeed too. 08:03.283 --> 08:07.220 So learning things from the older guys like that, 08:07.220 --> 08:09.489 they never bring them back here, is only going to make people 08:09.489 --> 08:10.590 better in the long run. 08:10.590 --> 08:13.360 - Okay, let's talk about your career here with the Redbirds 08:13.360 --> 08:14.728 and the Cardinals organization. 08:14.728 --> 08:17.330 So May, you start the season in Springfield in AA, 08:17.330 --> 08:21.167 you get the call-up to play in Memphis. 08:21.167 --> 08:23.169 You went to Bartlett High School, 08:23.169 --> 08:25.171 you went to the University of Memphis. 08:25.171 --> 08:27.173 How cool was that when you got that call? 08:27.173 --> 08:29.709 (Jacob) Actually I found out on a bus ride. 08:29.709 --> 08:34.280 We'd just finished in Northwest Arkansas against the Royals' AA 08:34.280 --> 08:35.281 team. 08:35.281 --> 08:37.283 We were on the bus back to Springfield, 08:37.283 --> 08:41.488 7:00 game...actually it was a 3:00 game and I didn't find out 08:41.488 --> 08:44.591 until 7:00 on the bus. 08:44.591 --> 08:46.960 We didn't get back to Springfield until 11:30 that 08:46.960 --> 08:50.463 night and my manager called me to the front of the bus and was 08:50.463 --> 08:53.900 like, hey, you know, you just keep playing, 08:53.900 --> 08:55.902 you know, I don't want you thinking about your swing too 08:55.902 --> 08:56.903 much. 08:56.903 --> 08:58.905 When we get back make sure you go ahead and start packing your 08:58.905 --> 08:59.906 bags. 08:59.906 --> 09:01.908 And I'm like, packing my bags for what? 09:01.908 --> 09:03.910 Because I had no clue what was going on. 09:03.910 --> 09:05.912 He was like, oh, you got to be in Memphis in the morning. 09:05.912 --> 09:08.648 And it was kind of like an overwhelming feeling knowing I 09:08.648 --> 09:09.883 was going home to play. 09:09.883 --> 09:13.319 And actually I'd end up driving, from the cab of my truck up 09:13.319 --> 09:14.320 there. 09:14.320 --> 09:16.322 So I drove from Springfield to Memphis then I got here in 09:16.322 --> 09:20.994 Memphis at 6:30 that morning and we had an 11:00 game, so I was 09:20.994 --> 09:23.329 right in the line-up, first day, playing third base. 09:23.329 --> 09:24.330 (Greg) Wow. 09:24.330 --> 09:26.733 - Mom couldn't get off work, Dad was here and my third at bat I 09:26.733 --> 09:28.735 ended up hitting a home run that game. 09:28.735 --> 09:31.037 And I remember stepping on home plate and looking in the stands, 09:31.037 --> 09:35.608 my dad smiled from ear to ear so knowing that I'm back home 09:35.608 --> 09:38.711 playing in front of my family and being able to do what they 09:38.711 --> 09:41.781 don't get to see me do all the time was a really good feeling. 09:41.781 --> 09:45.585 - Family, friends, I'm sure your former coaches have seen you 09:45.585 --> 09:47.587 here, Daron Schoenrock at Memphis, 09:47.587 --> 09:49.255 Phil Clark at Bartlett. 09:49.255 --> 09:53.193 We often talk about Memphis athletes going to the University 09:53.193 --> 09:55.195 of Memphis and having the pressure. 09:55.195 --> 09:57.730 A lot of it's with basketball but I'm sure it's with baseball 09:57.730 --> 09:58.798 as well. 09:58.798 --> 10:01.734 How about playing professionally in your hometown? 10:01.734 --> 10:04.437 It doesn't seem like there's any pressure or at least you're just 10:04.437 --> 10:05.905 a cool customer. 10:05.905 --> 10:09.742 Or is there a little pressure trying to perform and perform 10:09.742 --> 10:11.811 well in front of all the friends and family that come out to 10:11.811 --> 10:12.812 watch you? 10:12.812 --> 10:14.814 - I think it actually helped me... 10:14.814 --> 10:17.550 Playing at Memphis helped that a lot due to the fact that I 10:17.550 --> 10:20.453 stayed here in town so I had all the family I was close with, 10:20.453 --> 10:22.455 friends, always came and watched me play in college. 10:22.455 --> 10:25.558 Being able to come back here home and watch me play, 10:25.558 --> 10:27.560 it was something I've done before. 10:27.560 --> 10:30.630 So the pressure level wasn't as high due to the fact that I've 10:30.630 --> 10:32.632 been in those kinds of situations before with a lot of 10:32.632 --> 10:35.201 people watching me play that I'm close with. 10:35.201 --> 10:37.203 So then it just turns into, you know, 10:37.203 --> 10:39.939 going out and playing the game the right way and trying to see 10:39.939 --> 10:44.577 what I can do here to keep propelling my career to see what 10:44.577 --> 10:45.645 the future holds. 10:45.645 --> 10:49.883 - I would imagine at Memphis because I know in this day and 10:49.883 --> 10:51.885 age, the last few years at least, 10:51.885 --> 10:54.821 I know Rock schedules, games here against big opponents, 10:54.821 --> 10:57.223 Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas and the like, 10:57.223 --> 10:59.392 I imagine you probably had opportunities to play in the 10:59.392 --> 11:01.394 stadium you now play professionally in. 11:01.394 --> 11:03.396 - Yeah when we always played Ole Miss, 11:03.396 --> 11:05.398 Mississippi State, the SEC schools, 11:05.398 --> 11:07.834 we always played here because we knew we were going to have a lot 11:07.834 --> 11:10.470 of fans at those games and our stadium, 11:10.470 --> 11:13.239 you know, can't hold a ton of people so we'd schedule those 11:13.239 --> 11:16.276 games here and then we'd be able to come out in front of a couple 11:16.276 --> 11:18.478 thousand people and play those big rival schools, 11:18.478 --> 11:20.480 really, when it comes to recruiting so that was always 11:20.480 --> 11:21.481 fun. 11:21.481 --> 11:23.483 So knowing that I was coming back here... 11:23.483 --> 11:25.485 And it wasn't nothing new to me. 11:25.485 --> 11:26.486 - Right. 11:26.486 --> 11:28.488 You were a little familiar with the stadium because you had 11:28.488 --> 11:29.489 played games. 11:29.489 --> 11:31.491 - Yeah, the only difference was this off-season they completely 11:31.491 --> 11:33.493 stripped the field, redid the field so it was actually coming 11:33.493 --> 11:36.796 back to it and I knew the surface when I played here in 11:36.796 --> 11:38.898 college and then coming back and seeing what it is now, 11:38.898 --> 11:40.466 the change is unbelievable. 11:40.466 --> 11:42.735 It's a completely different field. 11:42.735 --> 11:45.538 - Is there a big difference between AA pitching and facing 11:45.538 --> 11:46.539 AAA pitching? 11:46.539 --> 11:48.975 - I think the biggest difference is the experience factor. 11:48.975 --> 11:51.010 Once the scouting report gets out on you, 11:51.010 --> 11:53.546 there's going to be more scouting reports here in AAA. 11:53.546 --> 11:56.849 Pitchers get an idea of what they want to do with you and 11:56.849 --> 11:59.886 they stick to that until you prove to them that they're going 11:59.886 --> 12:01.254 to hit that idea. 12:01.254 --> 12:04.123 And then they start to change based off what they see. 12:04.123 --> 12:07.427 So you got guys here who maybe have 10 years in the big 12:07.427 --> 12:09.495 leagues, are still trying to fight to get back but you do 12:09.495 --> 12:11.664 have guys, like with me, it's their first year here and 12:11.664 --> 12:15.168 they're learning how to pitch guys now. 12:15.168 --> 12:17.637 So there's really no set counts for getting certain pitches, 12:17.637 --> 12:20.306 whereas in the lower levels you can know if you're a 2-0 count 12:20.306 --> 12:22.308 or a 3-1 count you're probably getting a fastball. 12:22.308 --> 12:23.443 Here, it's not the case. 12:23.443 --> 12:26.546 You got to be able to control your swing with all the 12:26.546 --> 12:28.548 different pitches at any counts and not, 12:28.548 --> 12:31.250 you know, get set up on I'm getting a fastball here because 12:31.250 --> 12:33.853 you can get sliders, curveballs, change-ups in any count, 12:33.853 --> 12:36.222 really, because people can control those pitches here. 12:36.222 --> 12:39.892 - Do you hear from the parent club, 12:39.892 --> 12:44.230 from the top grass, do they talk to you or give you updates on 12:44.230 --> 12:47.267 how you're progressing or do you not hear from these guys until 12:47.267 --> 12:49.335 after the season then it's spring training? 12:49.335 --> 12:51.337 - You don't really hear from those guys. 12:51.337 --> 12:54.207 You do get a lot of people that come in town. 12:54.207 --> 12:55.608 I know Mozeliak's been here. 12:55.608 --> 12:56.609 (Greg) Right. 12:56.609 --> 12:58.611 - Our firm director's been here, all of our rovers. 12:58.611 --> 13:00.613 They come in, you talk to them and it's kind of like, 13:00.613 --> 13:03.249 hey, you know, let's see if we can get better at this or let's 13:03.249 --> 13:04.350 work on this. 13:04.350 --> 13:07.654 But you don't see...you don't talk as much about, 13:07.654 --> 13:09.656 you know, when you're going to go up. 13:09.656 --> 13:11.658 You don't know anything like that. 13:11.658 --> 13:13.793 (Greg) But they give you a status of where they see you 13:13.793 --> 13:16.462 right now in your career and what you need to do to get 13:16.462 --> 13:17.463 better? 13:17.463 --> 13:18.464 Which is good, right? 13:18.464 --> 13:20.466 To know what you need to improve on. 13:20.466 --> 13:25.738 - More, this is what we need to get better on in the long run 13:25.738 --> 13:28.975 and this is the kind of player you need to be and, 13:28.975 --> 13:32.278 you know, stick with that plan to try and make yourself that 13:32.278 --> 13:33.312 better of a player. 13:33.312 --> 13:37.116 - What players, better players, do you lean on for information, 13:37.116 --> 13:39.519 that you want to ask questions to? 13:39.519 --> 13:41.988 - Here, Dan Johnson was here earlier in the season, 13:41.988 --> 13:42.989 he's in the big leagues now. 13:42.989 --> 13:45.191 You know, again, another bettering guy who you can learn 13:45.191 --> 13:46.192 a lot from. 13:46.192 --> 13:49.028 He had time in the big leagues so I got to have a pretty good 13:49.028 --> 13:52.298 relationship with him as far as being around him and we were 13:52.298 --> 13:53.499 throwing partners every day. 13:53.499 --> 13:57.603 So then you got the younger guys like Garcia and Scruggs who are, 13:57.603 --> 14:00.039 you know, have had their time, been up this year, 14:00.039 --> 14:03.209 being able to work with those guys and them saying, 14:03.209 --> 14:05.344 hey, this is the kind of player they need up there, 14:05.344 --> 14:08.181 this is the kind of personality, the kind of character they need, 14:08.181 --> 14:10.183 it shows a lot about this organization. 14:10.183 --> 14:14.020 And camp this year, Wong spent a lot of time with me, 14:14.020 --> 14:18.858 Matt Adams same and it was guys knowing they have people coming 14:18.858 --> 14:21.227 for their jobs but they'd still go out of their way to make sure 14:21.227 --> 14:24.897 the younger guys knew...or to show them the right way and how 14:24.897 --> 14:27.834 to go about things even though we're coming for their job they 14:27.834 --> 14:28.835 wanted to make us better. 14:28.835 --> 14:33.439 - It seems pretty crazy that it was 2012 when you were drafted. 14:33.439 --> 14:35.775 It seems like you were just drafted. 14:35.775 --> 14:37.510 Are you a patient guy? 14:37.510 --> 14:38.911 Can you wait your... 14:38.911 --> 14:39.912 It seems like so far. 14:39.912 --> 14:44.050 Patience is a virtue but at some time you got to be antsy, 14:44.050 --> 14:46.052 especially if you're performing very well. 14:46.052 --> 14:48.054 - Yeah, that's one thing especially with baseball you got 14:48.054 --> 14:50.289 to learn to be patient and let things play out because nothing 14:50.289 --> 14:53.493 you do outside of going and performing is going to change 14:53.493 --> 14:55.595 your progression within the organization. 14:55.595 --> 14:58.097 They have a plan for you and, you know, 14:58.097 --> 15:00.099 you got to play your way into that spot. 15:00.099 --> 15:02.735 You're not given opportunities, you earn them, 15:02.735 --> 15:03.736 especially in this job. 15:03.736 --> 15:08.007 You have to be able to go out and perform every day. 15:08.007 --> 15:09.308 There's no days off. 15:09.308 --> 15:12.211 We get like one off day a month. 15:12.211 --> 15:15.448 And some of those off days, there's some days when they have 15:15.448 --> 15:17.450 to close the clubhouse to keep people out of the clubhouse, 15:17.450 --> 15:19.452 from coming up here and trying to get work in. 15:19.452 --> 15:22.522 But yeah, you have to be patient in this, 15:22.522 --> 15:27.026 you know, field, due to the fact of you never know when that call 15:27.026 --> 15:28.027 is. 15:28.027 --> 15:30.430 It could be today, tomorrow, but it could be two or three years 15:30.430 --> 15:31.430 from now. 15:31.430 --> 15:33.433 It all depends on how you go out and play and what the 15:33.433 --> 15:34.834 organization needs from you. 15:34.834 --> 15:36.836 - But I would imagine you believe you're going to get that 15:36.836 --> 15:37.837 opportunity. 15:37.837 --> 15:41.507 - I feel like everyone, once you get to AAA, 15:41.507 --> 15:43.509 you have that in the back of your head, 15:43.509 --> 15:45.511 that you have that opportunity, right, 15:45.511 --> 15:47.513 it's one phone call away is what they always say. 15:47.513 --> 15:49.515 You're one phone call away from being in the big leagues. 15:49.515 --> 15:51.517 But you can't take that and say, oh yeah, 15:51.517 --> 15:52.518 I'm getting my shot. 15:52.518 --> 15:53.519 You still have to... 15:53.519 --> 15:54.520 - You can't assume it. 15:54.520 --> 15:55.521 - You cannot assume it. 15:55.521 --> 15:57.523 You have to still go out and make sure you're putting up the 15:57.523 --> 16:00.092 numbers and you're doing your job to be able to earn that 16:00.092 --> 16:01.694 spot, earn that call. 16:01.694 --> 16:04.664 - What do you need to do to get better? 16:04.664 --> 16:09.735 - I think my biggest thing is make sure I stay consistent with 16:09.735 --> 16:10.736 everything I do. 16:10.736 --> 16:13.639 With the bat, you know, being my production numbers being there, 16:16.742 --> 16:20.112 making sure I'm getting the job done with runners and scoring 16:20.112 --> 16:23.883 position, and then defensively make the routine play, 16:23.883 --> 16:26.385 let the nice ESPN plays happen. 16:26.385 --> 16:29.355 But the more you can dominate the routine play, 16:29.355 --> 16:32.825 as far as whatever position it is with me able to play multiple 16:32.825 --> 16:35.494 positions, I got to be able to master wherever they're going to 16:35.494 --> 16:39.098 put me because if they can't do that they might not comfortable 16:39.098 --> 16:42.034 at putting me in that position in certain situations, 16:42.034 --> 16:45.171 and I want it to be, yeah he can do that right now or he can play 16:45.171 --> 16:46.172 that position right now. 16:46.172 --> 16:48.374 And that's the kind of player that I feel like I need to be. 16:48.374 --> 16:51.377 - Do you ever pick up a phone and call Coach Rock or Coach 16:51.377 --> 16:52.378 Clark? 16:52.378 --> 16:53.746 - Yeah we've actually... 16:53.746 --> 16:55.248 Coach Clark's talked to me... 16:55.248 --> 16:57.984 He's been to multiple games this year. 16:57.984 --> 16:58.985 Coach Rock... 16:58.985 --> 17:00.987 Actually Coach Greene, the hitting coach at Memphis, 17:00.987 --> 17:02.989 came to the game two nights ago. 17:02.989 --> 17:06.893 It's always nice getting those guys out here and they never say 17:06.893 --> 17:10.897 enough, how proud they are of me and it's just more people to add 17:10.897 --> 17:13.633 to that support system I have here, 17:13.633 --> 17:15.635 especially when you get coaches that you've played for in the 17:15.635 --> 17:17.637 past that you know have your back or you can pick up the 17:17.637 --> 17:19.672 phone and say, hey, I kind of need this. 17:19.672 --> 17:21.774 They're going to drop what they're doing and make sure they 17:21.774 --> 17:23.776 find a way to help you right then. 17:23.776 --> 17:26.779 - One sentence answer, why do you love baseball so much? 17:26.779 --> 17:30.583 - It's been a passion since I was...tee ball? 17:30.583 --> 17:31.651 Four years old maybe? 17:31.651 --> 17:34.854 I know at spring training, someone asked me a similar 17:34.854 --> 17:38.190 question and right before spring training my fourth grade teacher 17:38.190 --> 17:42.094 kind of sent me a message on how she's proud of me and she talked 17:42.094 --> 17:45.464 about, she has a project in fourth grade and it was like, 17:45.464 --> 17:47.466 what do you want to do when you're older. 17:47.466 --> 17:49.468 And evidently I wrote like this two, 17:49.468 --> 17:51.470 three page paper about how I wanted to be a professional 17:51.470 --> 17:52.471 baseball player. 17:52.471 --> 17:56.475 So that passion's always been there and I feel like once she 17:56.475 --> 17:58.477 told me that, I haven't forgot it. 17:58.477 --> 18:00.947 I can almost go back to remembering writing that paper. 18:00.947 --> 18:01.948 - I bet. 18:01.948 --> 18:04.650 You probably recite it verbatim. 18:04.650 --> 18:06.652 That takes you off the hot seat, Jacob, 18:06.652 --> 18:08.654 but it doesn't end the interview. 18:08.654 --> 18:10.656 We like to wrap up all our interviews with something called 18:10.656 --> 18:11.657 five for the road. 18:11.657 --> 18:13.659 So, quick answer, five questions, 18:13.659 --> 18:14.660 pretty simple. 18:14.660 --> 18:16.662 Favorite professional sports team, 18:16.662 --> 18:17.663 any sport? 18:17.663 --> 18:19.799 Please do not say the St. Louis Cardinals. 18:19.799 --> 18:23.336 - The Cardinals. 18:23.336 --> 18:26.739 No. 18:26.739 --> 18:29.141 Honestly, I don't know if I have a specific team. 18:29.141 --> 18:30.643 - Any sport? 18:30.643 --> 18:31.711 - I watch what's on. 18:31.711 --> 18:33.846 I don't, you know, follow specific teams. 18:33.846 --> 18:35.848 I've always been a Cardinals fan since I grew up so I've followed 18:35.848 --> 18:36.849 them since before I started... 18:36.849 --> 18:39.352 - I let you slide on that one. 18:39.352 --> 18:42.488 How about your favorite pro athlete, 18:42.488 --> 18:44.056 all time? 18:44.056 --> 18:45.091 - All time... 18:45.091 --> 18:48.361 I like Mark McGuire, hitting. 18:48.361 --> 18:52.598 - How about your favorite musician or band or genre of 18:52.598 --> 18:54.600 music that you like to listen to? 18:54.600 --> 18:55.635 - I stick with country music. 18:55.635 --> 18:57.803 Florida Georgia Line's at the top of my list right now. 18:57.803 --> 18:58.804 - Sure, they're hot. 18:58.804 --> 19:00.806 They're red hot, no question about it. 19:00.806 --> 19:01.907 - Favorite movie of all time? 19:01.907 --> 19:02.908 - American Sniper. 19:02.908 --> 19:03.909 (Greg) Good movie. 19:03.909 --> 19:06.045 How about if it was a sports movie? 19:06.045 --> 19:07.246 - Miracle. 19:07.246 --> 19:08.247 - Miracle, okay. 19:08.247 --> 19:11.450 - And then, finally, your favorite television show? 19:11.450 --> 19:13.452 - NCIS Los Angeles. 19:13.452 --> 19:14.453 - NCIS LA. 19:14.453 --> 19:16.055 No delay on that one. 19:16.055 --> 19:17.056 - Nope. 19:17.056 --> 19:19.692 I watch every episode, make sure it's recorded and watch it, 19:19.692 --> 19:21.127 every episode that comes on. 19:21.127 --> 19:23.129 - Jacob, we've really enjoyed watching you grow in the 19:23.129 --> 19:25.264 Cardinals organization, obviously here in Memphis 19:25.264 --> 19:26.232 playing for the Redbirds. 19:26.232 --> 19:27.733 Continued success and I know one day we'll be watching you play 19:27.733 --> 19:29.402 at the major league level. 19:29.402 --> 19:30.169 Thanks so much. 19:30.169 --> 19:31.137 - Thank you. 19:31.137 --> 19:31.904 - That's Jacob Wilson. 19:31.904 --> 19:32.638 We'll take a break. 19:32.638 --> 19:34.340 Overtime is next. 19:34.340 --> 19:49.321 [theme music] 19:49.321 --> 19:52.358 Memphis has been a hotbed for golf over the last few weeks 19:52.358 --> 19:55.394 with events all around the community. 19:55.394 --> 19:59.398 Recently, the 2015 AAU Golf National Championship was held 19:59.398 --> 20:02.668 at Mirimichi golf course with champions crowned in several age 20:02.668 --> 20:05.604 groups ranging from 18 and under to 6 and under. 20:05.604 --> 20:08.941 There were some outstanding young golfers on display and our 20:08.941 --> 20:11.944 Sports Files camera was there for some of the action. 20:11.944 --> 20:14.847 - What is the deal with AAU golf? 20:14.847 --> 20:19.618 - AAU golf is 15 years old and like I say we started as a 20:19.618 --> 20:23.823 convention 15 years ago and we've been doing these national 20:23.823 --> 20:29.762 championships, one a year for the last 15 years and we move it 20:29.762 --> 20:31.831 to different cities every three years, 20:31.831 --> 20:35.568 you know, we'll try to put it in one place and keep it there for 20:35.568 --> 20:36.569 three years. 20:36.569 --> 20:40.639 Now AAU, everybody knows AAU from track, 20:40.639 --> 20:44.910 basketball but a lot of people don't know that AAU is the 20:44.910 --> 20:48.447 largest youth organization in the world with 40 sports and 20:48.447 --> 20:49.515 600,000 athletes. 20:49.515 --> 20:51.283 That's a lot of kids. 20:51.283 --> 20:55.521 (off-screen male) What kind of ages are kids that are golfing out here 20:55.521 --> 20:56.522 today? 20:56.522 --> 20:59.425 (Bill) We're doing 6 and under to 18 and under. 20:59.425 --> 21:03.329 We've got kids from each stage in this tournament out here 21:03.329 --> 21:04.396 today at Mirimichi. 21:04.396 --> 21:07.767 (off-screen male) So, somebody here wins in their division. 21:07.767 --> 21:09.869 Is that a national title or what is it? 21:09.869 --> 21:11.403 (Bill) Here's what they get. 21:11.403 --> 21:15.074 Each age group, the winner, they get their three medals, 21:15.074 --> 21:17.743 you know, the gold, silver and bronze. 21:17.743 --> 21:22.181 The winner gets the gold medal plus he gets a beautiful 21:22.181 --> 21:26.619 Bridgestone bag, embossed on that bag is National Champion. 21:26.619 --> 21:29.989 That's what they take home with them. 21:29.989 --> 21:34.193 Then the match play winners gets the Yose Cup and a sky kit. 21:34.193 --> 21:39.865 [instrumental music] 21:39.865 --> 21:42.067 (off-screen male) So how much golf are they playing this weekend? 21:42.067 --> 21:47.873 (Bill) They're going to play 36 holes of stroke and then 2 21:47.873 --> 21:49.808 days of match play. 21:49.808 --> 21:51.744 A lot of golf. 21:51.744 --> 21:56.816 (off-sccreen male) Do you have a history of players going to the tour having 21:56.816 --> 21:57.917 come out of the AAU? 21:57.917 --> 22:00.686 (Bill) We've got one lady on this tour, 22:00.686 --> 22:02.688 that's Viola Greenwood, is the daughter, 22:02.688 --> 22:06.358 15-year-old, of Bobby Greenwood, who played on the tour and who 22:06.358 --> 22:10.996 won the Memphis Open here one year. 22:10.996 --> 22:14.633 She has won five championships this year alone. 22:14.633 --> 22:17.570 She has offers from 64 colleges. 22:17.570 --> 22:20.940 She'll be on the LPGA tour, you can book it. 22:20.940 --> 22:28.047 [instrumental music continued] 22:28.047 --> 22:29.648 (off-screen male) What advice do you have for your daughter? 22:29.648 --> 22:32.418 - I told her just slow down and relax and take it easy, 22:32.418 --> 22:33.385 enjoy the golf course. 22:33.385 --> 22:38.290 (off-screen male) So Dad, what's your advice for her tent up here? 22:38.290 --> 22:43.629 (Bobby) Well, just take a deep breath and swing hard in case 22:43.629 --> 22:47.633 you get it, it might go a long way. 22:47.633 --> 22:48.634 No. 22:48.634 --> 22:50.536 You just have fun and enjoy it. 22:50.536 --> 22:53.239 It's just a journey and we're having a great time. 22:53.239 --> 22:55.140 Thanks to AAU. 22:55.140 --> 22:56.141 [voices mumbling] 22:56.141 --> 23:04.817 [instrumental music continued] 23:04.817 --> 23:07.052 - Well I played on the PGA Tour for seven years, 23:07.052 --> 23:10.856 that's 1969 through '75. 23:10.856 --> 23:12.925 It's great to be here in Memphis. 23:12.925 --> 23:17.296 This is where Jack Nicholas and I had the match nine months 23:17.296 --> 23:18.797 before he won the US Open. 23:18.797 --> 23:22.334 I was the last amateur to beat Jack before he turned pro. 23:22.334 --> 23:23.669 But we're just great. 23:23.669 --> 23:25.638 We're just happy to be here for the AAU. 23:25.638 --> 23:30.943 They're such great people and a wonderful golf course down here. 23:30.943 --> 23:35.014 (off-screen male) So tell me about your daughter here, Viola. 23:35.014 --> 23:37.016 Apparently she's gaining some notoriety. 23:37.016 --> 23:38.450 Tell us about it. 23:38.450 --> 23:41.387 (Bobby) Well, she's only been playing four years. 23:41.387 --> 23:46.258 She used to play soccer and softball and jujitsu and karate 23:46.258 --> 23:50.763 and then finally she said, Dad, team sports are not that great. 23:50.763 --> 23:52.531 How about I want to try golf? 23:52.531 --> 23:53.766 And I said, yes. 23:53.766 --> 23:56.435 And so she started playing. 23:56.435 --> 24:00.039 She's a good athlete and she's coachable and I know a little 24:00.039 --> 24:02.508 bit about teaching so we've had a good time. 24:02.508 --> 24:06.712 (off-screen male) Give us some of your accomplishments so far. 24:06.712 --> 24:11.216 - Well last year I won the AAU National Championship at Link 24:11.216 --> 24:14.053 Hills in Greenville, Tennessee. 24:14.053 --> 24:18.290 And this year it's at Mirimichi and I'm really happy to be here. 24:18.290 --> 24:20.292 (off-screen male) Have you played here before? 24:20.292 --> 24:22.528 (Viola) No, this is my first time. 24:22.528 --> 24:25.331 (off-screen male) What have you noticed so far about this course? 24:25.331 --> 24:27.866 (Viola) In my four years of playing golf, 24:27.866 --> 24:31.003 I've never played a prettier golf course than this. 24:31.003 --> 24:35.307 And I want to thank AAU for choosing this great golf course, 24:35.307 --> 24:42.548 great place for us to display our talent and skills. 24:42.548 --> 24:45.884 - And congratulations to Viola and to Bartlett's Clayton 24:45.884 --> 24:49.355 Gregory who both won national match play championships. 24:49.355 --> 24:52.057 The popular Memphis Publinks Tournament took place recently 24:52.057 --> 24:54.793 and first time participant Jason Dallas, 24:54.793 --> 24:57.696 a real estate developer from Phoenix who recently relocated 24:57.696 --> 25:01.033 to Memphis, was spectacular as he went wire to wire for the 25:01.033 --> 25:02.034 win. 25:02.034 --> 25:05.237 Dallas shot 196 over his 54 holes, 25:05.237 --> 25:06.772 winning by four strokes. 25:06.772 --> 25:09.508 He put it on cruise control for the final 18, 25:09.508 --> 25:13.345 recording a 67 at Galloway golf course to seal the deal, 25:13.345 --> 25:16.148 and in doing so preventing three-time defending champion 25:16.148 --> 25:19.017 Matt Cooper from making it four in a row which would be the 25:19.017 --> 25:21.120 first time that it ever happened. 25:21.120 --> 25:24.656 Dallas opened the event with a 63 at Audubon golf course. 25:24.656 --> 25:27.726 Cooper got off to a relatively slow start in the event, 25:27.726 --> 25:31.230 but closed with a magnificent 62 at Galloway to put a little 25:31.230 --> 25:34.633 pressure on Dallas, who kept his composure in taking home the 25:34.633 --> 25:35.634 title. 25:35.634 --> 25:38.570 Veteran Ed McDugle would finish in third place. 25:38.570 --> 25:40.572 And that'll put a wrap on this week's show. 25:40.572 --> 25:43.642 Remember you can catch any of our previous shows by simply 25:43.642 --> 25:45.644 heading to our website at WKNO.org. 25:45.644 --> 25:47.913 In the meantime, have a great week and we'll see you next 25:47.913 --> 25:49.948 time. 25:49.948 --> 26:08.534 [theme music] 26:08.534 --> 26:10.669 (female announcer) Production funding for "Sports Files" is 26:10.669 --> 26:13.071 made possible in part by.. 26:13.071 --> 26:15.207 (male narrator) Infiniti of Memphis has moved to Germantown 26:15.207 --> 26:18.444 road just half mile north of Wolfchase Galleria and is proud 26:18.444 --> 26:21.814 to support WKNO for its quality broadcasting and service to our 26:21.814 --> 26:23.382 community. 26:23.382 --> 26:25.250 Quality and service -- No wonder Infiniti of Memphis feels at 26:25.250 --> 26:27.152 home on WKNO. 26:27.152 --> 26:31.152 CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WKNO/MEMPHIS.