The dream of every player as a kid is to be drafted number one overall,
and be an all star who breaks every record on his way to the Baseball
Hall of Fame. For outfielder Brandon Kawal, the route didn’t exactly go
as planned.
The Mets selected Kawal in the 38th round of the 2007 first year player draft out of Concordia University. The draft position had no impact on Kawal’s ability to perform, he started for Brooklyn, he hit .302 with 0 home runs and 14 RBI to go with 5 stolen bases, and he made the NY-Penn League All Star team. I had the chance to sit down with Mets outfield prospect Brandon Kawal for a Q+A, and here’s the script.
JD: Every kid obviously aspires to be a first round draft pick, and just dominate the big leagues on his way to a Hall of Fame career. You were drafted in the 38th round. How did it feel to just simply get drafted? And having been drafted later, what does that do to your mindset ?
BK: Well it was an incredible feeling to get drafted no matter what round it may have been in. I understood being a senior in college that I just needed to get my foot in the door. My mindset never changed because I’ve always had the “wind in my face” so to speak. So my mindset going in was to work hard and showcase the things that I did well. It was going to be too hard for me to go out and try to be a player that I wasn’t. I knew if I stuck to what I know that I can play well at a high level.
JD: As far as you know, what teams had interest in you draft time?
BK: As far as I know, it was the Mets,Cleveland Indians,San Francisco Giants,San Diego Padres,Milwaukee Brewers.
JD: You got to play for the Brooklyn Cyclones, which is a team where there’s a lot of pressure to win. How was your time there ?
BK: My time there was amazing. I’ve never experienced a place with that kind of atmosphere before. 7,000-10,000 fans per night and the pressure to win brought out the best in me. The fans were amazing, the media there was awesome, and all around the experience was one I’ll never forget. We had a great team there with a ton of great players you will see for years to come.
JD: People see your statistics, but stats only say so much. Can you give an explanation of what kind of player Brandon Kawal is?
BK: I value my defense a lot. I think I am a good defender to go with an above average arm and good speed, I’m not Jose Reyes, but I can hold my own. My offense is my best asset. I have some power, but my best ability is to get on base. I struggle with patience at times and need to get more patient. I think this year I’ll be able to show my power more because I’m going to be more selective and let my swing go more often. I can hung fairly well and I can usually put the ball in play when I need to.
JD: Who have you befriended the most since your pro debut?
BK: (Lucas)Duda has become a really good friend since I’ve been a pro. We roomed together in Brooklyn, and we work out in the off-season because we live close to eachother.
JD: What are you expectations for the coming season?
BK: My expectations are to just make an impression that lasts. I expect myself to play at a high level day in and day out. I expect to hit for more power this year, but not sacrifice what I do well. I also trust in my process and don’t dwell on the outcome of each day.
JD: Thanks for your time Brandon, good luck on the coming season.
BK: No problem, and thanks.
Kawal is expected to start in Low-A Savannah in full season ball. It is going to be interesting to see how he adjusts to full season pro ball, but I’d label Kawal as a guy to keep an eye on.
The dream of every player as a kid is to be drafted number one overall,
and be an all star who breaks every record on his way to the Baseball
Hall of Fame. For outfielder Brandon Kawal, the route didn’t exactly go
as planned.