WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.640
<v Speaker 1>We are here with America center fielder brand new Dodger

2
00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:07.400
<v Speaker 1>Kevin Kiirmeyer. Thanks a lot for the time, appreciated.

3
00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:08.119
<v Speaker 2>Thank you thanks for having me.

4
00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.800
<v Speaker 1>I mean, after gain to know me for the first

5
00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:13.119
<v Speaker 1>few minutes, I feel like I'm very thankful that you

6
00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:14.359
<v Speaker 1>decided to agree to this.

7
00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:18.920
<v Speaker 2>You asked me to be available here, I am, Yes.

8
00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.559
<v Speaker 1>You are, and you've been available for the Dodgers. How

9
00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:25.640
<v Speaker 1>refreshing or rejuvenating has been on this team been for you?

10
00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:32.640
<v Speaker 2>It's been great. They pumped life to me, honestly, coming

11
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.439
<v Speaker 2>to a winning atmosphere, this is what you want to

12
00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:38.280
<v Speaker 2>be around. And for me, this is just put pep

13
00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.399
<v Speaker 2>in my step and uplifted me to be quite honest,

14
00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.320
<v Speaker 2>and I feel like the best I've felt all year.

15
00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:47.159
<v Speaker 2>So this is the atmosphere you want to be around.

16
00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:48.840
<v Speaker 2>So I'm pumped and I just want to, you know,

17
00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:50.280
<v Speaker 2>keep showing these guys what I can do.

18
00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:53.719
<v Speaker 1>Is that something tangible. We always talk about the numbers

19
00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:56.359
<v Speaker 1>in the game, but just coming from where you were

20
00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.560
<v Speaker 1>to being in a pennant race and a team that

21
00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:02.920
<v Speaker 1>has championship as inspirations, I'm sure, like you said, it's big.

22
00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.480
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, you know, winning, winning is fun and it just

23
00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.920
<v Speaker 2>it brings the best out of everyone. And in Toronto

24
00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:13.439
<v Speaker 2>this year, we weren't winning as much as we wanted,

25
00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:18.280
<v Speaker 2>and you know, our season was was kind of over

26
00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:22.599
<v Speaker 2>by the deadline. And here I am just the matter

27
00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:24.680
<v Speaker 2>of a trade put me in a in a losing

28
00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:28.519
<v Speaker 2>atmosphere to a winning atmosphere, and and what a dream

29
00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:31.400
<v Speaker 2>to be a part of this great organization with these guys.

30
00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:34.239
<v Speaker 2>They treat me great and make me feel like I

31
00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:37.519
<v Speaker 2>belong and I'm a part of this. So once again,

32
00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:39.200
<v Speaker 2>I just want to give them my best. Play hard

33
00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:41.040
<v Speaker 2>as I can each and every day, go out there

34
00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:44.280
<v Speaker 2>and play go glove defense and do whatever I can

35
00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:45.159
<v Speaker 2>help the team win.

36
00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:48.200
<v Speaker 1>We always see the highlight plays like last night, but

37
00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:50.840
<v Speaker 1>can you take us inside how you're able to make

38
00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:54.680
<v Speaker 1>those plays? I mean, obviously athleticism is a big part

39
00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:56.439
<v Speaker 1>of it, but I'm sure there's a lot more into

40
00:01:56.519 --> 00:01:58.719
<v Speaker 1>you being able to get the jumps that you do.

41
00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:01.799
<v Speaker 2>Yeah. Just uh, you know, I've been doing it for

42
00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:04.680
<v Speaker 2>a long time and I feel like I prepared the

43
00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:07.680
<v Speaker 2>right way throughout my whole career to put myself in

44
00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:11.000
<v Speaker 2>these positions to make these plays. And you know, yesterday

45
00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:14.840
<v Speaker 2>I was long tossing with Clayton arm was ready to

46
00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:16.919
<v Speaker 2>go and got an opportunity there in the first thing

47
00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.680
<v Speaker 2>to let it eat a little bit, and it made

48
00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:22.400
<v Speaker 2>a huge play. And you know, I dream of those opportunities,

49
00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.360
<v Speaker 2>so I know what I need to do. Come in

50
00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:29.120
<v Speaker 2>this field each and every day once again, prepare, envision

51
00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.120
<v Speaker 2>all these plays happening whenever seven o'clock happens, and I

52
00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:35.319
<v Speaker 2>have those plays present to me. I just want to

53
00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:38.800
<v Speaker 2>execute and make those plays and you know, create momentum

54
00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:40.120
<v Speaker 2>for the team anyway I can.

55
00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:44.680
<v Speaker 1>Kavin, how important is visualizing making plays like that or

56
00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:46.599
<v Speaker 1>coming up with a big bass sit? When do you

57
00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:47.439
<v Speaker 1>start doing that.

58
00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.719
<v Speaker 2>Every day in the off season spring trend every day.

59
00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.120
<v Speaker 2>I told the guys a couple of days ago, I said,

60
00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:57.960
<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna make a great play in left center one

61
00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:00.719
<v Speaker 2>of these four days. And and I'm not starting today,

62
00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:03.400
<v Speaker 2>so I don't know if I'll actually have the opportunity.

63
00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:07.479
<v Speaker 2>But you get like feelings like that and and and

64
00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:10.039
<v Speaker 2>and the game works in mysterious ways and those things

65
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.319
<v Speaker 2>end up happening. But uh, I don't know. It's just

66
00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.840
<v Speaker 2>like you have a I go out there when I

67
00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:17.800
<v Speaker 2>when I take center field, I just have a certain

68
00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:21.400
<v Speaker 2>mentality and a mindset. But I'm thinking about stuff at

69
00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:24.199
<v Speaker 2>the hotel before I get to the field. And uh,

70
00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:26.360
<v Speaker 2>you just always want to be prepared and ready for

71
00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:29.199
<v Speaker 2>any possible outcome. And and uh, you know that's a

72
00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:29.919
<v Speaker 2>huge part of it.

73
00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:34.039
<v Speaker 1>You always hear about pictures having to evolve in their careers.

74
00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:37.280
<v Speaker 1>How have you evolved from where you were, say, even

75
00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:38.599
<v Speaker 1>five years ago.

76
00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.560
<v Speaker 2>Well, I said years ago, I want to age like

77
00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:46.680
<v Speaker 2>a fine wine. And there's times where I feel like

78
00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.199
<v Speaker 2>I have and there's other times where I feel the

79
00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.400
<v Speaker 2>farthest thing from that. But I don't know. Every year

80
00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:55.520
<v Speaker 2>is has been different throughout my whole career. Uh. You know,

81
00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.759
<v Speaker 2>me coming over here, I know my role. I'm gonna

82
00:03:58.080 --> 00:03:59.639
<v Speaker 2>hit at the bottom of the order and I'm gonna

83
00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:01.560
<v Speaker 2>just try to get on base and let show Hey

84
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.879
<v Speaker 2>and Moki and Freddie and all these these big boys

85
00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:06.159
<v Speaker 2>drive me in and gonna go try to run the

86
00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:09.719
<v Speaker 2>bases and create havoc out there and once again play

87
00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:13.360
<v Speaker 2>Gold Globe caliber centerfield defense. Uh that's what I'm at.

88
00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:15.560
<v Speaker 2>So that's what I need to evolve to right now.

89
00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:19.319
<v Speaker 2>And Uh, once again, like knowing your role is is

90
00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:21.680
<v Speaker 2>have to battle and I know what they expect me

91
00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:23.480
<v Speaker 2>to do. I know what I expect out of myself,

92
00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:27.560
<v Speaker 2>and this is so fun, so exciting for me, and

93
00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:29.279
<v Speaker 2>I just want to give them the best I got.

94
00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:33.439
<v Speaker 1>I've loved watching you have unselfish at bats or understanding

95
00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.879
<v Speaker 1>what the team needs in a certain situation. Do you

96
00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:38.360
<v Speaker 1>believe that's contagious?

97
00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:43.399
<v Speaker 2>Yeah? Uh, in a way, but not everyone UH has

98
00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.399
<v Speaker 2>We have a We have a bunch of boppers on

99
00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:47.439
<v Speaker 2>this team. So for me, if I need a sack

100
00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.160
<v Speaker 2>bunt to get someone in scoring position for show Hey

101
00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:53.240
<v Speaker 2>right behind me or Mokie, Uh, that just puts us

102
00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:57.600
<v Speaker 2>in a better position, and uh increases our chances of scoring.

103
00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:01.480
<v Speaker 2>So contagious and in some ways, but with the way

104
00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.319
<v Speaker 2>our lineup is constructed, there's just certain guys asked to

105
00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.879
<v Speaker 2>do certain things. Show Hey is you know, he's not

106
00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.600
<v Speaker 2>asked to hit homers, but everyone kind of expects him

107
00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:13.040
<v Speaker 2>to do crazy stuff up there. And you know, I'm

108
00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.000
<v Speaker 2>like a table setter at the bottom of the order,

109
00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.879
<v Speaker 2>And I got no problem with that at all. I'm

110
00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:20.000
<v Speaker 2>skin It's just knowing your role and if I can

111
00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:23.120
<v Speaker 2>do that the best I can, then you know, it

112
00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:25.000
<v Speaker 2>just makes our lineup that much more dangerous.

113
00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:29.600
<v Speaker 1>A great understanding of baseball. Kevin Kiermeyer and also the

114
00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:33.800
<v Speaker 1>kier Myer families. Baseball lineage does not stop with you.

115
00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:38.000
<v Speaker 1>Your brother, Dan ker Meyer is one of the groundskeepers

116
00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:39.160
<v Speaker 1>at Wrigley Field.

117
00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:42.399
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, he's the head guy Wrigley Field. He's been there

118
00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:46.920
<v Speaker 2>since twenty fifteen, but head groundskeeper for three or four

119
00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:49.040
<v Speaker 2>years now. I don't know off top of my head,

120
00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:53.160
<v Speaker 2>but he loves it and he's he's in the big leagues.

121
00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:55.600
<v Speaker 2>I'm in the big leagues. I broke in a little

122
00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.160
<v Speaker 2>bit earlier. But he's got a World Series ring from

123
00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.279
<v Speaker 2>twenty sixteen. I don't and you know, I hope to

124
00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:02.279
<v Speaker 2>catch him here this year.

125
00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:05.199
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, hopefully so twenty twenty four. Two rings and the

126
00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:08.120
<v Speaker 1>keer Meyer family thanks a lot for the time. Really

127
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:11.519
<v Speaker 1>appreciate it. Great to see that beautiful beard in person

128
00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:12.839
<v Speaker 1>in HD.

129
00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:14.879
<v Speaker 2>Thank you, David, appreciate it.

130
00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:18.279
<v Speaker 1>There is America center fielder Kevin Kiermyer
