WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.080
<v Speaker 1>It's a college football Saturday. But the Dodgers have a

2
00:00:03.160 --> 00:00:05.639
<v Speaker 1>game to play tonight here in Atlanta. And I'm joined

3
00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:08.160
<v Speaker 1>right now by a man that went to a college

4
00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:11.759
<v Speaker 1>in Champagne, Illinois, and no, not the University of Illinois.

5
00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:14.279
<v Speaker 1>That is the one and only, Kevin Kiermeyer. Thanks a

6
00:00:14.279 --> 00:00:15.599
<v Speaker 1>lot for the time, appreciated.

7
00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:16.359
<v Speaker 2>Thank you, David.

8
00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:18.879
<v Speaker 1>Hey, I'm trying to figure you out. On Saturdays, you

9
00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:22.120
<v Speaker 1>get really into college football. Last week you were pumped

10
00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:26.359
<v Speaker 1>for Central Illinois or some school that beat Notre Dame,

11
00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:30.920
<v Speaker 1>and today you're watching Oklahoma Northern Illinois. So I'm trying

12
00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.920
<v Speaker 1>to figure out where your loyalties lie.

13
00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:36.320
<v Speaker 3>My loyalty lies with the Purdue Bulletmakers, who are getting

14
00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:37.880
<v Speaker 3>trounced right now by Notre Dame.

15
00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.159
<v Speaker 2>So a lot of ball left.

16
00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:44.000
<v Speaker 3>But yeah, I'm a Purdue Bulletmaker fan. But they're backs

17
00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:45.000
<v Speaker 3>against the wall right now.

18
00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:47.520
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, there we go. See in Tampa Bay, they know

19
00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:49.439
<v Speaker 1>all about you, but in LA we don't know a

20
00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.359
<v Speaker 1>lot about you. You're an Indiana kids, So why did

21
00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:56.240
<v Speaker 1>college take you to Champagne, Illinois?

22
00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:02.039
<v Speaker 3>Well, I didn't have and he offers hardly for I wanted.

23
00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:04.000
<v Speaker 3>I knew it was I was going to play baseball

24
00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:07.760
<v Speaker 3>or football. Had a gross spurt my senior year and

25
00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.359
<v Speaker 3>none of those were looking really good. But I grew

26
00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:13.280
<v Speaker 3>and had a really good senior year football and then

27
00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.120
<v Speaker 3>baseball as well. We won state championships in both. And

28
00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:21.719
<v Speaker 3>where I got scouted by my junior college. I was

29
00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:24.959
<v Speaker 3>in Champan, Illinois park on junior college is what they're called,

30
00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:27.760
<v Speaker 3>and I took a visit there and I said, Okay,

31
00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.040
<v Speaker 3>I'm going to do the baseball route and made a

32
00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:34.640
<v Speaker 3>good choice. But yeah, I didn't really have many offers

33
00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:37.359
<v Speaker 3>at all and made the best of junior college, and

34
00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:39.280
<v Speaker 3>two years later I was drafted.

35
00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:43.920
<v Speaker 1>Wait a minute, you mentioned football and baseball but not basketball.

36
00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:46.359
<v Speaker 1>How could that be for a kid from the Hoosier State.

37
00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.159
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I was. I was small.

38
00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:53.760
<v Speaker 3>I was really small, and our high school was very talented,

39
00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:56.040
<v Speaker 3>really good players, and playing time wasn't going to be

40
00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:58.400
<v Speaker 3>really a thing. And it got to the point my

41
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:01.000
<v Speaker 3>senior year. I played all all the way up until

42
00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:02.599
<v Speaker 3>my senior year, and then it got to the point

43
00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:04.760
<v Speaker 3>where I'm saying, Okay, I'm gonna be on a college

44
00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.439
<v Speaker 3>campus somewhere next year. I gotta start getting some things

45
00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:11.319
<v Speaker 3>figured out. So I decided not to play basketball and

46
00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.080
<v Speaker 3>devote all my time to baseball and to try to

47
00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:17.639
<v Speaker 3>have the best senior year I could. And you know,

48
00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:19.400
<v Speaker 3>everything worked out.

49
00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.800
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it did, no doubt a great career for Kevin Kiirmeier.

50
00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:25.560
<v Speaker 1>But when you talk about not being scouted, going to

51
00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:28.840
<v Speaker 1>a junior college and then being drafted, do you feel

52
00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.919
<v Speaker 1>like you've played with a chip on your shoulder. Maybe

53
00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:33.680
<v Speaker 1>not in a bad way, but in a good way.

54
00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:37.000
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, for sure. I was selected in the thirty first round.

55
00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.919
<v Speaker 3>I was a nine hundred and forty first pick overall

56
00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:43.400
<v Speaker 3>in the twenty ten draft, and for me, I was

57
00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:46.039
<v Speaker 3>a little upset with how late I went, but at

58
00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.759
<v Speaker 3>the same time, like you just said, it motivated me

59
00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:51.240
<v Speaker 3>and all I needed was an opportunity, and I said

60
00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:54.479
<v Speaker 3>that from the get go, and I knew I had

61
00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:56.439
<v Speaker 3>to play good quick and got off to a good

62
00:02:56.439 --> 00:02:58.080
<v Speaker 3>start and rookie ball, and then I feel like I

63
00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:01.199
<v Speaker 3>solidified myself and showed won the Rais what I could do,

64
00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:03.800
<v Speaker 3>and then they gave me more leeway and then made

65
00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:06.800
<v Speaker 3>a steady climb through the miners and got to the

66
00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.639
<v Speaker 3>big leagues in thirteen for my debut.

67
00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:10.520
<v Speaker 2>So it's U and you know here we are towards

68
00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:10.919
<v Speaker 2>the end of it.

69
00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:11.120
<v Speaker 3>Now.

70
00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:13.199
<v Speaker 2>It's been a heck of a ride, but I will

71
00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:14.319
<v Speaker 2>always go back and.

72
00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:18.879
<v Speaker 3>Just knowing, you know how hard I worked and junior

73
00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.439
<v Speaker 3>college you get that opportunity and throughout my whole career.

74
00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.560
<v Speaker 3>Now I'm proud of what I accomplished. And I look

75
00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:27.520
<v Speaker 3>back and you know, being the nine hundred and forty

76
00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:29.840
<v Speaker 3>first pick, I'm very appreciative because I feel like I

77
00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.400
<v Speaker 3>had to do all the right things to get where

78
00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:35.280
<v Speaker 3>I am today and then some and like I said here,

79
00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:37.240
<v Speaker 3>I am proud, proud as can be of what I

80
00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:41.039
<v Speaker 3>accomplished being a late round pick and defied the odds.

81
00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.680
<v Speaker 1>I guess when you're in the grind, you can't really

82
00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:46.680
<v Speaker 1>reflect on your accomplishments as a baseball player. But at

83
00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.520
<v Speaker 1>this stage of the of your career, even though you're

84
00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:51.599
<v Speaker 1>in a pennant race and you're going to the postseason

85
00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:54.560
<v Speaker 1>with the Dodgers, have you had more time to reflect

86
00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:56.560
<v Speaker 1>on the way your career has gone.

87
00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:58.400
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, this whole year has.

88
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:02.599
<v Speaker 3>I feel like I've done a lot of reflecting and

89
00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:04.680
<v Speaker 3>just knowing that you know, every time I go to

90
00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:07.159
<v Speaker 3>certain ballparks, it's most likely going to be my last

91
00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:07.919
<v Speaker 3>time going there.

92
00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:13.000
<v Speaker 2>So I've taken so many things in and just.

93
00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:16.120
<v Speaker 3>A lot of a lot of memories replaying throughout this

94
00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:20.439
<v Speaker 3>whole year, but thankful, grateful for everything thrown my way,

95
00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.399
<v Speaker 3>and I just I want to have fun going out

96
00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:25.720
<v Speaker 3>the best way I could. And I'm you know, with

97
00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:29.480
<v Speaker 3>the perfect team, perfect organization to to finish out the

98
00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.680
<v Speaker 3>season strong and try to you know, make that that

99
00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:35.519
<v Speaker 3>October postseason push, and uh, that's what it's all about.

100
00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:38.560
<v Speaker 3>So yeah, a lot of a lot of nostalgic feels

101
00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:41.759
<v Speaker 3>throughout this whole year, but once again, more than anything,

102
00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:45.519
<v Speaker 3>just appreciation and gratefulness that I've had for everything that

103
00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:49.120
<v Speaker 3>has come my way has been my favorite part about

104
00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:49.600
<v Speaker 3>my career.

105
00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:52.759
<v Speaker 1>Kevin Kiirmeier is our guest just in front of first

106
00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.839
<v Speaker 1>pitch between the Dodgers and Braves. Since you brought up

107
00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:59.399
<v Speaker 1>all these different ballparks that you feel a little nostalgic about.

108
00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.480
<v Speaker 1>Are there that you enjoyed playing center field in more

109
00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:05.399
<v Speaker 1>than others? And well, you know we always hear about

110
00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:08.000
<v Speaker 1>in field dirt, how about the warning tracks and just

111
00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.199
<v Speaker 1>the dimensions of some of these stadiums.

112
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:15.240
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, it was different and unique in its own different way.

113
00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.680
<v Speaker 3>But for me, you know, I uh, you know the

114
00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:21.639
<v Speaker 3>Rays obviously. I love playing at Tropicana Field. Uh played

115
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:27.839
<v Speaker 3>there more in anywhere. Roger Center awesome in Toronto as well.

116
00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:30.800
<v Speaker 3>I mean, I just I appreciate when when fans appreciate me,

117
00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.600
<v Speaker 3>especially at your home place, and even going out to

118
00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:36.199
<v Speaker 3>Dodger Stadium is amazing. That grass and that surface out there,

119
00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:40.879
<v Speaker 3>It's incredible, and just how good it feels to play

120
00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:43.680
<v Speaker 3>out there is amazing. But I I like, I like

121
00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.240
<v Speaker 3>places where I can go make a play at the wall,

122
00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:49.839
<v Speaker 3>So any any place with like an eight football in

123
00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.040
<v Speaker 3>center Field Baltimore, I love playing there.

124
00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.839
<v Speaker 2>I made some really good catches there over the years.

125
00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.680
<v Speaker 3>But uh, I liked I like thinking I could run

126
00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:00.759
<v Speaker 3>them down anywhere. So for me, that's kind of a

127
00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:03.279
<v Speaker 3>tough question because I enjoy playing everywhere. But for me

128
00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:07.240
<v Speaker 3>just Detroit, Kansas City. I like the big, the big

129
00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:09.519
<v Speaker 3>outfields where I can run around and show everybody what

130
00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:11.000
<v Speaker 3>I can do. As I've gotten older, I.

131
00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:15.199
<v Speaker 2>Appreciate the smaller ones a little bit more. But you know,

132
00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:16.199
<v Speaker 2>I love going out there.

133
00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:18.839
<v Speaker 3>Making plays in defense has been what I've been best

134
00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:21.639
<v Speaker 3>at throughout my whole career, not even close, and I

135
00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:23.839
<v Speaker 3>like making plays no matter where I'm playing.

136
00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:27.360
<v Speaker 1>Kevin, I feel like your validation for another center fielder

137
00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:30.800
<v Speaker 1>means a lot. Are there other center fielders in the

138
00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.560
<v Speaker 1>game right now that you are impressed by the way

139
00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:34.879
<v Speaker 1>they handle center field?

140
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:36.560
<v Speaker 2>Yeah?

141
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:39.519
<v Speaker 3>The first thing that comes to mind is Pete crow Armstrong.

142
00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:41.600
<v Speaker 3>We just we just saw him with the Cubs, and

143
00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:44.079
<v Speaker 3>I knew he was good, but watching him in person,

144
00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:49.120
<v Speaker 3>he's elite and he's he's gonna be elite for years

145
00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:49.399
<v Speaker 3>to come.

146
00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:50.560
<v Speaker 2>He he's impressed me.

147
00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:54.759
<v Speaker 3>A ton Byron Buxton when he's healthy is very special

148
00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:58.879
<v Speaker 3>out there. But Pete crow Armstrong, I mean, he put

149
00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:00.920
<v Speaker 3>on a show against us is past week, and uh,

150
00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:03.399
<v Speaker 3>me and all the other guys had to tip our

151
00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:05.639
<v Speaker 3>hats to him because he was he was special out there.

152
00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:08.879
<v Speaker 3>And I I always appreciate good defense, whether you're on

153
00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:09.480
<v Speaker 3>my team or not.

154
00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:13.439
<v Speaker 1>When you're special as an elite defender like yourself, it's

155
00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:15.439
<v Speaker 1>got to be a compliment. When a guy like pie

156
00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:19.120
<v Speaker 1>crow Armstrong, he's compared to Kevin Kiermeyer. People are saying

157
00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:21.759
<v Speaker 1>that was akure meer type of play or plays that

158
00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:22.879
<v Speaker 1>he made in that series.

159
00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:26.439
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, you know, just thankful that my name is even

160
00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:30.480
<v Speaker 3>you know, thrown to to be in the upperslant of

161
00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:34.040
<v Speaker 3>centerfielder type of guys out there. But uh, you know,

162
00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:36.120
<v Speaker 3>if I were to tell him something, I would have said, hey,

163
00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:37.959
<v Speaker 3>I had the last ten years, you can you can

164
00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:41.319
<v Speaker 3>have the next ten because he's he's unreal. And I

165
00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.680
<v Speaker 3>just said when I when I talk about that solely

166
00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.079
<v Speaker 3>centerfield defense, and I I love defense more than anything,

167
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.079
<v Speaker 3>so I appreciate and I, uh, you know, game recognized

168
00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.519
<v Speaker 3>his game, and he is he's unreal out there. So

169
00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:56.439
<v Speaker 3>he's got a long career ahead of him, but he

170
00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:58.879
<v Speaker 3>he's the guy who who's stood out for me so far,

171
00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:01.680
<v Speaker 3>and he's one of the best center fairs I've seen

172
00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:02.720
<v Speaker 3>in person a long time.

173
00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:06.319
<v Speaker 1>Well for this generation, Kevin, you're the bar. You set

174
00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:09.720
<v Speaker 1>the bar for the way center field can be played,

175
00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:13.360
<v Speaker 1>how elite it can be played. And certainly you're in

176
00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.920
<v Speaker 1>that conversation when somebody makes a play, they say that

177
00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:19.680
<v Speaker 1>was a keer Meer type play. So thanks a lot

178
00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:22.439
<v Speaker 1>for the time, and this will not be our last conversation.

179
00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:24.879
<v Speaker 1>I look forward to talking to you when you got

180
00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:26.600
<v Speaker 1>champagne all over your face.

181
00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:28.879
<v Speaker 2>There we go. I can't wait. Thanks David there.

182
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.959
<v Speaker 1>He is the man. Kevin Kiermeier will send it back

183
00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:31.720
<v Speaker 1>to you in the studio