Ryan Hafner is a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Hafner was drafted straight out of high school back in 2010. Out of High School Hafner had a fastball that hit the upper 80's low 90's. In 2011 Hafners first full minor league season he posted 3.15 ERA, 31 strikeouts, in only 12 games. In 2012 he was promoted to hiA West Virgina where he began the season showing promise getting his fastball up above 90 mph and improving his breaking ball tremendously but not long after the start of the season Hafner aquired and hamstring injury and the season fail from there. Posting a 0-9 W/L, 8.31 ERA, and only 29 strikeouts in 14 games. He also pitched 7 games as a relief role. In 2013 Hafner is out to prove he has overcome the sophomore slump he went through in 2012 and get back to the grinding powerful pitching he's known for! Recently Ryan took sometime to do answer some questions for us!
Q1) At what age did you start playing baseball and, who influenced you the most?
A: I started playing baseball when I was 5. I would say my dad and brother influenced me the most as they were both athletes growing up
Q2) Besides baseball is there another sport you keep up with regularly?
A: I watch sports basically all day long but don't keep track of anything like I do baseball
Q3) Was baseball always your goto sport or, was there another sport you preffered?
A: I played basketball in high school but baseball always had my heart
Q4) You were drafted by the Pirates in 2010, what was the process like and where were you when you found out?
A: Basically scouts began coming to games senior year and that's when I started talking to them. When I found out I was home working outside
Q5) You were drafted out of High School, what colleges recruited you and if you had not signed Pitt what college would you have attended?
A: I was signed to go to Missouri state university
Q6) Who was your favorite player growing up?
A: I liked ken Griffey jr and Jeter growing up
Q7) Do you have any personal goals for this season?
A: Personal goal of the year is to be pitcher of the year in whatever league I am in?
Q8) When your not playing ball, what could a fan find you doing?
A: When not playing baseball I'm either watching baseball on tv, working on my car, or eating chipotle
Q9) Any suggestions for the youth of today that have the dream of playing proffesional baseball?
A: I would tell the youth to work as hard as possible because you never know when your last day of ball is gonna be
We would like to thank Ryan for taking time to do the Q&A everyone please take a moment and go follow him on twitter @RHafner8610 All of us here at The Nosebleed Report would like to say good luck this year!
Q1) At what age did you start playing baseball and, who influenced you the most?
A: I started playing baseball when I was 5. I would say my dad and brother influenced me the most as they were both athletes growing up
Q2) Besides baseball is there another sport you keep up with regularly?
A: I watch sports basically all day long but don't keep track of anything like I do baseball
Q3) Was baseball always your goto sport or, was there another sport you preffered?
A: I played basketball in high school but baseball always had my heart
Q4) You were drafted by the Pirates in 2010, what was the process like and where were you when you found out?
A: Basically scouts began coming to games senior year and that's when I started talking to them. When I found out I was home working outside
Q5) You were drafted out of High School, what colleges recruited you and if you had not signed Pitt what college would you have attended?
A: I was signed to go to Missouri state university
Q6) Who was your favorite player growing up?
A: I liked ken Griffey jr and Jeter growing up
Q7) Do you have any personal goals for this season?
A: Personal goal of the year is to be pitcher of the year in whatever league I am in?
Q8) When your not playing ball, what could a fan find you doing?
A: When not playing baseball I'm either watching baseball on tv, working on my car, or eating chipotle
Q9) Any suggestions for the youth of today that have the dream of playing proffesional baseball?
A: I would tell the youth to work as hard as possible because you never know when your last day of ball is gonna be
We would like to thank Ryan for taking time to do the Q&A everyone please take a moment and go follow him on twitter @RHafner8610 All of us here at The Nosebleed Report would like to say good luck this year!