University of North Carolina Athletics

Q: How was the transition from the College World Series to the Cape Cod League?

BF: It was quick. After returning from Omaha, I stayed in Chapel Hill for a couple of days, got my stuff together and drove back to New York. I was home for one day, then drove to the Cape and moved into my host family’s house, which was crazy because I’d only been home for a day and then immediately moved into somebody else’s house.

 

Q: What’s your experience been like living with your host family?

BF: It’s been awesome. They are very sweet. They love talking with me about baseball, which I like because I can talk about baseball for hours, and they love talking about it, too.

 

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

BF: After getting up and eating breakfast, I will go to the gym. Whether it’s heavy lifting or just running in mobility, I’m in there every morning. Then, I’ll go back to the house and eat before reporting to the field between one and two o’clock. We go through our pregame routine, play the game, and then I’ll go back to eat with my host family. If some of the other Carolina guys finish their games, we’ll have dinner and hang out.

 

Q: What’s the best thing you’ve eaten?

BF: The clam chowder. It’s insane. I don’t know which restaurant it comes from, but it’s so good. I have it once or twice a week.

 

Q: What areas of your game have you been working on?

BF: Staying within myself and not trying to be too perfect when I get up there on the mound, throwing strikes and pitching to contact because that was one thing I didn’t do too well this past year. I’ve been trying to sharpen my pitches so that when I get back in the fall, I can work with the coaches to make them even better and be ready for next season.

 

Q: What was it like being able to take the field for the Cape’s workout day at Fenway Park?

BF: It was awesome. When we got there, they told us that only the position players were going to hit and the pitchers were just there to shag, but it was still cool to be out there.

 

Q: How would you describe playing at the ballparks across the league and the unique setting?

BF: The crowds are awesome, and you wouldn’t expect them. When you get to the field for BP, there’s nobody there, but once game time rolls around, the hills are filled, and all the seats are taken.

 

Q: What are your relationships like with the other guys on your team?

BF: The guys I talk with the most are pitchers from Wake Forest. When I first got here, I didn’t know how to approach them because we had played them last year, but then I met them, and they’re the nicest guys on the planet. That goes for everybody on our team, whether they’re from Wake Forest, Florida, Arkansas or anywhere else. All those guys are awesome.

 

Q: What will you remember most about playing in the CCBL this summer?

BF: The connections and friendships that I’ve made. It’s been awesome to branch out and get to know guys in other programs. The entire experience here is surreal; I wish everyone could have it.

 

Q: What are you looking forward to most about returning to Chapel Hill?

BF: Seeing the guys. The one thing I’ve missed the most is the whole Carolina atmosphere and being around the guys. I’m living in a house now, and it’ll be so much better than living in the freshman dorm. I’ll get to hang out more with the older guys, but I’m excited to get back to work. I can’t wait to start building the team and embarking on our journey back to Omaha.