Q & A with Brett Garrard – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Ohio State senior shortstop Brett Garrard has seen it all throughout his days as a Buckeye. Since his arrival at Ohio State in the fall of 2000, Garrard has improved steadily throughout his tenure at Ohio State and has established himself as one of the program’s best infielders. During his tenure in Columbus, Garrard has played a major role in the Buckeyes back-to-back Big Ten tournament titles. In his final season with the Buckeyes, Garrard, along with three of his teammates were named captains, which adds to an impressive resume that already includes the 2003 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 2003 Big Ten All-Tournament team and 2003 NCAA Auburn Regional All-Tournament team. However, despite his numerous accolades it is the memories on and off the field that the fourth-year shortstop will cherish most.
What was it like to begin the season at Minute Maid Park in Houston?
“It was neat. Minute Maid park has only been around for a few years and anytime you get a chance to go play ball in a major league park, it is really cool especially this year with the (Major League Baseball) All-Star game being played in Houston. It also gives you a chance to see what players at the major league level go through every day. We did not play as well as we wanted to, but it was a great experience.”
Minute Maid Park has some odd features to it, most notably a hill in center field. What was it like to play on a field that has a hill in center field?
“Nobody really ran into it when we were down there, but it was really weird having a hill in the middle of the outfield with a flag pole at the top.”
How does it feel to be named captain in your senior year at Ohio State?
“It’s definitely an honor. When I first got to Ohio State it was always a goal of mine to become captain. I really looked up to the captains on our team my freshman year and for my teammates and coaches to elect me as one of the captains is a tremendous honor.”
Do you feel that you were ready to accept the role of a captain this season?
“I feel as if I was ready to accept the role of a captain this season. This is my fourth year now and I have been through the wars by playing in three NCAA tournaments and three Big Ten tournaments. I have seen everything that goes on and nothing really surprises me, so I feel I am ready to go out there and set an example for the rest of the players on this team.”
What have you done during the offseason to prepare yourself for your senior season at Ohio State?
“This offseason was tough because I tore my Achilles tendon and I missed all of fall practice and winter workouts so a lot of my offseason was spent working with the training staff so I could get ready for this spring.”
Talk about your relationship with fellow infielder Drew Anderson?
“I’ve known Drew since he was 6. We grew up in Brownsburg (Ind.) together. We played ball together all the way through Little League, junior high and high school and I think it is great that we play on the same team in college. We have a very good relationship on the field and when a ball is hit up the middle, I never have to worry about were he is going to be and he never has to worry about where I am going to be and I think that is why we work so well as a double-play tandem up the middle. In the offseason we go deer hunting and spend a lot of time together.”
What got you into deer hunting?
“My family owns 120 acres in Park County, Ind., which is an hour west of where I am originally from and my dad was always a big hunter so he kind of got me interested. For my first birthday my dad bought me a 12-gauge shotgun and he held on to it till I was old enough to use it. Whenever I have spare time there is nothing I would rather do than go deer hunting.”
What is it like going deer hunting?
“It is really neat because when you get to the forest everything around you is waking up and it is very peaceful. Some people may think deer hunting is a little brutal, but I have never seen that way.”
Besides hunting is there anything else that you like to do when you are not playing baseball?
“I like to play golf. It is a very relaxing sport and it is very enjoyable and challenging to play when you are not doing anything. My grandpa used to work on a golf course so he kind of got me involved with it when I was little and I have continued to play every since.”
What is one aspect of your game that has improved since your arrival in Columbus?
“When I first got here I was always pretty solid defensively, but about half-way through the year last season and so far this season, I have really been happy with the way I have improved offensively. At the end of last year, my power numbers started to creep up. I hit a lot more homeruns and this year I have had a lot more extra base hits than in past years.”
Last season you posted career bests in batting average, homeruns and extra base hits. What do you look to do to improve to on last year’s impressive numbers?
“Well the only thing you can do is work hard everyday – take extra swings before and after practice and just work as hard as you can to try and improve upon things.”
Describe the experience of playing in the super regional in front of the home fans here at Ohio State?
“It didn’t really turn out the way we wanted it to, but the atmosphere at the stadium was absolutely electric. Getting the chance to play on ESPN was great and having a lot of my family in town also was a great feeling. I hit a two-run homerun in the eighth inning to tie the game and that was a great feeling as well. I would say that was probably the best sports moment of my entire life. It was just an amazing feeling that I will never forget.”
With this being your last season at Ohio State what is one thing you are really going to miss?
“The thing I am really going miss is being around the guys. We hang out a lot during fall practice. We all sit together during the football games and than once the season begins we are together non-stop. The memories of things like going out to the national championship (football) game in Tempe, Ariz. are just one of the moments that you cannot put a price on and it is those type of moments that I will miss most about Ohio State.”
