MVN: Most Valuable Network

Drafted in the 8^th round of the 2007 draft out of The Woodlands High School in Texas, Taylor Grote is a prospect brimming with potential. Although he didn't accomplish all his goals at Staten Island this past season, Taylor is looking forward to the 2009 season as he is ready to take the next step in his development and his growth . Taylor's a nice dude, and I had a great time interviewing him.

Ashish Skaria: Tell us a little bit about your tools, offensively and defensively.

Taylor Grote: I feel I can be an all-around threat no doubt about it. It is going to take hard work and that is what I am willing to do to get to that point. All around I want to be the total player.

Ashish Skaria:  No doubt you have faced some tough spots this year at Staten Island, as does almost every baseball prospect in their first full year of professional ball. What flaws have you noticed in your swing, and how are you approaching your at bats differently since the start of the season?

 Taylor Grote:  Yes, I had struggles but it is not something I was hoping for. I knew I could most likely expect some. It's part of this game and is something you have to put aside and just move on to the next at bat. My swing was not a problem. It was all in my head and that is the aspect I must learn to deal with.

Ashish Skaria: I also understand that you were a big time wide receiver prospect at The Woodlands High School. Do you feel you made the right choice going with baseball?

Taylor Grote:  I did play some football of course growing up in Texas. I could have played some football at the next level but I decided at a pretty young age baseball was what I wanted to do.

Ashish Skaria: What is the most important aspect of your game that you want to improve on going forward in the Yankees system?

Taylor Grote:  Really just the mental aspect of the game, training my mind and my actions to be the same whether I am 4-4 or 0 for last 20. It is a learning process for a young player, and I will get better with a little bit of time. All my tools are there. It's just a matter of time before I put it all together.

Ashish Skaria: How does it feel playing behind Pat Venditte? Do you think Pat's got what it takes to be a successful relief pitcher in the majors?

Taylor Grote: Pat is a different pitcher obviously, but he is just another guy out on the mound trying to get where we all want to be. The guy has a great work ethic and competes so on those two factors,  I would say sure he can just like anybody that works hard in this game.

Ashish Skaria: Tell us about your day at the ballpark.

Taylor Grote: Well it starts with eating a good meal. Then I take it to the cage to get my routine in, and then I relax and prepare for BP.

Ashish Skaria: Any player you idolized growing up?

Taylor Grote:  Chipper was always the player I loved to watch. Although there was other guys I really liked, Chipper was always the man.

Ashish Skaria: Were you a Yankee fan growing up?

Taylor Grote:  Not really. I liked some of the players [on the Yankees], but they were not my team.

Ashish Skaria: Which player would compare yourself to in the majors today and why?

Taylor Grote: Not sure, but probably a guy like Beltran who can do a lot of things in the game, not just a one sided player.

Ashish Skaria:  Any hobbies in particular we should know of?

Taylor Grote: I love to play golf! It is my thing man; I could play any day anytime!