Introducing Will Middlebrooks

MA:  You’ve gotten off to a great start, what do you think of the Eastern League

WM: I love it.  Some good stadiums, today it’s really nice out here, which has been rare so far.

MA: Now you’re playing at a place on the road with a lot of tradition, and you’ll see big crowds here all season

WM: Huge crowds here, it’s a different kind of intensity when you’re playing in front of six or seven thousand people.

MA: I’ve always asked this question, but players do like playing in front of big crowds?

WM: We’ve played in front of a lot people before, but you have great crowds, it’s a different kind of energy.

MA: Lot of first year players here, yourself, Tim Federowicz and Alex Hassan.  It seems like the three of you are comfortable with the transition to Double-A

WM: Yeah we have, and I think that’s a credit to our coaches, and even our teammates.  Some of us have played together for three years, and we have some good conversations.

MA: I talked to Alex Hassan about this, there’s that saying that pitchers are ahead of hitters, but it doesn’t seem like that here in Portland.

WM: It doesn’t seem like.  We’re pretty consistent with our approach.  Alex (Hassan) is one of the best overall hitters, especially with his approach, he’s a great ballplayer.

MA: You’re getting some attention from the Boston sports stations because Ryan Mallet (New England Patriots 3rd Round pick) is someone you know.

WM: He’s my best friend growing up, we met back in the sixth grade when our dads starting coaching together and we’ve been like brothers ever since.

MA: Have you talked to him yet?

WM: I had a text after Friday’s game, saying New England drafted me.  I gave him a call and talked to him and congratulated him.

MA: Now you two are both playing for team’s in a big media market.

WM:  We were growing up, we often talked about playing in the NFL together and being neighbors.  That was like a fantasy world back then, but now it could happen.

MA: Talk about your football background

WM: I grew up in Texarkana, Texas, huge football area.  When they say there’s nothing open in little towns, it’s really like that.  My dad’s been a football coach for 28 years.

The complete interview can be heard on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 5:4o PM