Twins Pablo López on being the opening day starter, his offseason and what he does for fun

WCCO-AM / 830 WCCO

Pablo López will again anchor the Twins pitching staff that has some high expectations, but still needs to deliver the results. He talks to WCCO's Jason DeRusha about that, and more, at spring training.

Transcript

00:00Oh

00:20Cruel cruel they have to go to the hair chief

00:24How old were you in that picture 18 probably gosh crazy?

00:29Pablo how you feeling feel great feel great. Just happy that baseball's back. It's a 15

00:34I got here at 6 got a bike right in and I feel good spring training such a fun routine to

00:39Get back in the crew for baseball get back to catching with catching up with everyone. There's new faces opportunity

00:44So introduce yourself pick their brains like hey like back with your team. What was your philosophy?

00:49What can you add to our culture our philosophy and then we just get to do a lot of team bonding

00:53We get to go and you know practice bond defense play shag batting practice work out together

00:58So it's a really really fun atmosphere that I was very anxious to participate, you know when January comes around

01:04I know spring training is almost here

01:06and I just want to show up and it's just a fun opportunity to do what we love and

01:11Continue adding to the dynasty the culture the philosophy we want to build you're back home in the offseason

01:18What were you working on this year? I was working on replicating a lot of the good things

01:23I was feeling with my mechanics in the second half of 2024

01:26You know, I was able to find I could read them with some

01:30Exercises some drills that gave me good muscle memory on when things are feeling right? This is what I'm feeling on the mount

01:37It's also you have to strike a balance during a season to like feel those things while trying to get people out

01:42So the offseason allowed me to like really tinker with those drills, you know, like, okay

01:47How can I feel what I feel maybe just extend it for a little bit longer who I didn't like that

01:51Let me just take it out. So it was just

01:54Repetition and replicating good mechanics with every single pitch just to make sure that I made everything as

02:00Consistent and as tight as possible. You work with a team with a coach

02:03Who do you who do you work with or is it just you I work with former teammates?

02:07players from other teams and we just have a good rapport I I trained with reliever with the

02:14Houston Astros one of my best friends Luis Contreras from the same hometown

02:17We went to three national tournaments when we're growing up. So we both live in Miami

02:22We both trained at the same place

02:24So it was it's just and it's it's really cool when you get feedback from the people you play catch with feedback from other players

02:31So I think it just it builds a good relationship and a good awareness of like this is the feedback

02:36I want from how the ball is moving where the ball is going. Hey, did that stay through the target or to the target?

02:42So like hearing those things from someone that also like is in the game

02:45Just gives me a better idea of like this how I want to operate

02:50Expectations are high for the pitching staff this year. How do you feel about your kind of starting crew?

02:55I feel that we want to turn those expectations into standards this year

02:59We know what with this speech we know what with what this pitching staff can do

03:04You know

03:04We use so all of the young guys last year step up and took a step forward and I can already see them

03:11During this camp spring training. They look more confident. They look more comfortable

03:14And I think you know this pitching staff can really carry this team both the starting rotation and the bullpen the bullpen is lights out

03:22Either like both people that could be in a longer reliever role and the people that are like the high leverage the closers the setups

03:28Like it's just electricity all around. So this pitching has a lot of strength and depth

03:34So like, you know, if we stay on top of our routines if we stay healthy if we can remain

03:41Available in my case every fifth day, then we're gonna be in a good spot

03:45What's it mean to you to know already your your opening day you get the ball. It's a good feeling

03:50It feels just like the first time Broca did it two years ago in 2023 and I don't take it for granted

03:55You know, I'd like to think of myself as one of five but someone has to start the first game of the year

03:59So I feel honored and blessed to have that opportunity

04:02And then it just lets me know that the team really trusts me to set the tone

04:06For a game for a series for a season so I don't take that lightly or for granted so it just puts me

04:14Puts another chip on my shoulder to come into the ballpark every day and try to be the best version of myself

04:19Pablo Lopez if you were not playing baseball, what would you be doing with your life?

04:23I wanted to go to med school before I got into professional baseball. I also like nutrition

04:28I like that. I would like to be a nutritionist a dietician so I would do something

04:34school related

04:36Related to the body or something that could also keep me close to the game. You cook too, right?

04:40A little only a little a couple of the other pitchers were telling me what good cooks there. How about that?

04:45I I'm a goody. I can eat

04:49I'll make myself available for fun. What do you do to burn off steam? I like playing this golf

04:55I like playing pickleball. I like playing beach volleyball. I like walking. I like biking

04:59So as you can see a lot of sports related activities, I like taking my dog out for walks

05:03I like just sitting and calling my family. I called my grandma my grandpa my aunts my sister my nephew

05:08So are you the caller you call I call yeah

05:11Yeah that then you must be the favorite anybody who calls a grandma is a winner. I think for a while

05:17I mean my grandma's favorites. I pride myself a lot on that

05:21Very good Pablo. Thank you. Have a great season. Thank you very much always

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