Kruz Schoolcraft

KWFN-FM / 97.3 The Fan

Kruz Schoolcraft discusses being selected by the Padres in the 1st round.

Transcript

00:00Everybody, we're here with Padres' first-round pick, Cruz Schoolcraft.

00:04Cruz, big congratulations and welcome to the Padres.

00:06Thank you. Yeah, it's an awesome opportunity.

00:09Absolutely. We will go ahead and get started.

00:12Anybody new to our Zooms, please put your name into the group chat if you have a question,

00:17and we'll call on you. We'll go ahead and get started with Jeff Sanders.

00:21Hey, Cruz. Congratulations.

00:23Why don't you tell us what this means to get drafted to have the chance to begin your professional career?

00:30Yeah, I mean, obviously, it's a great honor.

00:32I think it's something that my family and I have been working at for a long time,

00:36and it's kind of just the start of a new chapter, so I'm excited to get after it.

00:41You are a giant person. Can you tell us a little bit about your bloodlines?

00:46Did your parents or grandparents play any sports?

00:50No, I think my dad played one year at Edmonds Community College up in Washington,

00:56and then my mom played basketball at University of Idaho,

01:01so I feel like I get all the hype from my mom's side just because they're tall.

01:05My great-uncles are 6'8 and 6'7, so yeah.

01:10You look like you're in nature right now.

01:12Can you tell us where you watched the draft today and what the day was like for you?

01:16Yeah, I just watched that with my family at the place where I work out,

01:22and I mean, it was awesome.

01:25I think having them there is super special.

01:32We'll go to AJ Keseva.

01:35Matt Cruz, congratulations.

01:36What can you kind of tell us about this specific opportunity

01:40and what you're looking forward to being with the Padres?

01:42Yeah, I mean, obviously, I just want to – I'm grateful for this opportunity.

01:47I want to learn and develop and become the best player I can be

01:50and help win a World Series, so yeah.

01:56You've obviously had a – I mean, you've done some pretty big things on the mound

01:59and also at the plate.

02:01It seems like most people kind of think you're on the mound.

02:03Is that where you're going forward with this from now on?

02:06I mean, we'll see.

02:07I think that – obviously, I want to hit as long as I can,

02:10but I want to be a big leaguer as long as I can and as fast as I can.

02:15So whatever I can do to get there, that's kind of all – that's the path I'll take.

02:19So, yeah.

02:21Your numbers are obviously very good, very gaudy during your last season.

02:26What kind of clicked for you, do you think, in the last –

02:28toward the end of your high school career?

02:30Yeah, I mean, I would say it's more of the mental side that I kind of –

02:34I guess, learned.

02:38I think that was probably the main thing that helped me battling through adversity

02:42and having, I mean, some pressure on you.

02:45So just honestly, obviously, too, also just playing for my teammates

02:48and trying to win a state championship.

02:51So I think those are the main things that clicked for me my last season.

02:54We'll go ahead and go back to Jeff Sanders.

03:03Can you tell us about your stuff and your mentality on the mound?

03:06What kind of pitcher are you?

03:08Yeah, that's a good question.

03:09For me, like, when I'm on the mound, I want to be –

03:12I want to beat the guy that's hitting, and I just want to play for my teammates.

03:15So for me, like, I just want to – I want to win,

03:18and that's kind of my mentality.

03:19I don't like losing at all very much.

03:23So for me, like, I just want to go out there and compete and win.

03:28So, yeah.

03:30What – as far as stuff-wise, what pitch do you want to see come the furthest

03:35or off of your list of things to work on?

03:38Yeah, I mean, I'd say my slider for sure.

03:40I think I can develop with – obviously get better with a lot of pitches

03:44and become more developed as a pitcher, but I think that my slider is something

03:50that I'm super excited to learn more about and kind of start getting that pitch down.

03:57I think that would be – that's going to be really good for me.

04:01We'll go to Marty Caswell.

04:03Hi, Cruz.

04:04Is there a baseball team that you enjoy watching that you're a fan of,

04:07and what pitchers do you like to study that you like stuff-wise?

04:12Yeah, I would say – I'm not a fan of one team.

04:17Obviously, I'm a Padres fan now, I guess.

04:19But I would say that probably Tarek Skubel and Max Scherzer.

04:25I got to work with them a little bit this offseason.

04:28So I would say I'm more of a root for people that – for people that I train with.

04:34And I would also say, I mean, just talking and being around Tarek Skubel,

04:38who I think is something that's helped me a ton with my mental side

04:41and how he goes about his business is something that I strive to do.

04:45So, yeah.

04:46And was it AJ Perler that called you today?

04:50Yeah, it was – I mean, it was Chris Kemp and AJ Perler.

04:53So, yeah, it was a mix of everybody that was there.

04:57If you don't mind – what was that phone call like?

04:59What did they say to you when they first called you?

05:02What was the messaging?

05:03I guess high and that they're excited that this happened.

05:07So, but, yeah, I would say – I mean, it was a pretty awesome moment.

05:12So, yeah, kind of still trying to embrace it and kind of take it all in right now.

05:21We'll go to Silas Bravo.

05:23Hey, Cruz.

05:24You talked about adversity a lot.

05:26Can you just touch on that and what adversity you went through

05:29and how that shaped you as a player?

05:31Yeah, I mean, I would say growing up, I was kind of a late bloomer.

05:35So, I had to kind of learn how to fail a little bit.

05:40And I think for me, like, always being the underdog is something that has motivated me

05:45and made me the person I am today.

05:47So, I never really was, like, the best.

05:51So, I think growing up, that's something that motivated me in time.

05:54So, we'll go back to Jeff.

06:03Have you had any specific conversations about continuing your hitting

06:07with Justin Bachman or Kemp or anybody in the Padres?

06:12Not specific – or not – really, I don't think we were –

06:16I haven't really got into that stuff with them yet.

06:18So, yeah.

06:19But you were going to be a two-way player at Tennessee?

06:22Yes, I was.

06:24Great.

06:24Congratulations.

06:29Any other questions for Cruz?

06:35You're right.

06:35Maybe we can let you get on out of here.

06:37Cruz, thank you very much.

06:38Big congratulations and enjoy the rest of your evening.

06:41Yes, sir.

06:41Thank you guys for having me on.

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