RSN: Give us a scouting report on yourself. What is in your repertoire?
RC: I throw a fastball, a 2-seamer, a change-up, and a curve.
RSN: When you say fastball and 2-seamer, are you talking about the same pitch or two different ones?
RC: Two. By "fastball" I was referring to my 4-seamer. I like to throw both and get ahead of hitters. I like to work my 2-seamer in on the hands to right-handers, and away to lefties.
RSN: Where does your velocity usually sit?
RC: I'm in the low- to mid-90s. I’m usually 91-92, but I have touched 94, maybe 95.
RSN: The Red Sox organization stresses the importance of having a good change-up. What are your thoughts on that philosophy?
RC: The fastball is the most important pitch in baseball, but a good change is something you definitely want. My junior college stressed it too, so I've played a lot of long toss with a change-up grip. Like everything else, it's a pitch I want to keep improving.
RSN: A lot of pitchers talk about reaching a point in their career where they went from being a thrower to knowing how to pitch. Being fairly new to pitching, where do you feel you are in regard to that?
RC: I still feel like I have a ways to go, but I have the right people teaching me. I've been working with Walter Miranda, my pitching coach, a lot. (GCL manager) Dave Tomlin has been a big influence, too. He used to pitch in the big leagues, so he really knows his stuff. So does Goose Gregson, our pitching director.
RSN: What are some of the things they've worked with you on?
RC: A lot of it is mental, but we're working on mechanics, too. Staying taller on the mound is one thing. They also felt I was too wide off the stretch, so they've had me shorten that up a bit. They feel I can increase my velocity by doing that, and it should also help slow down my delivery a little so I'm not rushing too much toward the plate.
RSN: You mentioned the mental part of developing as a pitcher. Can you give us a few examples?
RC: You need confidence on the mound, and I know that I can perform and get guys out, but it's important to maintain that focus at all times. Learning situations is something else I want to get better at. That's an ongoing process.
RSN: You'll be going to instructional league in mid-September. What do you expect to be focusing on there?
RC: They haven't told me, but I think they'll want me to work on my stance and poise on the mound. They'll also have me working on my breaking ball. Tightening up my curve is going to be one of my goals.
RSN: You're listed at 6' 2," 165. Is that what you currently weigh, and what are your goals regarding size and conditioning?
RC: I'm about 170 now, and I would like to get bigger. Over time, I think 185 would be a good goal. I've had a tough time gaining weight in the past, but with the winter workouts they'll have me doing I should be able to gain some more size and strength. Being a pitcher, a lot of what I'll be doing is core exercises. That and I'll be working a lot on my scapular muscles.
RSN: What was your draft experience like last year, and why did you spend a season at a community college?
RC: I knew I'd get drafted, but I didn't really know where I’d go. I had talked to a few teams, and the Red Sox kind of came out of nowhere when they picked me up. Afterwards, they said they'd like me to go to school for a year to work on some things. I did, and right before the deadline they made me an offer. Until a few days before I signed, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. That was around Memorial Day. From there I went to the Gulf Coast League.
RSN: Of your GCL teammates, which of them impressed you the most with his talent?
RC: We had a lot of pitchers who could locate well with good command, but it was probably Mike Jones. He's been really tearing it up. He can really swing the bat.
RSN: Having been primarily an outfielder in high school, and having had a lot of success with the bat, would you consider trying to make it as a position player if something happened to derail your pitching career?
RC: I definitely would. I love baseball, so I'd try to come back any way I could. I hadn't just been an outfielder, though. That's where I was as a junior, but my senior year I made all-state playing shortstop. I definitely started to get more exposure after concentrating on pitching, though.
RSN: You were born in California. When did you move to Texas?
RC: We moved when I was 13 years old, because of my dad's job. That was at the beginning of my 8th grade year.
RSN: Do you think that had any impact on your development as a baseball player?
RC: I think it did. The area we moved to was a lot more competitive than it was in California, and that probably opened a lot more doors for me. My school was big in football -- they were the state champs -- but baseball is pretty big, too.
RSN: Which teams did you follow growing up?
RC: I liked the Giants, although maybe I converted a little after moving to Texas. But I've always been more into playing than watching, anyway. There was never a game I had to watch -- not when I could be out playing.
RSN: What are you into off the field?
RC: I like to hunt and fish, and hang with friends and family. I'm pretty laid back.
RSN: Getting back to your season, how would you assess your performance in the GCL?
RC: Pretty good, I think. I pitched in 11 games, and only gave up runs in 3 of them. I was limited to 2 innings each time, because I had thrown a lot in school, but I was still pretty happy with that. As for what it was like down there, you hear horror stories about rookie ball, especially the heat and having to play in empty ballparks all the time. But it really wasn't that bad. It's something everyone has to go through when they start out. Plus, I'm not playing for fans. Not yet, anyway. I'm playing to get better. If I do that -- if I get good enough -- I'll get that chance.