April 3 — Mike Steed

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitching coach Mike Steed at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia ahead of Opening Night. 

Steed discussed the start for Braves’ No. 6 prospect Owen Murphy, what he worked on during the offseason, what fans in Columbus can expect to see from Murphy, and his confidence in his Michigan Wolverines ahead of their Final Four matchup with Arizona that night.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Back on the Columbus Klingstones pregame show for the first time in 2026. We're inside the coach's office. I'm happy to be joined by pitching coach Mike Steed. First off, Steeter, I want to talk a little bit about where you were in the offseason, what you got up to, how was the offseason? I know it it's always a little shorter than it feels, but what did you get into? What was it like?

SPEAKER_00 0:21

Yeah. You know, back home, back in the Niagara area in Canada. Um did my uh couple weekends down in Ann Arbor to watch the big blue play some football. And uh Marlene and I ended up in uh Italy for 12 days, 13 days, uh, which was pretty fantastic. So uh I had a good off season just at home, spending with the grandkids too.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

And that is time well earned by Marlene to go to Italy after a full season here in Columbus, no question. Yeah, absolutely. That was uh coming one way or the other. So tonight, Owen Murphy makes his double-A debut. He's the Atlanta Braves' number six prospect, and fans in Columbus can't wait to see him. You've gotten to see him throughout the course of his Atlanta Braves minor league career. What should fans expect?

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Uh he's a you know energetic, electric young arm. Um, you know, seeing him come out of high school, uh his first year came up to Augusta, my first year, and just kind of watching him mature and and grow as a person and a pitcher has been kind of exciting. Um, has had some adversity already with some injury, uh, but he is strong and healthy and uh you know he's ready to go. And I haven't seen him pitch in, you know, a couple years, so uh I'm like everyone else. I'm excited to watch him tow the rubber tonight.

SPEAKER_01 1:32

Where do you think the biggest improvement has come now that you've gotten to work with him just a little bit and in watching him in spring training from where you saw him as a really young man freshly drafted into the org to where he is now?

SPEAKER_00 1:45

I mean the the stuff's still outstanding, but I I just think the intangibles and and being a complete pitcher and you know getting closer and closer to a big league pitcher, just how he goes about his daily business, how he organizes himself, um, how he prepares. Uh I think you know, coming off the injury, I think that's been important. But uh he was in big league camp this year. I think he learned a lot from that, um, which is the exciting part of it. Um, because the f the physical tools have always been there. Um, but now just just watching him grow up uh and become more a more mature pitcher, that's that's exciting for me.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

When you look at Owen Murphy, the first thing you point to that he does well, you say this is the top of the list is what?

SPEAKER_00 2:28

Throw the fastball. Uh it's an elite fastball. Um he can beat hitters at the top of the zone, you know, he can beat the best hitters in the world at the top of the zone. The part B to that would be just the the detail, attention to detail he's put on some of his secondary pitches uh and and just how to use them, when to use them. Uh obviously young arm still fine-tuning everything, but uh the fastball's still uh exciting, whether it's ninety-two or ninety-five, um, you'll see some some uncomfortable swings off the fastball tonight.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

What does a successful start look like for him tonight?

SPEAKER_00 3:05

Tough call. One, you know, controlling his emotion. He's still a young man, and you know, crowds are good here. It's opening night. Um, you know, it's his first double A start. You know, he's gonna be a little amped up. So um him controlling the emotions, having a good first inning, uh, I think that's the key to him. And if he gets us to the midway point of the game, um, you know, that's a that's a great start, and you know, moving on to start number two next week.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

I think that's a really good point you make about the energy that's gonna be in the ballpark tonight. It's opening night. You know this because you were here last year. The energy here is always good, but especially on a night like this, with the fan support you have and the energy that's throughout the stadium, adrenaline is a thing that's gonna naturally come. What do you tell your young pitchers about in terms of how to handle that?

SPEAKER_00 3:53

It's just you know, the the focus level is just amped up just a little bit. Um control what you control, it's cliche. Um, and in the end it's it's it's baseball. You know, and enjoy the moment, take it all in, feed it uh in a controllable way, and uh, you know, they'll be able to use the crowd, you know, as as pitchers do, um, to his advantage. And you know, I think if he does that, um, you know, it'll be a good night for Owen. It's Michigan getting by Arizona tomorrow. Absolutely. There's no doubt. They're going to the championship game Monday night, and hopefully we're sitting there celebrating Monday evening before we're ready to go on the road Tuesday morning.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

I look forward to it. Stater, thanks for taking the time, man.

SPEAKER_00 4:33

Appreciate it, Jack.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

All right, that was pitching coach Mike Steed on the Klingstones pregame show coming up after the break. We got first pitch here on opening night.