April 19 — Kevin Hooper

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with Braves Director of Player Development Kevin Hooper at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia. 

Hooper stopped by Columbus to provide a philosophical overview of the club, discuss new manager Nestor Perez, share thoughts on several players off to strong starts with the Clingstones, and highlight prospects within the Braves organization who could soon make the jump to Double-A.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Back on the Columbus Klingstones pregame show on an unseasonably chilly Sunday. I'm joined by Braves, Director of Player Development, Kevin Hooper. Always appreciate you taking the time. The last time I saw you before you came to Columbus was in Northport. You're on the golf cart. That was my first time ever in Northport, and I gotta tell you, it's like Disneyland for baseball. What an experience. What are those moments like in spring training? What are you hoping to accomplish when you get everybody at the same place under one roof? It's got to be a lot going on, but what kind of is the main mantra for you during those months?

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Yeah, to start as you stated, super special complex that we're uh fortunate enough to have and uh allow our guys to utilize to to the max. But uh it's a different animal, man, as we say, especially in my role and you know, Chris Swagger, our field coordinator, uh Bo West being pitching coordinators, it's the four, and Johnny Washington, our hitting coordinator. It's the five of us together a lot, you know, just game planning for 175 guys and trying to put the puzzle together for four separate teams and just making it as fluid as possible. So uh yeah, it's just a lot of work uh putting putting that schedule together, and like I said, trying to put these players in the best positions possible for them to be successful and get as much as much work as we possibly can done.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

And trying to delegate that as much as you can to the people that you're working around, get those messages to different players. I know the game planning really never ends for you and your staff. When does that start as soon as the offseason ends? Looking forward to spring training and then trying to decide where guys are going to start the season, what are our coaching staffs gonna look like? When does that planning start for you?

SPEAKER_00 1:31

Yeah, I think you know, the offseason can be a weird time because maybe you maybe somebody calls on one of your staff members and they end up getting promoted with another organization, which we want. You know, we talk about all the time. If we're getting guys promoted, not only within our organization, but people are calling from other organizations, we're doing our job because that means we're developing our staff as well. So it it's unique. Uh, I don't think anyone lines up perfectly any off season. Um, it's just making decisions on staff of who's returning, who's not, who you kind of want to put where. Um, you know, once again, another puzzle that we have to put together. And then, you know, with our players just just mapping out a roadmap for them in the offseason. Obviously, we have the dead period where we can't really contact them, you know, right around Thanksgiving until the new year, but uh just preparing them as much as we can lead up to that moment so that when they, you know, are able we're able to contact them again January 1, we're rocking and rolling with some programs that we got in place for another month, month and a half before they get into spring training.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

So along those lines, Nestor Perez has spent the last three seasons in the complex league. He's been in the organization for a very long time. He's been here at the double-A level several years ago in 2021 as a bench coach. What led to the decision making to put Nestor in this position here in Columbus in 26?

SPEAKER_00 2:43

Like I said, there's a there's a lot of things that go into it. I don't think one thing specifically, but uh we're obviously very comfortable with Nestor Perez and and his abilities and what he's able to do. I think Nestor could fill many roles in our organization, you know, and and when we got down to it, just what we had managerial-wise, we just thought Columbus was gonna be a good fit. He's been to this level, as you said, in 2021. And it's a guy I think that we can put at any level. He's very good, he was very good at the complex. That's why he was there for so long. You know, he ran a he ran a great program down there, but uh like I said, we also like to get guys out and about and switch things up when when uh it presents itself to do so.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

This has been a topic of conversation just for me around the front office staff and here in the clubhouse since this season began. This is my fourth year in the Braves organization. One thing that you have to have a lot of, and you certainly have a lot of, and you have to develop over time in a clubhouse is feel. But there's no real kind of definition for feel, it's just something that you certainly can pick up on. But it's necessary for your job. But in your eyes, what do you think a feel is? Because it's one of the most valuable commodities in a clubhouse that you need for your job, and everyone needs in a baseball clubhouse throughout the season.

SPEAKER_00 3:50

Yeah, I think uh to simplify it, um picking your spots, right place, right time, to have conversations with these guys. Um, you know, we always talk about the the the top step guys where something happens out on the field during a game and a coach is waiting for them to let them know what they did wrong. That's just just not great feel in my mind, you know. So just just being able to, and you know, honestly, Jack, a lot of that comes with experience, you know. Um so we get to get our new coaches in that maybe haven't been in professional baseball. Part of my job is developing them and and kind of describing all that stuff, you know, and as we talk about with young coaches, using your ears more than you do your mouth, you know, those sort of things. So uh I think experience comes with it, learning some feel. I also think a lot of people just have it. You know, a lot of people just have a really good awareness of their surroundings and the atmosphere, environment, the vibe, and and like I said, picking picking those spots uh to take advantage of the opportunity to talk with a player for me, talk with another staff member, whatever it might be.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Scouting reports try to define players for opposing teams like Biloxi's in town this week. They're trying to define and simplify for their pitching staff and for their hitters when they're facing Columbus pitchers, but in your world, it's all about development. These are human beings that are trying to improve every single day, and you're in charge of their development. In terms of going about that and trying to discover new ways with players that they've been in the organization for several years, do you try to tweak a lot when the season begins? When do some of those big changes you feel like you would like to see them make start occurring?

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Yeah, I think we you like to give them some time, you know, obviously to get started, get going with their season. I think that there's a game plan, player plan for all these guys when they leave spring training that this staff is aware of. So chipping away at those two, three priority things, whether it's offense, defense, base running, pitching, those sorts of things, trying to chip away those and as we say, check the box so we can move on to the next thing. So um I don't think it's a full court press so early on in a year because as we say, it's a it's a marathon, not a sprint, you know. So you want to give these guys some time. That's why we get away for a couple weeks open this season. Let this let this staff, this players, they've been with us for six weeks and we've been on their neck, you know. But uh so give them some freedom, some time away from us. And then, you know, my first trip out was earlier this week to Augusta, and this is my second one here, and then like I said, start getting our eyes on some things, having the conversations, doing work with these guys and continuing to develop those player plans.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

With Braves Director of Player Development, Kevin Hooper. I want to ask you about some specific players here in Columbus that you've been a part of their development over the last several years, starting with David McCabe. Already four home runs this year, got to AAA toward the end of last season, got off to a hot start there. Where has been the big jump this year to start the season for Dave?

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Yeah, another guy, as you stated, just uh a steady, steady guy in general. You know, uh he's a manager's dream, as I say, because when he walks in that clubhouse, you know what you're gonna get out of the guy. He's very steady. Um so credit to him on that, obviously. Um, but uh playing first base now, you know, we've we've kind of I don't want to say taken away the third base. He still takes his ground balls on the left side, which we want him to because it's gonna continue to keep him more athletic as a first baseman, but uh off to a great start. Uh left-handed really been straying it well. Doesn't get as many A-B's right-handed, I think, that we would like that he would like. I think he's maybe only had five or so, but uh, I know Grant Kay's working really hard with him on, you know, how can we develop some some damage right-handed. So took a great BP yesterday. He had the day off, so he took it all right-handed. It was good for me to see that. But uh, yeah, just working, man. And, you know, as you stated, finished the year last year in AAA. Not that he couldn't have started this year in triple A. You know, this is always a numbers game from our seats, and uh, once again, making the puzzle fit. As you know, our triple A club, it's a lot of seasoned veteran type guys that are gonna be able to be fillers for uh us in the big leagues, and hopefully the time's coming where he's gonna be there and stay there and hopefully help us in the big leagues as well.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

And home runs have been a big theme for Columbus to start the season through 14 games. You're gonna like hearing this. This is tied for the third most amount of home runs in the Southern League through 14 games since 2005. So, this team with a lot of the same players that last year hit 78 home runs, already have 20 to start the season. One of those guys with three is Lisandra Espinoza. And we talk about a lot of the players that have been in the organization, have been under your watch for several years. He was acquired from the Cardinals organization. When you first discovered Lisandra Espinoza as someone that you wanted in the organization, what were the elements that you said he's gonna be a good fit for us?

SPEAKER_00 8:23

He's he's just got all the parameters to be uh a guy that can help in the major leagues one day. I mean, he's a he's a really good defender in center field and shortstop. That's hard to find. Not only not only one of those spots, but both of them, and he's really good at it. The speed, we think he's got a chance to steal a lot of bases throughout his career. And the bat, I mean, he's so twitchy, man. You know, this is a guy that possibly is gonna end up hitting 20 home runs a year, you know, at some point. He's just uh a short ball of fire, as I say, you know, and just full of energy, excitement. It's been great to see the growth in him, not only as a player, but as a person, I think, being back at this level. Uh I've heard it from the staff, from the players, just how much he's grown and come to his own. I think the biggest thing for him is to uh knock out as much chase as we can. You know, he loves to swing the bat, which I which we love. But it's just picking his spots to be able to shrink that zone a little bit and do his damage. Because when he does, when he's spitting on pitches out of the zone, he's he's got a chance to be really, really good.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Let's knock out three in the pitching staff that are new to the double A level this year. Eric Hernandez, who gets the ball today, Owen Murphy, Garrett Bauman, individually, different pitchers, different frames for sure. Garrett is six foot eight. Eric's a lefty, Owen, a phenomenal right-hander pitcher who struck out 10 on opening night. When was the moment you decided it's time for these three to make that next step to double A to begin the year?

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Yeah, I think those are three guys that are obviously a big part of your future. Um, you know, and uh have had had good starts their careers. I don't deal with the pitching as much as I do the position players, so that's probably a Bo West question more than me, but uh I love having the opportunity to watch those three. I get to see Eric this trip. I miss miss Murph and Ballman, which is uh disappointing on my end. I wish I could see them, but I'll I look forward to seeing them down the road. But uh, like I said, three guys that uh have really competitive stuff, and not only competitive stuff, but they're fierce competitors when they take the ball and they want the ball, and uh pretty cool to see because as you know, man, pitching wins in this game and we try to stockpile as much as we can. Like I said, three guys that we're super excited about moving forward and helping the Atlanta Braves long term.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

I asked you this question toward the end of last season, but a lot of continuity to start the season here in Columbus. But as we know, this roster is going to fluctuate a lot over the course of the season. We mentioned guys like Alex Lodis last year that could be seen here in Columbus soon. Who are some of the other guys that Columbus fans and Braves fans should expect to see in double A at some point this year?

SPEAKER_00 10:43

Yeah, there's a group in Rome that uh we've kind of moved together, like Owen Carey, Eric Hartman, John Hill, who you saw saw a bit of last year, Dixon Williams, a lot of guys from that draft here. But uh yeah, I think those are some names, you know, position player wise, that uh could eventually make the jump at some point. And you you just hope that they continue to develop, and we're doing our job of developing them as a staff, and and like you said, sooner than later they're wearing this uh Columbus Cleanstones uniform.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

You are so busy throughout the year, traveling around, going home to Kansas. When you get that dead period in the offseason, what are some of the things you do just to decompress with all the things that you have to keep track of and all the players and all the personalities that you have to work with throughout the season? What do you do to decompress outside of baseball?

SPEAKER_00 11:26

Yeah, be dad, be dad, be husband. Uh I got two daughters, one's a junior in college. It's just crazy to think about. She's a junior in college, and then our youngest daughter's a senior in high school. So uh it's gonna be really weird, Jack, going into this next offseason, kind of being empty nesters for my wife and I. So uh probably pick some golf back up, maybe, you know, but I love playing golf. Um, but as you stated, man, we uh we spent a lot of time on this and I enjoy the heck out of it. I I'm I'm so fortunate, humbled, blessed to be be part of this organization and and be part of our leadership group. But uh yeah, when I get away, spend time with family, friends, any chance I get, and uh hit the golf course when I can.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Well, I'm certainly fortunate you take the time uh to speak with me whenever you come through in Columbus. Really appreciate it, Kevin Hooper, and wish you all the best of luck, man. Look forward to seeing you back here soon.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

Appreciate you, Jack.