May 6 — Archer Brookman

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with catcher Archer Brookman at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. 

Brookman discussed his strong start to the season at the plate, how he has crafted his offensive approach throughout his career, joining the Braves organization following a Rule 5 Draft move from Detroit, and memories of the Montreal Canadiens' run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Back on the Columbus Klingstones pregame show. Tarp is on here at Keysler Federal Park, but we should have baseball game two of this six-game series coming up between the Stones and the Shuckers, and I'm happy to be joined by Archer Brookman, catcher for the Stones. You're batting well over 300. You just picked up your first two home runs of the season in a crazy series against Montgomery. So let's start there. What's got you off to this good start?

SPEAKER_00 0:21

Um, I mean, just sticking to my process, um, working in the cages every day, getting in there with Kay. He's really helped me out, and he's really helped me um, I think, develop uh an approach and to really be stubborn to that approach. So I'm just looking to go the other way, taking my base hits when I can, and then letting the the power come when it will come on certain pitches that I can drive.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

So what I'm hearing is the backside home run that came against Montgomery to right center field, that's been in the works for a couple weeks.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Yeah, definitely. So I definitely um I think my swing definitely plays to the right side a little more than the pull side. So I definitely look to stay in that right center gap and uh looking out and over the plate, looking at pitches that I can um drive that way. And then whenever guys do happen to come in, just stand tight and trust in my path that um I will be able to pull the ball in the air. So just being stubborn to my approach, looking out and over the plate and thinking right center.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

So you join a new organization this year after the Braves pick you up in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Is there any added pressure with joining a new organization? Or what's kind of the overall vibe and the feeling that you get when you step into a new organization for the first time in your career?

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Yeah, I know. Definitely coming over here was a new experience that I had never uh done before, meeting all the new guys. But um, we got a great clubhouse and all the boys in there. They've made it easy to transition easy for me. They've made me feel at home here with uh the Braves and the Klingstones. So that has been a much easier transition for me. Um and I'm just forever thankful for the guys in the clubhouse and the people around, the coaches, the staff, everyone has made it very easy for me.

SPEAKER_01 2:01

Okay, so take me to two different points in your life. One, when you found you were joining this organization, and two, when you learned that you were going to start for the first time at the AA level.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Yeah, so when I uh first heard I was gonna be a brave, I was in the car with a couple of the buddies. We were just listening to the Rule 5 draft, and they called my name, and I was pretty shocked actually. So I didn't really see it coming, but um, yeah, no, it was it was pretty cool, it was pretty surreal moments. It was actually the first time I've ever really heard my name called because I was a free agent, so that was an awesome moment that I'll never forget. Definitely going to double-A was awesome because I had been in A-ball for four years. So that was uh one of my big goals coming over here was to get out of A-ball and um go to the upper levels of the minor leagues. And um, yeah, no, I've gotten that opportunity to come here and I'm just trying to take advantage of it.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

So, where do you feel like your game has grown the most since when you started your professional career?

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Um definitely be just becoming knowing who I am as a player and not trying to do too much. So um as a hitter, I've really realized I'm not a big I wouldn't say I'm a big power guy, I'm a gap-to-gap guy who's gonna put the ball and play, not strike out, what take his walks. So I've really tried to really try to um hone in who I am as a player and try and be the best player I can be in terms of my player type out there.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

How about behind the plate? What are the things you felt like you've adapted to the best and where do you feel like the strides have been made the most behind the plate?

SPEAKER_00 3:27

Yeah, so I mean the the Tigers definitely taught me a lot. Um my first four years in Pro Bowl. They kind of retooled me as a catcher and taught me different moves, different setups, and so I'm definitely grateful for them. And then coming over here with the Braves, they've taught me more stuff in terms of getting comfortable in different different stances, learning even more moves, um, and coming over here and just learning the staff, learning the different pitch types, what stuff is gonna do what, um, know where the misses, know where the good ones are, and yeah, just working with the boys.

SPEAKER_01 3:58

Take me back to the Montreal Canadiens run to the Stanley Cup in 2021. What was that like? Experiencing that with your childhood friends and just the city in general after the COVID year.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Yeah, especially being after COVID, it was awesome. The the Montreal Canadians really reopened Montreal almost. Being able to go back to the bars and hang out with friends and watch the games and rally together around it was uh something special, and I'll I'll never forget it. That uh that playoff run and the cup run was the best I've ever seen in my entire life. But uh hopefully I'll see see a little bit better in the upcoming years.

SPEAKER_01 4:33

What's gotta happen here for the Canadians to make a run back to the cup and win the first Stanley Cup for Canada since '93.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Well, I think for one, with the the big guys definitely gotta get going. Suzuki, Caulfield, they gotta find the back of the net. Dobich has got to keep doing his thing, being a brick wall back there, and then just being fit tough, physical, fast, just the way the Habs play, having that grit.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

How much are you keeping up with your friends back home about their cup run right now?

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Oh, I'm locked in for sure. Every game, I'm locked in, watching when I can. Uh if I can, I'm always if I can't watch the game, I'm always looking for updates from the boys. But uh yeah, if fits on and I ain't got nothing to do, I'm sitting in front of the TV watching for sure.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

I'm looking forward to them making a deep run. You're off to a great start to the season, Arch. Keep it up, man. Thank you very much.