Interview with Trenton Lare

I was able to get an interview with Yankee minor league Trenton Lare. Lare was recently signed to a minor league deal out of an indepedent league and is starting for the Staten Island Yankees.

How did you join the Kalamazoo Kings? Was it through an open tryout, recommendation, or something else?
I guess I would have to say (it was a) recommendation by my college coach at Emporia State University. I think he called the Kalamazoo Kings (to recommend me).

Did you know that the Yankees were scouting you?
No, I had no idea. It was a total shock to me when the manager of the Kings told me the Yankees wanted to sign me.

How did you find out that you were being offered a contract? What was your reaction?
Fran Riordan, the manager of the Kings, called me into his office and told me the Yankees wanted to sign me; I was and still am really excited. I have waited a long time to finally get the opportunity to play affiliated baseball.

Could you please describe your pitching arsenal?
I throw a fastball, change-up, and a slider. My best pitch is strike one. =)

You will be with Staten Island, right? Will you be relieving or starting?
Yes, I will be with Staten Island. I don’t know if i’ll be starting or relieving.

I see that you are from Lyndon, Kansas. Are you a Royals or Cardinals fan? Favorite player?
I am neither a Cardinals or a Royals fans. Believe it or not I have been a Yankees fan since I was little, both my dad and brother are big Yankee fans.

What did you do during the off-season while with the Kings?
During the off-season I worked and went to school.

Have you had any coaches that have been really helpful towards the improvement of your pitching ability?
There isn’t really any one coach that has helped me more than another; they have all helped me in one way or another.