Summer Ball Q&A: Junior RHP Austin Sexton
July 10, 2015 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the month of July, HailState.com will interview select Mississippi State baseball players competing across the country in summer leagues. Rising junior Austin Sexton is currently playing for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
For more information on Sexton's summer, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for “HailStateBB.” You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”
AUSTIN SEXTON Q&A
Q: What are some areas the MSU coaching staff wants you to improve upon this summer?
A: They wanted me to work on my fastball command as well as developing a second off-speed pitch. I have always had a changeup but now they want me to have something that moves down and away.
Q: How is your experience this summer going to make you a better player for 2016?
A: Playing in the Cape is the equivalent of playing the best of the best on a nightly basis. Every time I go out there and pitch I have to lock in on the batters. There are a lot of good hitters from every conference in the country. You cannot take a pitch or a batter off. Overall, it is preparing me for what I hope to do one day, which is to pitch at the big league level.
Q: How does the talent level in your league compare to the Southeastern Conference?
A: The SEC is the cream of the crop in terms of conferences, but the Cape showcases the best college players from the best college programs. Just like the SEC, there are nine really good hitters in every lineup. The talent is undoubtedly good in both places.
Q: What is it like playing in the CCBL with so many scouts at the games?
A: It is cool, and I know this is cliché, but you treat it just like any other game. Whether I'm on the bump in the Cape or it's a Friday night SEC game at Dudy Noble, there are going to be people there. You have to focus on what you need to do and take care of your business.
Q: Do you have a MSU teammate on your summer team? What's that like?
A: Daniel Brown. He is a great pitcher who reminds me of a young Jacob Lindgren. He is having a breakout summer right now. Hopefully he can keep that up and carry it into this upcoming year. We need him to have a huge role, and I am excited to watch him compete and succeed.
Q: What's a typical day like in summer league?
A: You get up, go to the gym and head to the field for batting practice and stretching. Then you play a game and head home and eat dinner. I stay consistently busy all day, but it's a labor of love because it's baseball.
Q: What's it like staying with a host family?
A: You stay with a family of complete strangers and they welcome you in with open arms. They trust you and it is awesome. The family I am staying with right now is like a second set of parents to me. They cook, clean and do some laundry for me here and there. They are wonderful people and they take care of me.
Q: What are you doing when you are not playing?
A: I tried to go to Fenway Park to catch a Boston Red Sox game a few weeks ago, but it rained out. I think I played golf one day. For the most part I just like to hang out and relax with my host family.
Q: Have you done any community service where you are at?
A: I have been working baseball camps with the local youth. They are running me all over the place and wearing me out, but it is really fun helping them learn the game of baseball and watching them fall in love with the sport.
Q: What's different in your part of the country compared to Mississippi?
A: It is a completely different lifestyle. They are shocked when you say yes sir or no sir. They do not have sweet tea!
Q: What's the coolest thing you have done this summer?
A: I have been to the beach a few times. Hopefully next week I can catch a game at Fenway and watch the Sox play.
Q: What's the atmosphere where you are at right now compared to Dudy Noble Field?
A: Nothing compares to Dudy Noble. Our Bulldog family is wonderful. Their loyalty and love for us is absolutely incredible. I do not think anything will ever be able to beat playing at Dudy Noble.
Q: What do you miss most about Starkville?
A: I miss all of my teammates. When I say it is a brotherhood, I mean it. When you spend every day with your teammates, you form a close bond and they become your brothers. I miss the city and I am excited to get back to Mississippi and get the season started.
Q: What are the team goals for the 2016 season?
A: The goal is to obviously get to Omaha. At the same time, we compete on a game-by-game basis because you will fail if you look ahead. For us, we have to take everything one day at a time and move on to the next one.
Q: What are your personal goals for the 2016 season?
A: I want to have a really great season. I will do whatever I need to do to make sure we as a team have a memorable run. At the end of the day I want to win and get Mississippi State back to where it has always been.
Q: Who do you think will be a breakout player for MSU in 2016?
A: Daniel Brown. He put his work in this past year, but like we all know and like he knows, his ceiling is so much higher than what he showed last spring. He really is special and he is going to do great things for us.
Q: Which SEC series are you looking forward to the most in 2016 and why?
A: I know everyone gets pumped for certain teams, but I am just excited to get back into SEC play. I am looking forward to playing at Vanderbilt and Florida just because I haven't been to either of those places yet.
Q: What are your thoughts on the heralded 2016 incoming class?
A: From what I have heard it is a pretty good class. We have a bunch of left-handed pitchers coming in, so I am excited. I think this year is going to be a successful year, and I am excited to get back to Starkville to get to work with these guys.
