Summer Ball Q&A: Senior Infielder John Holland
July 20, 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 senior John Holland is currently playing for the Santa Barbara Foresters in the California Collegiate League. As of July 20, 2015, Holland is hitting .342 in 79 at-bats with 21 runs, 16 walks, 15 RBIs and seven stolen bases. The infielder was also named a CCL All-Star due to his success.
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JOHN HOLLAND Q&A
Q: What are some areas the MSU coaching staff wants you to improve upon this summer?
A: They really want me to continue working on being consistent. That is what I was working on in the spring and they want me to continue that in the summer. They want me to stay healthy so I can keep doing that next year.
Q: How is your experience this summer going to make you a better player for 2016?
A: I have been playing in a different part of the country and I am learning to play a different style. The west coast has its own style of baseball and a different style of coaching. I think that playing with different kids from other parts of the country helps in gaining valuable experience.
Q: How does the talent level in your league compare to the Southeastern Conference?
A: I think it is comparable. There is not as much of it depth wise, but we have all kinds of talented players. There are players from Texas, Arizona State, Rice, San Diego and a bunch of quality California programs.
Q: What adjustments do you have to make swinging wooden bats?
A: They feel a little heavier so you have to get the head of the bat out and start your swing a little earlier. I think it is a little less forgiving. You cannot get jammed and get a hit. You can sometimes get lucky with an aluminum bat, but not with a wooden bat.
Q: Do you have a MSU teammate on your summer team? What's that like?
A: Mike Smith is on the Foresters with me and it has been an awesome experience. We are actually going to be roommates next year in Starkville, so getting to be around him more this summer and getting to know him better is great. We are getting to be close buddies.
Q: What's a typical day like in summer league?
A: You get to sleep in a little later than you do when you're back in Starkville. I try to get a workout in and then head to the field. Then we do batting practice, play the game, go to sleep and do it all over again.
Q: What are you doing when you're not playing?
A: I like to go to the beach. Being in California kind of spoils you in terms of the beach. Something I've really enjoyed this summer on my off days is learning how to surf.
Q: Have you do any community service where you're at?
A: Our team is sponsored by a cancer awareness organization. We have done some bowling events and taken a group of kids to a Los Angeles Angels game. We have some other things planned out for the rest of the summer.
Q: What's different in your part of the country compared to Mississippi?
A: The weather is the biggest difference. The hottest it will ever be is 75. And when it is 75 it doesn't feel like it because we are in the mountains.
Q: What do you miss most about Starkville?
A: The family. The whole atmosphere in Starkville is a family-type atmosphere and I miss it a lot.
Q: What are the team goals for the 2016 season?
A: Redemption. We didn't have a good taste in our mouth after last season. We want to prove to everyone that this past spring is not acceptable at Mississippi State. It is not going to happen again. We want to get to the SEC Tournament, host a regional and host a Super Regional. Hopefully, we can get back to the championship series in Omaha and finish the job.
Q: What are your personal goals for the 2016 season?
A: I want to try and be the backbone of the team. I would like to contribute a little more on the offensive side. I need to continue to be a wall on defense and help the team as much as I can.
Q: Which SEC series are you looking forward to the most in 2016 and why?
A: I would say Vanderbilt. They are our SEC opener and it's on the road. They have been in the national championship game back-to-back seasons. After what happened to us last year, I really think that series will be a measuring stick to see how much we've improved.
Q: Who do you think is going to be a breakout player for MSU in 2016?
A: I really believe we will have a lot of “breakout” players, but if I had to choose one it would be lefty Vance Tatum. I think he has the potential to be one of the more dominant lefties in the SEC this year.
Q: What are your thoughts on the heralded 2016 incoming class?
A: From what I have seen it looks like a great group of guys. They can come in and be the missing pieces that we didn't have last year.
