University of Minnesota Athletics
Circling the Bases... with Joshua Culliver
12/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS - GopherSports.com asked the tough questions of Minnesota's nine rookies ahead of the 2018 spring season. Next up, we get to know Gopher freshmen pitcher Joshua Culliver by "circling the bases."
Culliver enters Gold Country with a championship pedigree, coming off back-to-back appearances in the American Legion World Series for his Omaha, Nebraska squad. Pitching for Creighton Preparatory School, he won two-straight Nebraska state high school titles and earned All-State honors in both his junior and senior campaigns. He joined the Gophers as the third-overall prospect and top-ranked right-hander in Nebraska according to Prep Baseball Report while also being named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention.
| HIT & RUN |
| Favorite Musical Artist/Group: MMG Favorite Movie: The Other Guys Favorite TV Show: Real Husbands of Hollywood Favorite Book/Author: David Shannon Favorite Actor or Actress: Paula Patton Favorite Restaurant: Wingstop Favorite Game/Video Game: MLB The Show Favorite Professional Athlete: Pedro Martinez Favorite Professional Team: LA Chargers Favorite Hobby: playing with dogs Dream Vacation Spot: Australia Prized Possession: phone Biggest Pet Peeve: eating with mouth open Biggest Fear: snakes First Job (and age): golf range, 13 Person You'd Like to Meet: Pedro Martinez Something You Never Leave Home Without: wallet Sport You'd Like to Try but Never Have: cricket |
GopherSports.com: Why did you choose Minnesota?
JC: "Well, I chose Minnesota because it was a perfect fit for me regarding both academics and athletics. It isn't too far from home either so that was a plus."
GS: When did you first start playing baseball and how did you get involved in the sport?
JC: "I was four. I got involved after watching my brother practice and wanting to always participate in the game."
GS: What would you say is your biggest strength in your sport? What is an area of improvement?
JC: "My biggest strength is pitching and throwing the ball on the inside half of the plate and an area of
improvement is hitting. I think taking four years off in high school from hitting really brought me down."
GS: Do you have any game day rituals?
JC: "Yes, actually, it consist of calling my mom, playing some Fungo golf and listening to music."
GS: What is your most memorable moment of playing your sport?
JC: "My most memorable moment was playing in the American Legion World Series. It was really special being one of the first Nebraska teams in 50 years to play in the championship game."
GS: Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?
JC: "My mom. She might not know a lot about the game, but she's always there to push me beyond my limits. She was the first one to get me started in the game."
GS: Did you play any other sports besides baseball?
JC: "Not in high school. I got cut on the second day of freshman basketball tryouts. I played football as quarterback and long snapper in middle school."
GS: What are you most looking forward to for this upcoming season?
JC: "The Nebraska series - coming back home and playing in front of a hometown crowd would be amazing."
GS: Do you have any advice for aspiring youth athletes?
JC: "Focus on the details of the game and control what you can control."
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