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University of Minnesota Athletics
Circling the Bases ... with Bubba Horton
1/26/2018 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 freshman left-handed pitcher Bubba Horton.
Born Charles James Horton Jr., Bubba has a nickname and skills on the mound that stand out in a line-up. The Corcoran, Minnesota native arrives on campus after a five-season career for Maple Grove Senior High School. He ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in the state of Minnesota according to PerfectGame and earned All-American Honorable Mention from the same outfit during his junior and senior seasons. A 2017 finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Baseball award, Horton also earned All-Conference honors at the varsity level as a shooting guard during his senior basketball season.
| HIT & RUN |
| Favorite Musical Artist/Group: Fall Out Boy Favorite Movie: Kingsman: The Secret Service Favorite TV Show: How I Met Your Mother Favorite Book/Author: Daniel Godfrey's New Pompeii Favorite Actor or Actress: Leonardo DiCaprio Favorite Restaurant: Mongo's Grill Favorite Game/Video Game: NBA 2K18/Call of Duty Favorite Social Media or Website: Twitter Favorite Professional Athlete: Ryan Anderson Favorite Professional Team: Houston Rockets Favorite Hobby (outside of sports): Disc Golf Favorite Class at the U of M: Calc II Dream Vacation Spot: Hawaii Prized Possession: my disc golf collection Biggest Pet Peeve: people who are rude Biggest Fear: losing those who are close to me First Job (and age): umpire, age 13 Person You'd Like to Meet: Ryan Anderson Something You Never Leave Home Without: wallet, phone, keys Sport You'd Like to Try but Never Have: competitive dodgeball |
GopherSports.com Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?
BH: "I chose the University of Minnesota because it offered the best combination of academics and athletics of any school. The coaching staff is genuine and trustworthy and I know that I am in good hands. It's been a lifelong dream to play at this esteemed university, and I'm glad I could make that dream come true."
GS: When did you first start playing baseball and how did you get involved in the sport?
BH: "I started playing when I was 4 years old after my parents signed me up for t-ball. I knew that I was destined to be a baseball player when I realized that I was the only kid that understood the rules of the game. Ever since then, I've stuck with it and baseball has always been a big part of my life."
GS: What would you say is your biggest strength in your sport? What is an area of improvement?
BH: "My biggest strength is being able to control the game on the mound and not let the circumstances dictate my performance. I am able to command my pitches and I play to my strengths well. My biggest weakness is velocity, though I have seen great improvement in recent months."
GS: Do you have any game day rituals?
BH: "I eat a lot of food and stay hydrated."
GS: What is your most memorable moment of playing your sport?
BH: "When our 11U travel team won the state tournament."
GS: Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?
BH: "My parents who kept pushing me to be my best and setting the example of what it means to carry yourself both in athletics and life itself."
GS: Did you play any other sports besides baseball?
BH: "I played basketball in high school, and I am an avid disc golfer."
GS: What are you most looking forward to for this upcoming season?
BH: "I look forward to spending time playing with the team and making it to Omaha in June."
GS: Do you have any advice for aspiring youth athletes?
BH: "Try all sports, and stick with the ones you love. Don't try to limit yourself, it's good to play more than one sport. Play to have fun, don't put too much pressure on yourself and don't let others influence what sports you want to play."
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