Rounding the Bases with Kyle Bork

HIT & RUN

Major: considering Business and Marketing Entertainment
Favorite actor or actress: Will Ferrell
Favorite athlete: George Springer
Favorite author: Dr. Suess
Favorite class you're taking at the U of M: Writing 1301
Favorite hobby (outside of sports): hunting and fishing
Favorite musical artist: Eric Church
Favorite TV show: Shooter
Favorite professional team: Atlanta Braves
Favorite restaurant: The Local Expedition Wood Fired Grill in Alpharetta, Ga.
Favorite Gopher sporting event: hockey
Biggest fear: snakes
Biggest pet peeve: people eating loudly
Hidden talent: cooking
Person you'd most like to meet: Mike Trout
Something you never leave home without: my phone
Sport you'd like to try but never have: hockey

Team Superlatives

Best personality in the dugout: Drake Davis
Hardest-working teammate: Chase Stanke
Most competitive teammate: Michael Gurka
Most studious teammate: Jack Liffrig or Danny Kapala
Biggest prankster: Zack Elliot
Build the ultimate five-tool player with your teammates: Max Meyer (arm), Ronald Sweeny (power), Jordan Kozicky (contact & speed), Jack Wassel (fielding)

In advance of the 2020 season, GopherSports.com met with each of Minnesota's 12 newcomers to discuss their life before the U and gather the inside scoop. As a native of Alpharetta, Ga., freshman Kyle Bork was attracted to the U by head coach John Anderson and company despite a surplus of healthy options in the southeast.

Even so, Bork was quite familiar with the Gopher Baseball program due to the fact that his cousin, Michael Handel, played for the Maroon and Gold from 2011-15. After visiting campus as a recruit, the college decision came fairly easy for Bork, who quickly found a home-away-from-home in Minneapolis.

Coming off a highly successful high school career, Bork further sharpened his craft this past summer in the Sunbelt Collegiate League. Playing for the Alpharetta Aviators, he batted .264 across 72 at bats with two home runs, two doubles, 12 runs, 10 RBI and seven steals.

With his first fall season behind him, Bork leads a staunch crew of Gopher newcomers ready to make an impact in the 2020 season. At the fall season's climax against South Dakota State, the young infielder blasted a late two-run homer over the batter's eye in center field to help power the Gophers to a come-from-behind victory.

Now having made the trek from sunny Georgia to Minneapolis, Bork is embracing the change of scenery and focused on bringing yet another Big Ten Conference title to Minnesota.

GopherSports.com: Why did you choose to attend the University of Minnesota?
Bork: "I chose to attend the University of Minnesota because it offers a much different culture and atmosphere as a school. [Coach Anderson] was a huge reason why I chose to come here. I came on a visit and I sat in a room with [Anderson], all the coaches and my parents. After talking with them, I walked out of the room thinking, how could I not come here? This is the best academic, family and baseball opportunity I'm going to get anywhere. Not only am I getting a good education here, but I'm also making friendships that will last a lifetime. They're also preparing me for the next 40-50 years of my life."

GS: When did you first start playing baseball and how did you get involved in the sport?
Bork: "I started playing baseball when I was probably three or four. My dad coached me all the way up until middle school. That's kind of always what we did. We went to the park together and were always doing baseball stuff. I've been in love with it since I was three years old."

GS: What would you say is your biggest strength? What is an area of improvement for yourself?
Bork: "Biggest strength, I would say my bat. I think that's a big reason why I'm here and I think I can swing it pretty well. Obviously, have to keep working on everything. I've been an outfielder my whole life, but recently moved in to third base. Defensively, it's been a big adjustment going form the outfield to infield. Playing third is definitely what I want to focus on. Getting more comfortable and smoother over there."

GS: Do you have any game day rituals or superstitions?
Bork: "Oh, I'm very superstitious. I'll wear the same socks game after game. In summer ball, if I had a good game, I'd wear the same socks and not wash them for a week. If I wore a sleeve on my left arm one day and was successful, then I'm wearing it on the left arm for the next game. Same batting gloves until I hit a slump. When I step in the box, I do the same thing with my feet every time. Three digs with my right foot, swipe the dirt up, step out, take a breath looking at my bat and then step in."

GS: What is your most memorable moment playing baseball?
Bork: "My senior year of high school, I hit two home runs in one inning in our semi-final game. I hit three in the whole game and two in one inning. That was pretty sweet, because it was to take the lead."

GS: Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?
"My dad, for sure. Not only has he been my biggest coach of life, but also in the game. Not just physical things, but the mental part of the game is definitely where we connect the most. After every game, even here, I'll give him a call and talk through where I was at mentally. A lot of times that mental side was what was effecting that physical side. He's definitely been my biggest coach of that, but also through the game. There's no one throwing me more batting practice or ground balls than him."

GS: What are your goals for this upcoming 2020 season?
Bork: "My goal for the 2020 season is just to help this team win. We have a really good team and just to be able to contribute in any way, to help this team win more games, to go to Omaha, win a Big Ten Championship, which is everyone on the team's dream and goal for this year, having a piece of that as a freshman. Anything I can do to win is really what it's going to come down to."

GS: Do you have any advice for aspiring young athletes?
Bork: "Baseball is a game that you see a lot more failure than you do success. To be able to figure out how to harness that very young is something that is going to help everyone. To realize that I had a bad game here, but tomorrow is a new day – that's something that took me a long time to figure out and I think the earlier you can figure it out, the better. Also, you get out what you put in. The work you put in is the success you're going to see and that's how I look at a lot of things."

GS: What are your aspirations for after college ball?
Bork: "For after college baseball, obviously I dream to play professionally. But, I'm studying business and marketing entertainment right now. I also have interest in real estate, too. Getting a job and having a family."

GS: Who are you looking forward to playing against the most?
Bork: "Two of my best friends go to Duke, so I'd have to say Duke. That whole North Carolina series is going to be pretty sweet. Texas Tech is going to pretty sick. Oregon to start off the season is going to be sweet. Playing the Twins – there's a lot of really good games on that schedule. Hopefully, going to Omaha and playing some of those guys."

GS: What has it been like being a Division I student-athlete thus far?
Bork: "What you hear is definitely what you get. It's a grind balancing academics and all the athletic stuff. It's tough, but they do a really good job of making sure you have all the tools aligned. The tutoring is huge, because you get your work done for the week. But, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I couldn't imagine not playing a sport. I love it."

GS: What are your predictions for the 2020 season?
Bork: "I think we have the team to go to Omaha. We have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the country. We have a lot of young guys that can really contribute at the plate offensively. I have no doubt in my mind that we're going to win the Big Ten Championship and I have no doubt in my mind that we're going to go to a Super Regional and win that, and go to Omaha. I think every single guy on the team would say the same thing, too."

GS: Being from Georgia, why was Minnesota even on your radar?
"My cousin, Michael Handel, played here. I've always known about the program. I have family here in Minneapolis, but never really thought about coming here. I never really thought about going that far from home. Then I came here and realized, this is far from home but this feels like home. When you come here, especially the guys on this team, you instantly have 34 best friends. The difference between when I came here on a visit and a lot of other places was the instant family connection. There's not one person on this team I wouldn't do anything for, and that's just a brotherhood. That's what I wanted."

GS: Are you prepared for the legendary Minnesota winters?
Bork: [long pause followed by a series of stutters…] "This is like January in Georgia right now, so I don't think I'm prepared. From what I've heard and the questions I've been asking, it's not the actual temperature that's going to matter, it's the wind. I don't think I'm prepared, no. I think it's going to be a bad winter for me."

GS: Do you think you need to go out a pick up some new winter attire?
Bork: "Yes. There's definitely going to be some boots that are going to be acquired. A lot of under-layers. Not prepared, hoping the weather can stay like this as long as possible. It snowed two weeks ago and I had never seen snow until maybe January ever in my life. The amount of snow we got, I would have had school off for like four days."

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Players Mentioned

Kyle Bork

Drake Davis

Michael Gurka

Danny Kapala

Jordan Kozicky

Jack Liffrig

Max Meyer

Chase Stanke

Ronald Sweeny

Jack Wassel