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Rounding the Bases with Steve Jamroziak
1/23/2020 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
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HIT & RUN
Major: majoring within Carlson School of ManagementFavorite athlete: Christian Yelich and Michael Jordan Favorite actor: Robert Downey Jr. Favorite hobby: eating Favorite book: The Da Vinci Code Favorite class at the U: Microeconomics Favorite musical artist: Eric Church Favorite TV show: Breaking Bad Favorite movie: Inception Favorite pro team: Milwaukee Brewers Favorite restaurant: Kyoto Sushi Favorite Gopher sporting event: hockey Biggest fear: heights Biggest pet peeve: driving under the speed limit Strange talent: can wiggle ears Person you'd most like to meet: Will Ferrell Something you never leave home without: phone Dream vacation spot: Hawaii Resolution for 2020: make all my 8:30 classes TEAM SUPERLATIVES
Best personality in the dugout: Drake DavisHardest-working: Chase Stanke Most competitive: Drew Stahl Most studious: Jack Liffrig Biggest prankster: Ryan Duffy Best nickname: Smell (Zack Elliott) Build the ultimate five-tool player: Max Meyer (arm), Jack Wassel (glove), Easton Bertrand (power), Jordan Kozicky (speed), Zack Raabe (contact) |
Jamroziak comes to Gold Country from Muskego, Wis., where he was a four-sport athlete at Muskego High School. As a Warrior, the standout outfielder participated in football, basketball and track & field in addition to baseball.
During his high school days, Jamroziak helped Muskego capture their first state football championship in 24 years. Still, baseball was Jamroziak's passion, as evidenced by his status as Perfect Game's No. 1 ranked outfielder in Wisconsin.
On the diamond, Jamroziak received All-Conference honors as a member of the Warriors. In his final year of travel ball for the Rawlings Hitters, Jamroziak posted a .395 average with 45 hits, six doubles, four triples, 26 RBI and 29 runs. Over the course of three summers with the Hitters, the cheesehead-turned-Gopher swiped an incredible 48 bags.
GopherSports.com: Why did you choose to attend the University of Minnesota?
Jamroziak: "It's actually kind of a funny story. We get emails from a bunch of colleges about camps. I woke up one morning – it's like six in the morning and I randomly wake up. I see an email from [assistant coach Patrick Casey]. It's an invitation to a camp. I replied back and said I was interested and would love to talk more, then sent it and fell back asleep. I woke up later and we started having a conversation, and he asked if I could come down for a visit. It just felt like home right away. I went to a couple camps before, but right after my first visit I knew this was the place I wanted to be."
GS: Being from Wisconsin, how does it feel to don the Maroon & Gold?
Jamroziak: "Both my parents went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I grew up a Badger fan. There were really no ties to Minnesota. I was skeptical at first, but then I came and realized this is an amazing place."
GS: What colors were you wearing when the Gophers and Badgers squared off on the gridiron this past season?
Jamroziak: "I was wearing all my Gopher stuff. I was over at my friend's house and I had all my Minnesota stuff on: pants, shirt and even my baseball hat. I was on the Gophers' side, but they were all pushing my buttons a bit throughout."
GS: When did you start playing baseball and when did you set your sights on playing collegiately?
Jamroziak: "I started playing when I was six or seven. That's when my parents put a bat in my hand. They could tell I enjoyed it. I think the first time I realized I was decent and genuinely enjoyed it was when I was 13. I was just playing town ball and I had a couple friends playing travel baseball. I realized it was a lot more competitive and better baseball, so I tried it out. They started talking about college and that was always a dream of mine. It had been in the back of my head, but I realized I could make it a reality."
GS: What would you say is your biggest strength and what is one possible area of improvement?
Jamroziak: "My biggest strength is my short memory. I try to remember the good stuff and forget the bad stuff. The biggest thing I want to work on with coaches is just the mentality, being prepared for games and my confidence. Being able to not get too high, not get too low."
GS: What was your first Division I performance training experience like?
Jamroziak: "It was definitely tough. I was hearing a bunch of noise about how college lifts are and how they're no joke, but I'm enjoying it. I love lifting. It's actually something I'm passionate about and enjoy."
GS: What is your favorite part of being a Gopher so far?
Jamroziak: "Just the overall atmosphere. The camaraderie in the locker room, it's such a good time. The guys are so supportive. And then having [Athletes Village] right here. It's super nice to have, to be able to go every day and have team dinners, team lunches and stuff like that. Having the team around is probably my favorite part."
GS: Do you have any game day rituals or superstitions?
Jamroziak: "I always like to wear the same belt. Even back to elementary school baseball, I would always wear the same belt. I think I still wore it a couple times in high school. Plain, black belt. I got a new one this year, since we have maroon belts. But, it's kind of just how I'm feeling. I wouldn't say I'm really superstitious, but however I feel that day, that's how I go with it."
GS: What is the most memorable moment from your baseball career?
Jamroziak: "When I was nine, we were in a tournament in Jacksonville. It was the championship game. We were down eight runs with two outs. We ended up going through the lineup a couple times and the tying run was on third and I was 0-2 in the count. I laced a triple to the left-center gap. I just remember sliding into third and then stealing home after to win the game. That was probably my most memorable moment. That was a lot of fun."
GS: As a four-sport athlete (baseball, football, cross country, basketball) in high school, what is your most memorable sports moment overall?
Jamroziak: "Winning a state championship in football. That feeling. The clock hitting zero. That was really exciting and a really cool experience. That would have been the 2018 state championship."
GS: Out of the other three sports you played in high school, which would you have the best shot of walking on at Minnesota?
Jamroziak: "Probably football. Basketball, I haven't played as much. Cross country, I kind of lost sight of that after my freshman year. I found out running wasn't really my thing, so I'd say football."
GS: Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?
Jamroziak: "My dad or my grandpa. My dad made my swing, my game. He knows how I play and every aspect. My grandpa, he enjoys watching me play. He enjoys supporting me. It's nice hearing how proud both of them are of how far I've gotten. I wouldn't be able to be here without either of them."
GS: What are your goals for the upcoming 2020 season?
Jamroziak: "For the team to win a Big Ten Championship and essentially make it to Omaha. It's a big goal, but I think that this year we have a really good shot at doing it. It's really nice to see the whole team come together. We look like an Omaha contender right now."
GS: Where do you see your role on this team come February?
Jamroziak: "I'm looking to help contribute any way I can. I'm not really looking for personal goals. I'm just trying to help the team make it as far as we can. Hopefully, we can get [head coach John Anderson] his first trip to Omaha. That would be pretty cool to see."
GS: Do you have any advice for aspiring young athletes?
Jamroziak: "I know I had confidence problems when I was younger. Keeping that level of confidence and remembering that you're the athlete that you are. Pursue your dreams."
GS: What are your aspirations for after college ball?
Jamroziak: "I want to be playing baseball further after college. If it doesn't work out, that's one of [Anderson's] big things, preparing us for the next 50 years of our lives. I want to be able to stay in sports, whether it's management, business, or something like that."
GS: Who are you looking forward to playing against the most?
Jamroziak: "I'm really looking forward to playing Illinois, to be honest. I have a couple buddies on that team that I'm looking forward to seeing. I really want to sweep them. They're a good program. I would love to go into Champaign and get a sweep."
GS: What has it been like being a Division-I student-athlete so far?
Jamroziak: "I've always been kind of terrible at time management. It's forced me to be somewhat decent at it. I've noticed that it's all about time management and knowing what you have and when you have it. Staying on top of your work. I feel like an adult right now, which is weird to say. It's a good feeling, overall. Knowing the work you put in to get here."
GS: In your short time here, what impact has Anderson and his staff had on you?
Jamroziak: "All of them have done a phenomenal job. Even [pitching coach Ty McDevitt], some of the stuff he's said. [Casey] is the smartest hitting coach I've ever had in my life. Just the way he talks and his passion about us as athletes is different than what I've seen. [Assistant coach Brandon Hunt] has done a phenomenal job also. I've learned more in six months here than I have all of high school, being fully honest. [Anderson] picks at us about the mental aspects, preparing us to become good, young men. It's really nice to have the system that we have."
GS: What is a bold prediction for the 2020 season?
Jamroziak: "I think [J.P. Massey] is going to hit 99 mph this year once he gets on the mound. He's been hitting 97, 98 here and there. I think he could even touch triple digits. That's my prediction."
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