Nick Solak Looking to Build Off 2019 Debut
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00:00 >> On your rookie year with the Rangers, what goes through your mind?
00:05 >> I think looking back on it, it's always gonna be a whirlwind,
00:09 everything that happened and how fast it happened.
00:13 But it was a dream come true being able to make my major league debut and
00:19 then come up and play well and going out there and trying to help the team win.
00:25 And it's something that looking to build off of.
00:29 >> Look at it, you were called up August 20th, and
00:31 then you're gonna be honored here as the rookie of the year.
00:34 It's pretty impressive that you were able to pull that off.
00:36 >> Yeah, it was a good stretch when I got called up.
00:39 And ever since the trade, even in AAA, kinda was locked in and
00:43 in a good spot and rode that out through the end of the year.
00:47 So it's an honor to be recognized here tonight, and yeah.
00:53 >> We always looked at you,
00:54 you never seemed like you were overwhelmed by anything when you were called up.
00:58 >> Yeah, I just try to go out there and do what I always do.
01:04 And I think that helped keep me at a pretty even level,
01:10 where I could just go out there and compete.
01:15 >> I've heard that you've been working really hard at third base.
01:18 You're a guy that obviously can play multiple positions.
01:20 Do you feel that that's your advantage, to make yourself valuable like that?
01:25 >> For sure, I think to have the ability to play multiple positions and
01:30 bounce around, makes the manager's job easier to make a lineup.
01:35 Gives you more options to do different things and have that flexibility.
01:41 So to be able to play multiple positions and
01:45 help the team win it in different positions is valuable.
01:50 >> No young man grows up wanting to be a utility player.
01:54 What is your best hope for spring training?
01:57 >> To go out there and compete.
02:01 I think it's a role that I've embraced.
02:08 It's become fun carrying all the different gloves in the bag, just to have them.
02:14 And have them all ready to go, whichever one I need that particular day.
02:21 Sometimes maybe multiple in the same day.
02:23 But just to be able to continue to get better each and
02:28 every day at those positions to ultimately help a lineup win games.
02:36 >> Nick, what is your, have you been able to do any prep for center field?
02:41 >> I've done some drills in the outfield.
02:46 I've taken some fly balls this offseason, different from offseasons past.
02:51 But I think that just to be able to get some fly balls and
02:59 run around a little bit is as much work as I can get.
03:05 I think that, and from playing the outfield the last couple years,
03:09 being able to read balls off the bat, of course, when we get to spring training.
03:14 And then get game reps, I think that those are all the best way to prepare.
03:20 But I've been doing things that have gotten me prepared for that.
03:25 >> And you hadn't taken, even though you played some outfield last season,
03:29 you never took fly balls in the outfield.
03:31 It wasn't part of your offseason planning.
03:34 >> That's correct, yeah, I think this offseason was just a little different.
03:39 I think I approached it differently.
03:41 My plan was different going into it.
03:43 Knowing that I needed to work at third, I needed to work in the outfield.
03:48 In addition to the work that I always have done at second.
03:53 >> What do you think of the new ballpark and
03:56 the left field being a little bit closer for you?
03:58 >> Yeah, I've been over there a couple times.
04:01 One in December and then one time this past week during our mini camp.
04:07 It's awesome to walk in there and
04:11 just see the progress that they've made.
04:14 It's really exciting, it looks awesome.
04:16 And with left field being a little bit closer,
04:22 I like wearing out the right field side especially.
04:26 But if it helps in left too, then maybe some of those fly balls carry out.
04:31 >> You had a taste of playing in the hot Texas heat.
04:34 So how do you feel now about having the home games in a climate controlled stadium?
04:37 >> Yeah, it's nice.
04:41 I got called up in August and it was hot.
04:43 And I'm not even sure how hot it gets in June and July, even hotter.
04:47 And some of those day games and games are pretty hot and
04:53 you're approaching differently, you really have to hydrate, take care of yourself going into it.
04:58 I think being in a climate controlled environment,
05:01 you have some advantages where you're not sweating as much.
05:08 You're not losing as much fluid, so I think it'll help.
05:13 >> You spent all this time working other positions and
05:16 it's important for you to show versatility.
05:18 But your route to this team is still gonna be based on hitting your way out of the roster.
05:23 Is that the way you feel?
05:24 >> I think a combination.
05:27 And I think
05:35 even approaching this off season working differently defensively,
05:39 I've also approached it a little bit different offensively knowing what I
05:43 struggled with last year when I did struggle and what pitchers were gonna do to me.
05:50 Coming down the stretch, I think that of course the bat's important,
05:55 the gloves is important too, and the base running is important.
05:58 I think it all comes together to be a complete player.
06:03 And a winning player that can help the team win a lot of ball games.
06:06 >> Have you seen the surprise campus?
06:10 >> What's that?
06:11 >> The surprise.
06:12 >> No, I haven't been to surprise.
06:13 It'll be my first Arizona spring training.
06:17 As a kid, my family and I, we vacationed to Arizona for spring training.
06:22 But we were White Sox fans, so we were in Tucson Electric going way back,
06:28 and then one year in Glendale.
06:29 So yeah, I'll be a couple weeks in surprise, and
06:34 that'll be the first time I've seen it.
06:35 I'm excited to see the complex.