Jacksonville Suns broadcaster Roger Hoover visits with Marlins prospect J.T. Riddle about his hot start in the 2016 Suns season.
The Jacksonville Suns are 5-3 to begin the 2016 season, helped by strong hitting from infielder J.T. Riddle.
Riddle is listed by Baseball America as the No. 22 Marlins prospect entering the 2016 season, and his seven runs batted in during his first seven games has him tied for the Southern League lead in RBI.
After he was a 2015 Florida State League Midseason All-Star, Riddle finished last season in Jacksonville, hitting .289 with five home runs and 20 RBI in his 44 games played. Riddle also spent time in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, hitting .217 with a homer and five RBI for the Mesa Solar Sox.
Riddle is a native of Frankfort, Kentucky, and the Marlins selected him in the 13th round of the 2013 draft from the University of Kentucky.
Riddle talked about his solid start to the season with me earlier this week, and the full interview can be heard here.
Hoover: We've seen you a lot at shortstop in Jacksonville but we know the Marlins also want you to get some experience at second base and third base, how's it been going back and forth between those positions this year?
Riddle: It hasn't been too bad. When I first started in Batavia in short season, I was mainly at third, playing a little bit of everywhere. A little bit at second, little bit at short. Then I got to the second half of my first full season and started playing shortstop for a year and a half. Now they're wanting me to move around a little bit and become more of a utility guy. Which I'm totally fine with, it helps me get to the next step and get to the big leagues. It's a little bit of getting used to, bouncing around a bit, but it's fine just getting used to second and third again. I've always told myself, if I can play short, I can play anywhere.
Hoover: Is it tougher making the adjustment from shortstop to second base or shortstop to third base?
Riddle: I would say short to second because the mental aspect is opposite. The game at short and third is a little bit different but not much. But when you go from short to second, your thinking of the baseball game is different. Just the mental aspect from short to second is the biggest difference. But a ground ball is a ground ball. The throw is more of the same from short and third, and a little bit shorter at second.
Hoover: During spring training did you get to work much with Marlins infield coach Perry Hill? He's one of the most respected infield coaches in all of baseball.
Riddle: I did. While I was at big league camp, I was only at shortstop. I didn't take any ground balls or do any other infield work at any other spot than short. Then they told me when I came down to minor league camp that I would be playing a little bit everywhere. So I didn't work with him anywhere but shortstop, but I was around and got to listen to him when he was talking to the second basemen. He knows so much about the infield that you would never think of. I'm 24 years old and I'm still learning. All of the things he said for the two weeks I was at big league camp really sank in and I tried to pay attention to everything he said.
Hoover: Not only getting to be around a coach like that, but the Marlins have Adeiny Hechavarria, Miguel Rojas, and Dee Gordon who all make great plays defensively, it had to be nice being around them in big league camp.
Riddle: It's guys like that who make everyone else look good, make Perry look good. And Perry Hill has made those guys so much better from where they started. Dee Gordon has said really good things about Perry Hill and Rojas is the same way. Rojas is an unbelievable infielder, and I've talked with him during big league camp and he said "listen to Hill." So every time Perry talks to me, I take it in and hopefully he's my infield coach some day.
Hoover: What did you make of your first year getting to play with the Suns, you spent all of the second half last season in Jacksonville.
Riddle: It was a big jump for me, coming from High-A to Double-A it was the biggest jump of my career in pro ball. Coming back it made it a lot more comfortable for me to start this season out here. I knew what to expect and the game's not really faster. It's the same game, and I feel like a veteran here in Jacksonville which is a good thing. We have an amazing team and hopefully we'll make a run for a championship.
Hoover: Do you feel like getting to play in the 2015 Arizona Fall League helped you as well?
Riddle: It did. I enjoyed the time out there, you're playing the best of the best everyday. Innings one through nine, the arms are all incredible. It's the best talent from every organization and it's awesome to say I went out there and played and competed with the best players.
Hoover: Over the next few weeks, what's your main focus, what are you most working on right now?
Riddle: I just want to stay consistent. That's the biggest thing from a big leaguer to a minor leaguer, is the minor leaguer isn't as consistent. So that's the biggest thing for me is staying consistent with my approach at the plate, showing up every night and playing the glove no matter if I'm at short, third, or second playing defense and making every at-bat count.
The Suns look forward to teaming up with Fish Stripes all season long to give you these Jacksonville Suns reports. You can also find more information about the Suns by visiting our official website: jaxsuns.com, blog: sunsradio.com, Facebook page, Twitter page, and by listening to The Jacksonville Suns Podcast.