Blue Jays: One-on-one with prospect T.J. Zeuch- Part 2

This is a continuation of an exclusive interview with Blue Jays pitching prospect T.J. Zeuch, who most recently was an integral part of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ rise to the top of the Eastern League. The first part of the interview can be found here.

Hayden Godfrey: You represent something huge for this organization. You are part of a young group of pitchers that really make fans excited about the future. How does that feel, knowing that you’re a name that fans look forward to seeing?

T.J. Zeuch: It feels great. I think it’s a credit to the work I’m putting in. Obviously, I have a long way to go, I believe, I’ve had a lot of people help me get to where I am at this point and who will continue to help me to improve and continue and progress in my career. I’m just hoping that once I get to Toronto, I can deliver on all the excitement.

HG: A lot of minor league teams are dominated by the sense of promotion and progress. A lot of guys compete for positions on the team higher than theirs, eventually leading up to the majors. Although the major leagues are undoubtedly your goal, how do you maintain a sense of excitement and passion for your current minor league team?

TZ: To me, it’s all about winning. I always want to win, I want to be part of a winning culture. I’ve been lucky enough, the past few years, to be a part of that. Last year, we were champions of the Florida State League, we created a winning culture down there. A lot of the guys who were on that time are on this team, New Hampshire, now.* I think it just carries over – it’s very easy to be excited about your minor league team and minor league baseball when you’re winning all the time.

* Note: The New Hampshire Fisher Cats won the Eastern League Championship this season, with T.J. Zeuch serving as an integral cog in the starting rotation. When T.J. spoke to Jays Journal, however, the team was in the process of traveling to Akron to play the RubberDucks in the Eastern League final, hence the occasional reference to the current Eastern League playoffs.

HG: Your first pro seasons were excellent but this year was the best for you – a 3.17 ERA, 105 strikeouts in 156 innings, a great WHIP. What was the biggest change in your game this year?

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TZ: I think the biggest change was availability. Finding a routine that works for me to keep me feeling good, working with our strength and conditioning and training staff, especially here in New Hampshire, they’ve done a tremendous job of [supporting] me and helping me with everything I need, so every fifth day when I go out there, I’m feeling my best.

HG: Is there any player, specifically a pitcher, on the Blue Jays right now that you look up to or admire?

TZ: I would say, Aaron Sanchez. I was fortunate enough to meet him and talk to him a little bit while he was down here doing his rehab. He was just an incredible guy. We’re both sinkerball pitchers and both bigger pitchers in terms of size, so I think it’s definitely going to be helpful to learn from him and see how he goes about it.

HG: You are certainly a name that Blue Jays fans have heard, but maybe not one that they’ve gotten to know personally. What is one thing that Blue Jays fans should know about T.J. Zeuch?

TZ: There’s not a whole lot that’s super exciting about me, I’m a pretty quiet guy. I’m kind of a “what you see is what you get” guy. I guess the one big thing is just because I look angry doesn’t mean I am. If you want to come up and talk to me and say hi, I’m always open to it. I guess people say that I look angry when I’m just walking around, but I’m really not – that’s a promise!

HG: Finally, what is your goal for Spring Training next season? Are you thinking in terms of a promotion? Are you thinking in terms of getting certain numbers in certain places? Where do you want to be when the winter comes in Dunedin?

TZ: I think a big thing for me is to try and get to big league camp. I’m going to try and get there and see what the plan is for me and see if they have anything in mind they’d like me to improve on. I’m gonna try and get to big league camp and do what I can there, pitch as well as I can there and hopefully start in Buffalo next year.

Jays Journal would like to thank T.J. Zeuch and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats for their time and cooperation. The team wishes T.J. the best of luck in his future career with the Blue Jays. You can follow T.J. Zeuch on Twitter at @TJZeuch.