Blue Jays' Arjun Nimmala speaks on move to Vancouver, Toronto, favorite players, cricket and more
Photo credit: https://www.cbc.ca
Fansided's Josh Elijah Nitsopoulos recently sat down with Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Arjun Nimmala in Vancouver BC for a one on one interview about his dad's background in cricket, his move to Canada and his experience thus far with the organization.
Talk to us about the transition and impact of having your dad play professional cricket, and how that translated to playing professional baseball.
I mean, my parents immigrated here (the United States) in 2002 from India. My dad played a little bit of cricket, so he had some bat-to-ball skills. But I think in the States, cricket isn't as popular as baseball. He saw baseball and was like, «This is kind of similar.» And he said, «Let's give it a try.» And from then on, I just put everything I had into baseball. And it's worked out pretty well so far.
So moving to Tampa, St. Pete's-you've got the Blue Jays right in your backyard in Dunedin. Did you go to a lot of Blue Jays games growing up, or were you more of a Tampa Bay Rays fan?
I never went to spring training games. I actually never went to a Blue Jays game-other than after the draft, when I got to go to Toronto. But yeah, I used to go to either Miami Marlins games or Rays games-mostly Rays games, though.
Did you idolize any players growing up that really got you into the sport?
I loved watching the Marlins because Giancarlo Stanton was my favorite player, especially in 2017 when he was hitting big-time. He hit 59 homers, won the MVP-that was huge. He was the guy. But another guy I've always loved is Francisco Lindor. He never played for either of those teams, but I've just always followed his journey.
You've been able to train with Francisco Lindor as well. What kind of impact has he had on your game?
Huge impact. He's great for morale. He supports me, tells me what to expect at each level, and he's there for me whenever I need him. Just having him around in the off-seasons to train with-it's been super impactful.
Being the first player of Indian descent to be drafted in the first round-that's got to have a huge impact. What does that mean to you, and to the fans? Talk to us about the grind it took to get there.
It means a lot. For my whole life, it's always just been about being the best player I could be on the baseball field. I've always wanted to compete and be the best. When the draft came around, I was lucky enough to be selected by the Blue Jays, and I was like, «Wow, this is a huge accomplishment.» I'm just gonna cherish it.
Let's talk about Vancouver. Now that you're here, what are your first impressions of Nat Bailey, the city and the fans. It must be a big change from growing up in Tampa?
I think it's sick. I'd always heard great things about Vancouver-the fans, the field, the city, the view, and it's all true. I've loved every bit of it. I think the coolest part for me is when the Canadian anthem plays and everyone sings along. It's super sick. Everything's lived up to the hype.
Have you had a chance to explore the city?
Yeah, I've been to a few places. Went to Stanley Park with some family friends, went to the aquarium, which is right there. I also went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Been downtown a little bit, not everywhere, but I've checked out a few spots, yeah.
Any favorite foods or go-to spots here in the city?
Yeah, I think for me and the boys, Cactus Club is a go-to. Actually I was there yesterday, it's pretty good.
There you go! Classic! Now what about Toronto? You've had a chance to meet the team. Any impressions of the city and the organization?
After I got drafted, I got to go to Toronto for a couple of days, that was pretty sick. Got to meet some of the guys-Bo, Vladdy. But most of the interaction comes during spring training. That's when I really got to spend time with the big-league squad and get to know them. Just learning as much as I can from them-so that I'm ready when I join them up there.
Talk about the interactions you've had with Vladdy. What kind of leader have you found him to be?
He's huge for team morale. He's a great guy-you can see him cracking jokes, being funny. That helps the team stay loose. He's a great teammate and a great leader. And I think it's really important to learn from a guy like that. He's one of the best in the game, doing it at the highest level. So anything you can learn from him, both physically and mentally, is just huge.
What's your message for Vancouver Canadians fans and Toronto Blue Jays fans who are following your journey? What can they expect?
They can expect a guy who's working hard, who's going to compete for the team and try to get wins. We're all going to grow together and keep getting better as a team. We're going to keep competing, and I'll do my part to make sure that happens.
Do you think that Arjun Nimmala has the potential to be a superstar in MLB one day?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
Source: Jays Journal
1-on-1 interview with Blue Jays' top prospect Arjun Nimmala
1-on-1 interview with Blue Jays' top prospect Arjun Nimmala
| POLL | ||
JUIN 14 | 123 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Arjun Nimmala speaks on move to Vancouver, Toronto, favorite players, cricket and more Do you think that Arjun Nimmala has the potential to be a superstar in MLB one day? | ||
| Yes | 97 | 78.9 % |
| No | 26 | 21.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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