Interview With Former Blue Jays Reliever Bobby Korecky

Bobby Korecky has bounced around from team to team. However he may have finally found a home in Buffalo pitching in AAA for the Blue Jays affiliate. Korecky has now been part of the Jays organization since 2011. Korecky has had a few brief stints in Toronto, only recording 4.1 innings with the big league team. Those coming in three games, with one in 2012 and two in 2014. Korecky has now pitched in 26 games with the Bisons this season with a 4.30 ERA.

Interview

Cole: You bounced back between the Majors and the Minors for a while. Is that hard on you at all?

Bobby: The travel and uncertainty is never easy, but I would do it for a lifetime if they asked me to. It is quite a privilege to get the chance to go to the Major League's and it is not something I take for granted.

CS: You made your major league debut in 2008 with the Minnesota Twins. What was that like?

BK: My debut was amazing. I had spent three years in Rochester (AAA team for Minnesota) and played with a great group of guys. Mostly the same guys for those three years and when they made the announcement, it was in front of the whole team. I was very humbled, it was very exciting to tell my wife and parents.

CS: What is the biggest difference between the Majors and Minors?

BK: Consistency. 100%, you have to be on your best game at all times.

CS: Being drafted in the 19th round did you have any doubts you weren't going to make it to the MLB?

BK: I wasn't sure I would even get drafted at all. When I did I just made sure nobody would out work me and whatever happened on the field I could accept it.

CS: You were a part of Toronto when the Blue Jays made the blockbuster trades. What was the clubhouse like that year when the team began to struggle?

BK: The best part of playing baseball is being around the guys in the clubhouse. It is a very tight-knit group of guys that we treat as family. You go through the hard times as well as the good times together so as it was difficult to lose, you just trust the guys around you will help turn it around.

CS: Who was the leader on the Jays when you were a part of the team?

BK: Being a pitcher I was around those guys the most and Casey Janssen was someone I saw as a leader. I didn't spend an extended amount of time there, but being a closer in Minor Leagues it was nice to see how he went about his business.

CS: With a new regime taking over in Shapiro and Atkins what was Anthopoulos and Gibbons like?

BK: Alex and Gibby always treated me with respect. They were honest with me and and it was a blast playing for Gibbons. He is a players coach, he lets you go about your business as a professional and expects you to produce for him and the team.

CS: What is the biggest difference between Beeston/Anthopoulos and Shapiro/Atkins?

BK: I was with the older regime for 5 years and have only spent this season with the new group so I don't know them as well. Both groups respect the game and I hope to get to know the new group better.

CS: Finally, what is the hardest part of being an MLB reliever.

BK: The uncertainty, that is the hardest part. You have so many chances for something to go wrong and have to be focused every single night. There is not time to rest on any success you may be having because rarely are you not available to play.