The Man Who Found His Own Way- Sitting Down with Mike Adams
After recently signing a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization, I had the opportunity to interview South Jersey native Mike Adams. We discussed his journey to minor league baseball and landing a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Adams, a 26 year old, is finally getting his opportunity in professional baseball. After starting in 34 games in Division I at Wagner College, Adams put up a 6.49 ERA with just 11 wins to 34 losses. With these statistics alone, it’s clear that he struggled to advance past the NCAA level. Adams switched course and joined the Atlantic County Baseball League.
In college, Adams’s fastball ranged from 88 MPH to his max at 94. However, he’s now consistently throwing his fastball more than 96 MPH and has even hit 98 MPH. Along with working on his off-speed pitches, Adams finally made his own career his main priority. After leaving it on his tail for years, it was his time to shine.
After working from 9am to 6pm everyday at the South Jersey Baseball Performance Center, all 30 MLB teams sent scouts to watch him throw. Longtime friend Ed Charlton says while watching Adams put on a clinic- “he’s showing off right now”.
Adams grew up a Phillies fan is entire life and stated that he “accidentally trained himself into throwing 98 MPH”. Adams says he’s prepared to play under harsh conditions and expectations. “It doesn’t always have to be rainbows and sunshine for me to be prepared, that’s what I was built on”
Throwing out names Phillies fans are certain to remember, Adams is quoted to saying “I’m more of the Roy Oswalt type, smaller bodied like Sonny Gray and Marcus Stroman”. Some more than fit comparisons for the 5’11” flamethrower.
A name to keep an eye on in the coming months, Philly found their own diamond in the rough to replicate the city’s mentality better than anybody else.
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Mandatory Credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer
