Entering 2011, not many outside of the Phillies’ organization knew the name Trevor May. He was an unknown; just a 21 year old budding star quietly going about his business for the Clearwater Threshers down in the Florida State League. However, it took May just a single season to rise to prominence within the Phillies organization, and now, the young right hander is the top minor league pitcher within that system.
I had the chance to speak with the young righty recent and learn more about him. (interview transcript after story).
I had the chance to speak with the young righty recent and learn more about him. (interview transcript after story).
For those of you who still don’t know much about him, here is a look at the Phillies 2011 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Trevor May.
May grew up in Kelso, Washington, a small town north of Portland. He began his baseball career at the young age of 5 and has been playing ever since. His illustrious pitching career took shape about 2 years later. “I wanted to pitch because I want to throw the ball hard every chance I got” May explains. “Pitching was a perfect opportunity.” He continued to pitch his way through high school idolizing such legends as Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Bob Gibson.
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| Trevor May is quickly becoming a household name within the Phillies' organization (Photo: Reclinergm) |
May was immediately sent to Low-A ball in Lakewood and struck out an impressive 95 hitters in just 77 innings of work. These numbers earned him a promotion to play for Clearwater in the Florida State League for 2010. His numbers were shaky in that first stint with the Threshers causing the righty to be sent back down. He returned to Lakewood, reworked himself, and was sent back to the FSL league again. He opened the 2011 season in the starting rotation for the Threshers.
Unlike 2010, the 2011 season contained very little struggles for May. The right-hander posted 10 wins to go along with a 3.63 ERA and 2 shutouts. However, his most impressive total was his 208 strikeouts. He struck out an incredible 12.4 batters per 9 innings bringing his average to 11.9 K/9 for his minor league career; a career that is developing at an incredibly high pace.
Even though it has just been just a few seasons, May admits he has matured a lot as a pitcher. “I’ve gained confidence in myself as a pitcher and smoothed out a lot of mechanical issues I had before I signed. For me it has always been simplifying that needed to be done, and thus fare I feel like I am on the right track.”
A change, he explains, that would not have been possible without help from the Phillies organization as well as his own personal initiative. “All of my pitching coaches and coordinators have put me on the path of success. I have also taken it upon myself to identify things I need to improve and work every day to do just that.”
Although he confesses there is always room for more improvement. “I still walk to many and that number needs to drop. Also consistency, I have stretches when I lose a little focus, and I’m working on it every day.”
During the 2011 season, the Phillies organization saw a pair of their minor league clubs (AA: Reading and AAA: Lehigh Valley) as well as their major league ball club qualify for the postseason. So, does pitching for such a successful franchise add any extra pressure? May doesn’t think so “I feel like there are always are opportunities” he says. “You just need to be ready when they come along.”
In fact, May relishes the idea of pitching here. “Everyone knows how successful the big league team is. Something that goes unnoticed is the elite job of the minor leagues to produce players. We have hands down one of the best, if not the best organization in the minors. At every level we produce winning teams and I would rather not be with any other organization.”
An organization that is quickly noticing how good this young man can be.
When the Phillies gave him the 2011 Paul Owens Award for the top pitcher within the organization, they added May's name to a long, historical list. His name now sits with up and coming stars J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek, former major league standouts Ricky Bottalico and Andy Ashby, and current Phillies pitchers Ryan Madson and Cole Hamels on the long list of recipients.
So what sets him apart from the other talented arms in the Phillies system? “First off, I feel like there are multiple guys in the organization that could have received the award, even on my team in Clearwater. He admits humbly. However, if he had to pick one thing, it would be “my ability to miss bats and get strike outs”. Strikeouts were one edge that May had on most of the minor leagues this past season. His 208 total strikeouts ranked him 3rd overall throughout the entire minor league system in 2011.
As for what helps him strike out so many hitters - May admits to have a simple, 5 pitch repertoire consisting of a 2 and 4 seam fastball, a knuckle curve, a circle changeup, and a slider. An arsenal that he hopes will get him to the major leagues one day soon.
If May had chosen to continue his schooling, he would be entering his senior year for the Huskies this fall and would undoubtedly be a prime draft target for many teams. Instead, he chose the life of a minor league ballplayer; a lifestyle that, May explains, has its positives and negatives aspects.
“The best thing about playing in the minor leagues is the people you meet. Over the course of several years I’ve made a lot of friends that I will keep for the rest of my life. The worst thing would have to be the constant travel and penny pinching.”
May passes what spare time he has by teaching others the game he loves through coaching and pitching lessons. To younger ball players, he shares some of his personal advice, “put in the extra work and give it 100% everyday. Expect the best out of yourself.”
As for non-baseball activities, May admits he is a fan of DJing and has lesser known skills at handling a yo-yo.
Despite all this, May still holds true to the most basic, yet best advice he was even given, “keep it simple.”
A simplicity that has turned the Washington native into one of the most prized arms in the Phillies’ system and very possibly, could land him one day on baseball’s biggest stage.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Trevor May for agreeing to do this interview and I wish him the best of the luck in the future.
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Full Interview Transcript:
JS: There are probably a lot of Phillies fans that do not know much about you. Could you provide a little background on yourself? How did you get to where you are now?
TM I’m originally from a small town of about 12,000 named Kelso, Washington; located about 30 miles north or Portland Oregon. I began baseball at the age of 5 years old, and played through the fall every year. I was my high school valedictorian and was committed to the University of Washington on a full ride to play baseball. Even though I was going to UW, my childhood dream was to play at Stanford.
JS: What made you decided to become a pitcher and when did you start?
TM: I began pitching at the age of 7, I wanted to pitch because I want to throw the ball hard every chance I got. Pitching was a perfect opportunity.
JS: Is there any particular pitcher(s) that you idolize?
TM: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Bob Gibson
JS: What is the best thing about playing in the minor leagues? The worst?
TM: The best thing about playing in the minor leagues is the people you meet. Over the course of several years I’ve made a lot of friends that I will keep for the rest of my life. The worst thing would have to be the constant travel and penny pinching, but as they say, you got to pay your dues.
JS: How have you liked your time with this organization thus far?
TM: Everyone knows how successful the big league team is. Something that goes unnoticed is the elite job of the minor leagues to produce players. We have hands down one of the best, if not the best organization in the minors. At every level we produce winning teams and I would rather not be with any other Org.
JS: How have you grown as a pitcher since you entered the Phillies organization?
TM: I’ve gained confidence in myself as a pitcher and smoothed out a lot of mechanical issues I had before I signed. For me it has always been simplifying that needed to be done, and thus fare I feel like I am on the right track.
JS: What or who do you feel has helped you in this growth?
TM: All of my pitching coaches and coordinators have put me on the path of success. I have also taken it upon myself to identify things I need to improve and work every day to do just that.
JS: Does pitching in an organization, such as Philadelphia, that has had success over the past several seasons at the major league level add any pressure to you as a young pitcher trying to make it to the big leagues?
TM: Not at all, I feel like there are always are opportunities, you just need to be ready when they come along.
JS: As the Phillies 2011 Minor League pitcher of the year, you were deemed, the top pitcher in the organization. What do you feel you have that sets you above others in the organization?
TM: First off, I feel like there are multiple guys in the organization that could have received the award, even on my team in Clearwater. If I had to pick something that sets me apart it is my ability to miss bats and get strike outs.
JS: For those of you that haven’t seen you pitch, can you share your pitching repertoire?
TM: I throw a 4 and 2 seam fastball, 12-6 knuckle curve, circle change, and a slider.
JS: Is there any part of your game that you hope to improve on? If yes, what?
TM: Command. I still walk to many and that number needs to drop. Also consistency, I have stretches when I lose a little focus, and I’m working on it every day.
JS: What minor league team was the toughest to pitch against?
TM: For some reason the Lakeland tigers caught me on off days.
JS: What is your best advice to a high school ballplayer?
TM: Put in the extra work and give it 100% everyday. And expect the best out of yourself.
JS: What was the best advice you were ever given?
TM: Keep it simple.
JS: What is something nobody knows about you?
TM: I am very good at the yo-yo.
JS: What do you do in your free time when you’re not playing baseball?
TM: I go to school, coach, and give pitching lessons. I also enjoy DJing a little.