Q&A With Minnesota Twins' Prospect Eli Tintor

TwinsFix.com

I am pleased to announce the first of hopefully many Question & Answer pieces here at TwinsFix. This week, we have Eli Tintor; a 23-year old outfield prospect who spent this past year with the Fort Myers Miracle.

Eli was drafted by the Twins in the 18th round of the 2003 Draft as an 18-year old, and was sent immediately to the GCL Twins. He put up a solid .266/.329/.313 there. He spent the next year with the GCL Twins, then played seven games with the Fort Myers Miracle in High A ball. 

He spent 2005 with the E-Town Twins and hit at at a .281/.327/.410 clip through 40 games.  He was then promoted to Beloit where he spent 116 games working on his .285/.320/.429 line and quadrupling his home run total. 

2007 was spent between the Fort Myers Miracle and the Beloit Snappers. This past season was spent entirely with the Miracle. In the 71 games he played he posted a line of .253/.317/.397 with twelve 2B, two 3B, six HR, and 23 RBI.

Let’s start the questions!

TwinsFix: You attended Hibbing High School in northern Minnesota, and I believe played both football and baseball. Do you have any special stories or fond memories of high school baseball or football? Anything you particularly miss?

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Eli: Well I must admit I do miss football quite a bit. I passed up my scholarship out of high school to go play baseball for the twins, and I do not regret that decision at all but at times I wish I could strap it on again and get out there.

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TwinsFix: Besides sports, what did activities did you participate in during high school? What kind of a student were you?  

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Eli: Shoot, I was always doing something for some sport. If it wasn’t setting up a batting cage in whatever type of building we could find to hit, I was always participating in other sports like wrestling a little bit, basketball a little bit, playing rink hockey and so on. I was a mediocre student you know. My senior year I was up in the 3 point area so not too shabby.

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TwinsFix: A total of five baseball players have been drafted from Hibbing High School, you and father included. None of them went to school the same time you did, but do you have any relationships with any high school buddies? 

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Eli: Oh yeah, I am still friends with all the high school guys. It’s such a small town up here so if everyone comes home it is like a big reunion so everyone knows everyone and we are all pals up here.

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TwinsFix: Your father was a catcher when he was drafted by the Twins in 1973. Was that the only reason you chose to become a catcher as well? 

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Eli: Yeah pretty much that was how I got started. When I was real young my dad just kind of threw me back there and I loved it. So it was just natural for me to be a catcher. I always catch some bullpens now if they need someone so I haven't lost it at all.

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TwinsFix: Did you have plans of going to college, or did you assume you would be drafted from high school?

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 Eli: I was already signed to go to college to play football and baseball but I was just waiting around to see what would happened in the draft. It really didn’t matter where I got drafted because I figured it if I didn't have to go to school I would take that option.

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TwinsFix: Any special memories of the draft? 

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Eli: Well to be honest I remember I was at my class closer, that’s the party at the end of the year for all the seniors to go to, and I got the call from my scout there so it was fun having all my friends there when I got the call.

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TwinsFix: After signing you were sent to Florida as a member of the GCL Twins. Did the heat have any impact on your game? 

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Eli: Not really. I mean it was hot but what can you do…just tough it out.

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TwinsFix: The next year, 2004, you were moved up to Fort Myers for seven games. That team wound up to be packed with star power. Joe Mauer, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker,Nick Blackburn, Pat Neshek, Jose Morales, Trent Oeltjen, Garrett Jones, and Jesus Merchan were all on that 2004 Miracle team. Did you develop any special relationships with them or notice that anybody had really good stuff? 

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Eli: Yeah I still know all those guys good, the ones that are still around at least. But yeah that was when I was catching so I got to catch all those pitchers you mentioned. What can I say they were all pretty dirty.

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TwinsFix: 2006 brought your first full season of baseball with the Beloit Snappers. Did the change make any difference to you? Was fatigue an issue? 

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Eli: It was fine. Just needed to be a little more mentally in shape to play the full season but it is all fun. I mean we get the chance to play baseball everyday…I wouldn't have it any other way.

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TwinsFix: Last year you spent half the season with Beloit and half the season with Fort Myers. What is it like to be promoted in the middle of a season? Did you have to work hard to get to know the pitchers and other catchers once you arrived? 

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Eli: Well I started off that season with Fort Myers then had some problems on and off the field so I went back to Beloit and I wasn’t catching, I was an outfielder at that time but no it was fine to me. If I have a jersey on my back I will be happy.

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TwinsFix: What are your plans and goals for this winter? 

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Eli: Well, I already started working out so just get a little bigger, stronger and faster. Putting up a batting cage.

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TwinsFix: Realistically, where do you hope to be at the end of 2009?

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Eli: I have always said the skies the limit so in this game you just never know…just need that one break.

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TwinsFix: Moving away from baseball, what is your favorite movie, book, and television show? 

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Eli: My favorite movie would probably be  ”Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”…book would be the Bible…and television show is probably Family Guy.

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TwinsFix: Favorite current Twins player? of all time? 

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Eli: I don’t really have any favorite players. I mean, if you are a player and take it serious you kind of have to believe you can play with all those guys so I respect everyone that plays but just not a fan of any in particular.

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TwinsFix: Favorite team besides the Twins? 

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Eli: Again, I don't really have any favorite teams either.

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TwinsFix: If you weren’t playing baseball, where do you think you would be right now? 

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Eli: I really think I would have been successful in college at football and maybe made that my career at say free safety.

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Many thanks to Eli Tintor. Good luck this upcoming season!