Q&A With Minnesota Twins Prospect Carlos Gutierrez

Andrew KneelandNov 4, 2008

Carlos Gutierrez went to college at the University of Miami (FL) where he was a key element in the Hurricane's run to the College World Series in 2008. He began his career as a starting pitcher but was forced into a relief role after Tommy John surgery.

Gutierrez was the player the Twins selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. At 21 years old he was sent to the Fort Myers Miracle, where he put up a 3-1, 2.10 ERA, 19 SO, 7 BB line through 16 games and 25.7 innings.

While he spent 2008 in the Miracle bullpen all indications are that Gutierrez will spend next year attempting to become a starter again.

I had the opportunity to ask Carlos a few questions the other day, which help reveal some of his background and give you a further idea of who this guy really is. Here they are:

Twins Fix: You went to Chistopher Columbus High School. What did you do there besides baseball and schoolwork?

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Carlos Gutierrez: At Columbus, besides baseball and schoolwork, I also played basketball for 4 years.

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TF: What was it like growing up in Miami? Can you describe the baseball there? How competitive was it, was it very popular, etc.?

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CG: Miami was a great place growing up playing baseball mainly because it is so popular. Also we play year round so we get to know a lot of people here and eventually play against each other throughout high school and even college.

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TF: When was the first time you were approached by scouts? What did you think?

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CG: The first time I was approached by scouts was probably my junior year at Miami. I didn't really think much of it, it was exciting but at the same time we had a good amount of guys get approached as well it just felt like I was a part of something nice.
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TF: What was it like having your brother pitch on the same high school and college team that you were on? Were there rivalries of any kind?

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CG: Having my brother on the same team as me is really fun. We thought it was fun, my parents on the other hand hated it at times. They would get nervous whenever one of us was in to pitch and there were games where we would come in one after another. So it was a good time.
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TF: Why did you choose to go to college, and were there any other reasons that made you select the University of Miami besides your growing up there?

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CG: I decided to go to college because really I had no other choice. Coming out of high school I wasn't really looked at very hard so I had my mind set on going to school from the very beginning. As for choosing Miami, I always went to the games with my brother and my dad when I was younger so it just seemed right.
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TF: What was it like pitching in the 2008 College World Series? Any special memories stick out?

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CG: Pitching in the World Series was a great time. We had a great team and had a great season but came up just a little short in the end. The crowds in Omaha are fantastic, it really is something to play in front of a crowd like that.
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TF: Do you think your brother, David Gutierrez, will have any success outside of the University of Miami?

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CG: My brother is still at Miami and is going to be one of the key guys on that pitching staff. I definitely think he has a chance to do something outside of Miami. Hes been working really hard in the weight room to put some weight on and hopefully it pays off for him.
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TF: You had Tommy John surgery in 2007 and were redshirted as a junior at the University of Miami. Did this affect you and your thoughts about professional baseball?

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CG: Having Tommy John my junior season was a setback no doubt but it was something that needed to be done. Dr. Uribe did a great job with the surgery and it feels great. I joke with friends that everyone should have this surgery because it feels so good.
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TF: What was going through your head when you were drafted by the Twins? What were your opinions of the organization at the time? Would you have rather been selected by someone else?

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CG: When I got picked on draft day I was just overwhelmed with everything and happy my name got called. It was one of the best days in my life. I had heard the Twins liked me a lot and was happy that they chose to pick me in the end. They did their part and now I feel it's time for me to do mine.
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TF: What was it like being sent to Fort Myers immediately after your college career ended?

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CG: Being sent to Ft. Myers after my college season was nice. I got to start my professional baseball career only 2 hours away from my house. My family got to drive up a few times to check me so I couldn't have asked for a better situation.
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TF: Many people consider you a closer or late reliever. You were stuck in the closer role in Miami because of your Tommy John surgery, but would you want to pitch as a starter for the Twins?

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CG: Being put in at the end of the game or to start the game really dosn't make a difference to me. I did both in my college career and I thought my arm handled it fine. Pitching is pitching no matter what part of the game your name is called. Either way I am going to go out and have fun.
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TF: How do you feel about your 2008 campaign as a whole with the Fort Myers Miracle?

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CG: My season at Fort Myers went okay, I got my first taste of professional baseball and it was a lot of fun. That being said there is still plenty of room for improvement.
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TF: How comfortable are you with the pitches you currently have? Your University of Miami bio says you have mastered three pitches; I would assume the fastball, curve, and sinker? Do you feel as if you need to work on those more or are they ready for major league bats?

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CG: I am comfortable with the pitches I currently have but was working on varying speeds and messing with a couple of other pitches all through instructs. Its all a matter of getting a feel for a pitch and showing it to the hitters just so they know in the back of there mind that I have that pitch. I was working with Rick Knapp and Rass [pitching coach Eric Rasmussen] picking their mind as much as possible all through instructs.
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TF: What are your plans for the offseason?