Sunday Sit-down with Battle alum Tyler Putnam ahead of MLB Draft

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones caught up with former Battle pitcher Tyler Putnam, ahead of the MLB Draft, in this week's edition of Sunday Sit-Down.

You can watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones' full chat with Putnam on ABC 17 SportsZone at 10:30 on KMIZ.

You can also find a full transcript of the interview below.

Nathalie Jones: "Welcome back everyone. It is Sunday Sit-down time and we have a very special guest joining us for this week's edition, Tyler Putnam of Battle High School. Tyler, how's your summer been? I know it's been a little crazy these past few weeks."

Tyler Putnam: "Yeah, it's been a little chaotic for sure. But, you know, I've had some time to kind of sit back and enjoy recently, since I got back from the [MLB Combine]. That was kind of like the main event that I had circled on my calendar this summer and so I spent a week down in Phoenix and, you know, did some baseball stuff, but also some non-baseball stuff. [There was] a lot of interviews, a lot of medical stuff, just kind of preparing myself and the teams that might have the chance to select me for the upcoming Draft. So, you know, it's been a busy couple of weeks, but I kinda have some time to, you know, gather myself and really start thinking about these next couple of steps for me."

Jones: "Right, well, Tyler is a highly-touted MLB prospect. Tyler, just going down to the Combine, what was that like? I mean, that had to be a dream come true from when you were a little kid."

Putnam: "Yeah, no, the opportunity to be down there and surround myself with a lot of like-minded guys with, you know, some goals that we all share about, you know, hopefully being a big leaguer one day and having the chance to be selected in the Draft. I think it taught me a lot like maturity level. I think I just realized that I deserved to be there and I earned the right to be there. So, for me, it was just a super surreal experience in that aspect and I was able to perform pretty well out there, which I'm happy about and hopefully increase my Draft stock just a little bit. You know, I only took away positives from it and so I just had a really good time down there and I got to meet some guys and spend some time around some college guys, as well, and just kind of see what that, you know, what that was like and, you know, how they were looking and carrying themselves, as well. So, I think it was super beneficial in that aspect."

Jones: "Well, you had a heck of a few days down there. Just going into the Combine, what was your goal of what you needed to show to say, 'hey, I'm Tyler Putnam. I'm that guy.'"

Putnam: "So, I think I had a really good spring. I showcased pretty well, but I think for me it was about taking the next steps and, you know, really showcasing a complete pitch mix that I've been working on over the last couple of years, but especially more this year in this offseason, especially. You know, I worked hard on developing some breaking balls over the offseason and so I really took those out to me to Phoenix and really tried to showcase to them that [those pitches] were at their best and threw some really good sliders out there and, you know, wowed some scouts and some teams. So, I'm happy with that. I just really wanted to go out there and showcase some good pitch shapes and, you know, a really complete pitch mix that I've been needing, in terms of where I'm gonna be at draft-wise on the team's board."

Jones: "When we caught up with you a few months ago on 'Beyond the Game,' you told us this was a summer of decisions. I mean, you're wearing the shirt right now. You got Tennessee on the horizon, you got the MLB on the horizon. What is this summer, I guess, just look like in terms of making that massive decision which way to go?"

Putnam: "Yeah, it's obviously a big decision for sure and one that I never thought my 18-year-old self would have to make, but I'm excited for it. You know, whatever it is, I think I got two really good options and, you know, the plan B that comes from this is gonna be really good, whatever it is. So, I can't be too worried or nervous about it because I know whatever way I go, you know, I'm gonna be in a really good position and be in a position that's gonna help me succeed. So, it's really just a waiting game now and, you know, we start the negotiation phase with my group and some of the teams in the draft and really just kinda get across what the baseline is for me and what it's gonna take for me to go in the draft and, you know, just kind of let the teams figure it out from there. Hopefully, I hear my name called on draft day and, you know, it forces me to make a decision about which way I wanna go, but either way it's just an exciting time."

Jones: "Through this process, what have teams kind of been telling you that they really like about your game so far?"

Putnam: "Yeah, I think for me the obvious thing that sticks out is the frame and the projectability. You know, [I'm a] tall, lengthy right-handed pitcher and I think, you know, teams really view like my explosiveness and my athleticism as a key factor in decision-making. I can attribute a lot of that to basketball and my success on the court and just the ability to stay athletic year-round. So, I think those things stand out, for sure, but then also just the explosive fastball, the ability to use that in any count against any hitter and, you know, use it at the top of the zone for swings and misses. My fastball has a lot of ride to it and so it plays really well at the top of the zone and teams love that out of me. At the combine, actually, I had some some really good metrics on my extension, so my ability to get down the mound and get as close to the hitter as I can. So, I also think that was really good and wowed some teams with how far my extension was and how, you know, how above average it was in consideration of of the big league arms."

Jones: "Well, in terms of making this kind of massive decision, how much of a role does your family play - your mom, your dad, your sibling - in just what you're gonna end up doing this summer?"

Putnam: "They've been great for me, you know, this entire process. They've been, you know, right beside me and have really allowed me to kind of relax a little bit knowing that I have just an incredible support group around me and we as a family have agreed that, you know, whatever is best for me, that's what the decision's gonna be. Mom and dad haven't tried to been too involved in it and they've been really helpful in, in terms of maturity and how I've carried myself throughout this process and I owe a lot to them. So, I just wanna say thank you, mom and dad. You guys are great and, you know, a lot of my success off the field can be attributed to you. So, I think, you know, my group around me is incredible and it's allowed me to get this far and we'll only continue to keep me calm and composed throughout this crazy process."

Jones: "That's something I've noticed over the years, covering you, is just the level of maturity that you approach the game with and you approach things off the field with. I mean, is that something that comes from your family, or where do you feel like that approach comes from?"

Putnam: "I think, for sure, it has come, it's come from my family mostly and they've just been great in that aspect of, you know, teaching me how to carry myself from day one and being high on that. You know, obviously, I'm in an incredible position and a position that a lot of 18-year-olds don't, you know, find themselves in. So, my parents have just been right in my corner this entire time and have had my back through all the ups and downs and it just really helped navigate me through this process and it's just allowed me to develop this maturity level that I'm at right now and, you know, every time that I get the compliment or they hear the compliment about my maturity level, it just really makes me feel good about, you know, the group that I have behind me."

Jones: "Well, this could have been a year that was a lot for you, personally. I mean, [with] a massive decision between the MLB and Tennessee on the horizon. How did you really just block out all that noise and say, 'hey, I'm gonna enjoy my senior season?'"

Putnam: "No, I just told myself all year long just to enjoy being a kid. You know, I just turned 18 and so, in my eyes, I'm still a kid and, you know, with these crazy decisions that I have coming up, I think it's the most important thing is just to enjoy my time left being a kid and just loving baseball as a game more than anything else. It's a kid's game and so just going out there and enjoying it, no matter what. You know, it is a reality that it's about to become a business for me and a job in that aspect and I'm gonna have to do it for a living. So, just enjoying that time left that I have and the ability to just develop and finish these relationships that I've, you know, built because of baseball over the course of the years and really hold on to those tightly because I owe a ton to the game and so just, you know, giving back in any way that I can and just leaving an impact on Battle High School, the city of Columbia, the youth around here and just, you know, making it known that the game of baseball is trending in the right direction."

Jones: "Through this whole process, do you feel like you kind of had someone to lean on, maybe a mentor, that was able to talk you through some of these different things?"

Putnam: "Yeah, I think my pitching coaches here in town, Danny Hill and Jake Deakins, they've been incredible with me. I've spent, you know, almost as much time with them as I spent with my own family. So, you know, I can practically live with them at times in that facility or on road trips to travel ball games or whatever it is. So, they have been incredible to me and just helping me develop this maturity on and off the field, but also taking me to the next levels as far as my pitching development and really, you know, bringing about everything that I needed to be successful out there on the field and allowing me to do it in just such a calm way and really never stressful at any point. You know, they, they were incredible and so I owe a lot to them."

Jones: "Obviously, those guys are so important in getting where you are now, but just take us behind the scenes. What did it take for Tyler Putnam to get to this point where he is a highly-touted draft pick?"

Putnam: "Yeah, I think it starts with a lot of early mornings and late nights. You know, it was tough with basketball. I had to spend a lot of late nights in the facility to make sure I got my throwing in after basketball every day and making sure that I'm taking care of business in the weight room, too. So, between those three things, then, you know, the offseason could be pretty stressful for me, but I think that mindset to just keep going and keep driving forward just, you know, pushed me to really high limits. You know, I had these goals set in place that I wanted to make myself a draft consideration and, you know, I think I've done, as good of a job as I can. I'm really happy with where I'm at and so, yeah, it just took a lot of hard work and grind and grit, but, you know, just putting my head down and moving forward and only continuing to move forward."

Jones: "So, what do you imagine draft night's gonna be like? I mean, I'm sure you're gonna be sitting there with your family, your coach, with a bunch of close friends, hoping to hear your name called. What do you imagine that moment is gonna be like?"

Putnam: "I think it'll be fun. I think I'll be a little bit stressed and just waiting for that phone call, if it were to happen. But, I think more than anything else, just enjoying that time with all the people around me that helped, you know, build and shape me into the the person and the baseball player that I am today and hopefully having some coaches and mentors all throughout my youth years all the way up until now there and just really having them there for that moment. Because I owe a lot to all those people, I can't even name all of them. It's been so many, but just every person that's touched my journey, whether it's baseball, school or life in general. I think just having them there and, you know, [that it's] important that they get to see me live out my dreams and, you know, they can be appreciated and seen, because I owe a lot to them. So, I think that'll be super special."

Jones: "Your time as a Spartan has obviously come to an end, but it's gonna be a career that is so remembered by this community. What are you gonna remember overall about your time as a Spartan?"

Putnam: "I think for me it's just how I was treated at Battle High School. You know, obviously being a high-level athlete there and the school and the athletics, in general, not being known for a ton of success in every sport. I think, for me, everybody looked up to me and hopefully I set a good example and carried myself with a way that, you know, kids can look forward to and hopefully take something with them. As far as the baseball program goes, you know, I hope I left it in good hands and continue to mentor those kids all throughout my four years. I essentially viewed myself as another coach during my time there and I think that really helped me develop, you know, like that maturity level as far as on the field goes and just the ability to touch, you know, kids' lives and make sure I left a good impact."

Jones: "Overall, now that everything's finished, right, the pre-draft interviews, the workouts, it's all done, what do you hope you were able to show people?"

Putnam: "I hope I've just shown people, really, who I am as a pitcher, but off the field, as well. I think as far as the pre-draft interview process goes and talking with all these teams and all these high-up people who make big-time decisions for Major League organizations, I hope I just left an impact on them character-wise and really forced them to, you know, think about my maturity level and how developed it is. Just to leave that thought in their mind that, 'OK, maybe this kid is ready for professional baseball' and at the end of the day, that's the goal for me is to get into professional baseball as quick as possible and, you know, kickstart my dreams of becoming a big leaguer."

Jones: "Well, Tyler, we are wishing you all the best of luck. Thanks for hanging out with us."

Putnam: "Of course, thank you."

Jones: "For the rest of you guys, we'll be right back after the break."