Q&A: Trent Mummey

By Dan Sanchez

Trent Mummey was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 4th round of the 2010 draft out of Auburn University. He made his debut with the Aberdeen Ironbirds last season, posting a .266/.342/.406 line in 231 plate appearances and garnering a reputation as an excellent defender in the outfield. Trent can be followed on Twitter @trentmummey7

Daniel Sanchez: This is the first spring training of your professional career. How would you describe your experience so far? Anything unexpected?

Trent Mummey: Spring training’s been great so far. It’s what I expected because I got a feel for how things were going to go during [instructional league] last year. You come in every day and get your work done and do what you’re supposed to do. The coaching staff has been great so far getting us prepared for the games and upcoming season.

DS: Has anyone from the Orioles organization talked to you about where you will begin the 2011 season? Do you have an expected timetable for reaching the big leagues?

TM: I haven’t really discussed where I’ll be starting out this year with anyone. I’m just going out every day and working hard and getting myself prepared to play wherever they decide is best for me and the organization. I haven’t made any time tables for making the bigs. I’m just going to go out every day and play hard and do the things I need to do to put myself in a good position to move up through the system.

DS: The NCAA has adopted the use of new bats for the 2011 season intended to simulate wood and depress offense. Do you feel that the new bats would have affected your game in any way? How has the transition to wood bats been thus far in your pro career?

TM: I trained in Auburn during the off season so I got to see the new bats and watch a couple of games. I don’t think the new bats are good for the game but I do think banning the use of composite bats was a great decision. We didn’t use composite bats at Auburn and it was always a disadvantage when we played teams that used them because people were rolling bats and tampering with them to get a better trampoline effect. I dont think the new bats would have affected my game much. There is still a sweet spot on the bat and I didn’t get cheated on most of my homeruns I hit. The transition to wood has been good. I’ve always grown up swinging wood and playing in summer leagues such as the cape cod league.

DS: Your former teammate and fellow Auburn alum Hunter Morris was also selected in the fourth round of the draft last year. Have you two kept in touch?

TM: Yeah we keep in touch. He recently got married this off season and I was there to see it. It was a pretty special moment seeing one of my good friends and teammate get married. He’s doing good and we wish each other the best of luck every time we talk. Hopefully one day down the road we will run into each other on the diamond.

DS:You said after you were selected in the draft that you were surprised to be picked by the Orioles because you hadn’t had much contact with the organization. Were you in touch with scouting director Joe Jordan after the selection? How would you describe the negotiation process?

TM: The draft is such a crazy process. You can put up the best numbers in the world and you still have no control over whats going to happen. I was a little surprised the Orioles picked me because I talked to pretty much every team and you lose track of all the people you talk to. Yes there were some teams who contacted me more than others. I had lunch with the area scout in the off season and he laughed when he heard I didn’t know the Orioles where interested in me because he was keeping me under the radar because he didn’t want other teams to get me before they did. That’s why the system is so crazy. After the draft I kept in touch with the area scout and let my agent handle the rest. That stuff was way over my head.

DS: Was there any temptation to return to Auburn to finish your college career and degree?

TM: No I didn’t have any temptation to go back. Yes I loved Auburn and I enjoyed the time I played there and I can honestly say I left everything on the the field there. I gave everything I had to the program and I felt I had nothing more to prove. I’m a huge Auburn fan and wish nothing but the best for the program. My dream as a kid was to play professional baseball and when I got that opportunity I couldn’t pass it up. The earlier you get into the the system the better.

DS: Do you have any specific goals for the season?

TM: My goals for the season are to go out everyday and be a winning player. Study the game and put myself in the best position offensively defensively and on the base paths to help my team win wherever I might be.