Antonini Shows His Stuff

Drafted in the 18th round of the 2007 MLB Draft, Antonini was assigned to Kingsport to begin his rookie campaign. The 6-foot southpaw's debut has been impressive as he has become a valuable, reliable arm for the Appalachian League squad. Inside Pitch revisited him to find out his thoughts on his season to date.

On a roster that carries 16 pitchers, it is certainly going to take something extra for one to stand out. Michael Antonini is one of the oldest pitchers on the staff and one of a few to have played college ball. Coming into the season, he felt his four full years at Georgia College and State provided him with enough experience as he entered his professional career.

“The adjustment so far has been pretty good,” he said. “I think it has gone smoothly. The coaches I had in the past kept preparing us for this level, how to conduct to ourselves and to play at this level. I haven’t been shocked by anything or seen anything unexpected.”

That attitude has carried him to a formidable start through four appearances. His body of work includes a 1-1 record, 2.08 earned run average and a robust 14 strikeouts against just two walks. The amount of whiffs he has recorded may jump off the page, but more important is the excellent control he has demonstrated. His ability to stay within the strike zone is not only attributed to a natural control, but the fact that he can throw three pitches for strikes and attack hitters at will. It is a trait seldom seen in pitchers at this level and what sets him apart from his peers.

”I’ve got a fastball that topped out at 92 my last start, my changeup which I’ve been working a whole lot on here, and my slider which is usually my out pitch. I’ve started throwing my changeup a lot more in fastball situations. The catchers and I feel comfortable throwing all my pitches in any count which has helped me a lot,” he explained.

The development of a changeup is a near mandate for all young pitchers in this farm system. Antonini took that guideline and seized it as a chance to fine tune his most underdeveloped pitch.

”I can see how important the changeup is going to be for me,” he said. “The more I can mix it in and keep my strengthening my slider, the better off I will be.”

With his pitches in tow, the Kingsport coaches still have yet to decide what role bests suits the left-hander. He has hade made two starts in his four appearances, totaling seven innings. In that sample as a starter, he has yet to surrender a run. Which slot suits him better?

“The coaches are kind of piggy-backing me right now. I’m pitching every fifth day, so I prepare for that, but I’m probably going to rotate pitching the first three or the last three innings of a game. Eventually, I’d see myself as a starter.” said Antonini.

As he maintains a firm grasp of his abilities and his game, he focuses on the peripheral details of becoming a professional athlete. Most notably, he keys in on the stress and work that goes into the daily workouts. Antonini pointed to the exerted repetition in drills that sets this level apart from college.

“We do so much repetition up here. They want everything we do to be put into our heads so that we know what to do in every situation so that we can just react to it and not think,” he described.

Whether it is a shadowbox drill (to perfect footwork) or covering first base, or throwing to second, Antonini is open and eager to learn from his coaches.

”They (the coaches) have been nothing but positive. These coaches are here for a reason and they know what they are talking about. I take in everything they have to say use it to make myself better,” he said.

Moving forward for the K-Mets, it is all about maturing cohesively as a young squad and feeding off each other’s play - an idea Antonini already sees happening.

“It’s taken a while to get together and gel, but we’ve got a good group of talented guys,” he said. “We help each other out; a number of us are trying to pick up some Spanish so we can all communicate together. We all get along pretty well and we hope we can have a good summer.”