Jake Borup, the Phils 23rd round pick in the 2010 was kind enough to give us some time as he enters his first Spring Training with the Phillies organization.  Borup, 23, had a very good year with Arizona State, going 11-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 15 starts, walking 26 and striking out 63 in his 81 innings of work.  After his assignment to Williamsport, Borup was one of the Crosscutters most dependable pitchers going 2-1 in 16 appearances (4 starts), earning 2 saves in his 47 innings of work.  Borup walked 13 and struck out 34, with an impressive 1.06 WHIP for Williamsport.

Borup entered Arizona State in 2006, and after taking two years off to complete a Mormon Mission, he came back strong earning Honorable Mention All Pac 10 honors last year as a sophomore. Borup throws his fastball in the high 80’s/low 90’s and has a good slider that he commands well.  After participating in the FLorida Instructional League, I would imagine that should things go smoothly in Spring Training, Borup could earn a spot in the Clearwater bullpen. Read below for the Q and A:As one of 10 players drafted out of Arizona State last year, how were you able to adjust both professionally and personally to a small town like Williamsport?

” The biggest thing for me heading into Williamsport was taking a Business attitude into every aspect. I realized that I had a job to do, that I was accountable to people, and that this is something I have to deal with if I want to get to where I want to be. Williamsport is a great place, and the fans love their baseball. That was easy to get used to. The difficult part was dealing with bus trips, and lack of healthy nutrition. I am not a stickler on being super healthy, but the pb and j sandwiches are not by any means nutritious! Baseball itself was not that big of an adjustment. It was almost like another summer league team I was playing on. The team and coaches were great which also made things easier.”

You took two years off from college to complete a Mormon mission. Does any of the discipline and life experiences learned during that time in West Virginia translate into baseball?

 “Very much so. I learned so much during those two years and the skills I learned will forever help me in life. You have to be disciplined in this game and continue to challenge yourself. You can not be complacent or satisfied with where you’re at or you will get passed up. The mission taught me how to always work for something better.”        

The scouting reports I have read show that you depend on your fastball and slider.  Describe what you would like to work on (or have been told to work on) to improve as a pitcher?

“The biggest thing I need to work on this spring training is being quicker to the plate in the stretch. In the past, I have had a high leg kick which makes me slower to the plate, allowing runners to steal bases more easily. So this offseason I’ve shortened my leg kick and have lowered my time to the plate. Hopefully it translates to fewer runs given up!”

 In college as well as in Williamsport you threw as both a starter as well as a reliever. Do you have a preference and if, so, why?

“I prefer to start. For me, I like knowing that I will be starting and have the days ahead to prepare, get on a schedule, and be ready to start. I like being in control of the game from the get go. I definitely prefer starting. That being said, whatever route gets me to the big leagues the quickest is what I will happily do. Fortunately, I have the luxury of being able to do both. Either way, I will be happy.”

Not many people know what happens during a typical day in Spring Training for a player. Describe a day from the time you arrive at the field until the time you leave.

“For me, I wake up around 530. Get ready and am at the field by about 630. Breakfast is served from 630-9. We have a 15 minute orientation which goes over the schedule for the day, then we break and get going. For pitchers, we work on PFPs, bunt plays, comebackers, throw long toss, and bullpens if you have one that day. Then we shag for hitters and do our conditioning. When games start we will play games after all of that. The days are long right now but its important to put emphasis on doing things the right way now and developing good habits.”

 You come from a big time program that has a chance of competing in the College World Series each year.  Describe the process of deciding to sign professionally in 2010 as opposed to waiting another year.

 “It has always been a dream of mine to play baseball in the big leagues. When I got the chance to be drafted this year and after all I had done at Arizona State, the timing felt right for me to leave school and pursue my dream. The Phillies are a perfect fit for me and I have been very happy with the way things have transpired so far. ASU was a great opportunity for me and extremely fun, however I felt like I had experienced and gone through all I needed to prepare me for the next level. I am very grateful for my 3 years at ASU and for all they did for me.”

At Williamsport you spent time with almost all of the Phillies 2010 draft class. Name one player that impressed you most and why.

“I wish I could name one player, but so many stand out. Eric Pettis, Kelly Dugan, Mario Hollands, Jeff Lanning were a few guys that impressed me with the way they handled their business. Very hard workers and it showed as they prepared themselves each day when they came to the park. I think I talked the most baseball with Eric Pettis. Spent time in bullpen and talked pitching and stuff. He knows a lot about the game and how to get hitters out. Good kid.”