JS: How was the visit overall for you?
CH: Overall the visit was a very awesome experience for my parents and I. I really enjoyed all of the academic offerings Cincinnati has and it makes me feel like when baseball is an everyday thing that the professors will work around my schedule and make everything workout fluidly. I really loved the way the coaches interacted with my family and I in they just made my overall experience even better. The baseball facilities are over the top amazing, from the locker room to the insanely big weight room to the main field. While walking through everything on Cincinnati’s campus I just knew it was going to be amazing even though I didn’t get to really see all of the academic buildings and only the athletic buildings. When we were finished with the visit the coaches surprised me and my family with field passes to the football game. When we stepped on that field there was an hour before the game and the student section was already full. It was the best atmosphere I have ever seen in a college football student section. At the point I just felt like a future Bearcat. Overall, I rate my visit at the University of Cincinnati the best experience yet.
JS: How has this past year been for you with covid and everything? How was the year mentally for you?
CH: This past year with covid from my academic point was very stressful. I feel like my teachers just posted busy work on are school worksite and just made us do it for a completion grade without actually learning anything. It was very stressful trying to learn geometry and biology by myself and trying to actually understand it. By the end of the year I had all A’s because most of the assignments were very easy. About two weeks after the school year ended the school board called everyone and said that the 4th quarter grades did not count toward our gpa. This made me very mad because we were forced to do all of these assignments for them not even to count. Other than that during covid was actually quite enjoyable. We still got to play summer baseball without have to worry about wearing masks and missing tournaments because of covid. In September when we started my sophomore year of high school, the first week in I got quarantined because of a kid on my basketball team caught the virus. I was quarantined for two weeks and was forced to do work everyday with no help at all. When I finally got back to school two days later I got covid. It didn’t make since at all because I stayed home and didn’t go anywhere and wasn’t around anyone. This was the most stressful thing because I felt like I got hit by a train and couldn’t get out of my bed. When I got back to school after that my teachers did not care at all that I got it and didn’t let me get any late points with any of my assignments. Covid was probably the most stressful thing through my school life, but not throughout my social life.
JS: What made you want to play baseball and what is your favorite part about baseball?
CH: Baseball came to me at a very young age when I used to lay with my dad on the couch at about age 3. My dad is a big Reds fan and that’s all he used to watch. He is a very big basketball guy, but always loved watching baseball. My parents signed me up for T-Ball when I was in kindergarten. I was always the best kid on the field and was just a savage to get every single ball. I always loved playing the outfield and catching the ball in the air. When I was in 5th grade I wanted to try and play the infield. I wasn’t very good at it at first and was always scared of the ball when it was hit to me. As time went on and on I got better and better and by my freshman year I was one of two freshman to make varsity. There were 15 other freshman that tried out and made JV and freshman. Sadly my freshman year was canceled due to covid, but had a great summer season which got me in to the recruiting process. I talked to some schools hear and there but never had big interest from them. This last summer season was awesome but still never got looks. Baseball is a game that I can play and it gets my mind of things that shouldn’t be there. If baseball wasn’t a thing I don’t know where I would be to this day. My favorite part about baseball is that it’s never ending action on the field and you have to be on your toes at every given moment during the game. I also love it because no one can ever be perfect at the game and there is always something to get better at and work at.
JS: You mentioned your dad was a big Reds fan is there a player in the MLB that you model your game after?
CH: I really model my infield game to Trevor Story. He fields every ball and doesn’t really make little mistakes in the field. He goes after every ball with intent and makes it look easy. I model my hitting game after Joey Votto because he is a very good two strike approach and doesn’t really get out a lot. I don’t like to say that I try to copy everything about one pro player because I feel like the best way to be your best is play how you play and don’t try and copy what others are doing.
JS: Tell me what will a coaching staff get of you what can they expect to see on the field and in the clubhouse?
CH: A coaching staff will expect the same on and off the field for me. I am a very humble player when it comes to my game. I let my play talk to the opponent. I am a very coachable player and when I make a mistake I will listen to the coach, learn from it and not make it again. I will never ever talk back to a coach because they put there time and effort into making me and my teammates the best player possible and it’s not right to talk back when there putting there time in.
JS: Do you have a favorite memory from your baseball history? Could be watching a certain game or playing is there anything that comes to mind?
CH: My favorite game to ever watch was Game 7 of the 2016 World Series when the Cubs defeated the Indians. My favorite team is the Cubs so watching them win the World Series was the best thing ever. They didn’t quit when they were down and just kept putting the pressure on the Indians. Watching Kris Bryant make the final play I was the happiest person ever.
JS: What is something you are looking to improve on this upcoming season?
CH: This next upcoming season I am looking to have no errors and bat above .320. With the pitchers we face in high school it’s very possible to do so. I hit .310 last year, I just feel like I could have done better and I made some silly errors in the field.
JS: Do you plan on coming back on campus this year at all?
CH: I hope so. I am very interested in playing baseball there and feel confident that the coaches like me. Also my sister is a freshman there, I usually go up and visit her as much as I can.
TFON staff would like to thank Connor for taking the time to answer some questions and we wish you luck in the future!
