Follow Friday Q&A with Javyn Pimental
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This is the 16th installment of the Arizona Baseball 2020 Follow Friday series, in which we highlight each member of the incoming 2020 class of student-athletes looking to make their mark at Hi Corbett Field. Get to know our newest Wildcats with the below Q&A, and when you're done be sure to follow them on social media to stay connected.
This week's feature focuses on incoming freshman Javyn Pimental, a left-handed pitcher from Kamehameha High School in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Previous editions of Follow Friday: Jacob Berry | Kyle Casper | Chase Davis | Riley Cooper | Daniel Susac | TJ Nichols | Austin Smith | TJ Curd | Ryan Kysar | Chase Silseth | Jack Grant | Mason Millett | Tanner O'Tremba | Nik McClaughry | Tag Bross
Q: What made you choose Arizona?
A: I chose Arizona because of the great coaching staff and I wanted to join a winning program. There's a lot of history of success here, especially under coach Johnson, and I wanted to be part of that. Also the opportunity to learn a lot from coach Yeskie was exciting.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most in your first year at Arizona?
A: For my first year I'm looking forward to learning a lot from coach Yeskie and finding my role on the team to help us win. I want to do whatever I can to help us get to Omaha.
Q: What achievement from your baseball career so far are you most proud of?
A: That would probably be committing to play at Arizona, that was a very big deal for me and my family. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to play baseball at the Division I level, and having the chance to do that in the Pac-12 was a huge accomplishment for me. Also, the opportunity I had to play at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter. It is probably the biggest scouting event in all of baseball and I threw one game with 11 strikeouts, one hit, and no walks.
Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game?
A: That would be my competitive nature. I take every compliment with a grain of salt because there's always stuff to work on, always something you can improve on to get better. Especially on the mound, I'm really competitive with my pitches and always trying to get ahead. It's something I have just always had growing up playing sports, I'm a really competitive person when it comes to anything.
Q: Who influenced you to get into baseball?
A: Nobody really influenced me to get into it, I sort of just started playing when I was a kid, but my dad influenced my eventual love for the game. He noticed at a young age that I was pretty good and got to coach me along with my uncle.
Q: If you weren't playing baseball, what sport would you most want to play?
A: Definitely basketball, because I grew up playing basketball my whole life too. My dad and my brother both played basketball, so I kind of just grew up around the sport. I think basketball was my first love before I started playing baseball. What I really like about basketball is how fast-paced it is, there's something going on all the time.
Q: If you could have one MLB player's pitch, what would it be?
A: Aroldis Chapman's slider, because it's just absolute filth. But I also thought about Max Fried's curveball. They're both pretty devastating pitches. I watch YouTube videos to see how they release it, see what their grip is.
Q: If you could face one Major League Baseball player right now, who would it be and why?
A: That would 100% be Mike Trout, because he is the best player in baseball. I would for sure get shelled the first couple at-bats, but it would be a great learning experience and I think with a few opportunites I would figure out how to best pitch around him.
Q: What are some of your non-baseball hobbies you enjoy spending free time on?
A: If you don't find me at the field you can probably find me at the beach when I'm back at home. Hanging out with my buddies, body boarding, boogie boarding, playing Spikeball, whatever.
Q: What does your pregame/gameday routine look like?
A: My routine has always been the same: I sleep in my sliding shorts before an outing, I always wear the same lucky socks, breakfast is always exactly four eggs. I'm a really superstitious person. I really don't know where it came from anymore, but it works for me so I have no intention of changing it.
Quick Hits:
Favorite baseball player: Max Fried
Favorite MLB team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite baseball movie: Rookie of the Year
Favorite gameday snack: Coconut sunflower seeds
Favorite TV show: Peaky Blinders
Favorite movie: Shrek