Baby-Bombers.com Q&A With Zach McAllister

After the 2007 Season, Baby-Bombers.com had the chance to talk with Prospect Zach McAllister

By: Robert Pimpsner

   * Zach McAllister Player Profile

   * Zach McAllister 2007 Photo Gallery

January 8, 2008 – The New York Yankees drafted Zach McAllister in the third round of the 2006 First-Year Player draft out of Illinois Valley Central HS.  The young right-hander signed and was assigned to the Gulf Coast Yankees where he piggy backed with fellow prospect Dellin Betances.  McAllister was 5-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 games with just one start in 2006.  In 2007 the young right-hander saw regular action in the Staten Island Yankees starting rotation and even earned a spot in the NY-Penn League All-Star Game.

After making only one start in eleven appearances last season in the Gulf Coast League how did it feel to have a regular spot in the rotation?
It felt great because it was what i did in high school and I have always enjoyed being a start so it was nice to know that i had a spot in the rotation.

Was it difficult to begin the season since your first few starts were all on the road?
No not really, it was fun actually. What I mean by that is that it was fun to pitch in front of some fans again even if they are rooting against you.

In 2007 you pitched just over twice as many innings has you did in 2006 in fewer games.  Did you change how you approached each game for this past season?
No not all, I went out there every time and tried to do my best and keep our team in the game so that we had a chance to win.

How have your pitches developed throughout the course of the season?

Well it was a little different for me this year because early in the season they had me throwing curveball and then a couple weeks into the season they just had me throwing the slider. But i think for the most part my fastball was there and with my change up and slider they got a little better as the season went on but they still need to improve.

Which pitch would you say is your best? Worst?
Best- Fastball, Worst- Slider

Was there a lot of pressure pitching in a close proximity to Yankees Stadium?
No I don't think so, when it's all said and done you want to end up pitching there. But I don't think there was any added pressure from it.

How did it feel to represent the team in the NY-Penn League All-Star Game?
It was great! I mean it was on of my goals I set for myself and it felt great to reach it and it represents my team there.

After the All-Star Break you had a rough stretch, was it difficult to go through that during the final weeks of the season?

Yea, it was a little difficult to go threw that. It was frustrating to go out there and try to help your team win and not be able to hold up your end of it.

What was your favorite moment of the 2007 season?

Probably pitching in the All-Star Game
 

Where do you see yourself next season?

I think I have a good chance to pitch in Charleston next year and I’m expecting good thing to happen for me.
 

What are you doing to help yourself get better for next season?

Just working out and working on my pitches
 

Who at the Major League level would you compare yourself to?

I would say a Jon Lieber type of pitcher.
 

Would you say that the rivalry between the Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees rubbed off on some of the players and helped motivate them to do better against the Cyclones?

Yea I would say that, I mean a lot of the players really didn't know what type of rivalry it was we had heard about it but once we played them we realized what they were talking about. So after the first series with them I think we all knew that when we played them that it was going to be an intense game.
 

Excluding yourself if you had to choose one player from the 2007 Staten Island Yankees that could rise through the Farm System who would it, be?

I would have to say Betances just because he is young and he has the stuff to be a great pitcher in the big leagues.