Exclusive Interview: Cincinnati Pitcher Tommy Boba
After a stellar performance on Saturday against Kansas, Cincinnati pitcher Tommy Boba was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week. Tommy threw eight innings of shutout ball and had a no-hit bid before it was broken up in the ninth inning
According to D1Baseball.com, Tommy was also rated the top pitcher in college baseball this past weekend. On Tuesday, I got a chance to talk with the right-hander from Wheaton, Illinois, about his performance and a few other fun questions.
How did you get into baseball?
“Growing up, I was interested in a lot of different sports. I started to pay attention to baseball during the 2008 World Series when the Phillies played the Rays. I became attracted to it, and based on that World Series, my favorite player was Chase Utley. After that, my love for baseball really took off.”
What made you realize pitching was your specialty?
“I started off playing different positions. When I was young, I started pitching lessons with a former professional pitcher named Dave Otto. From that point, I realized that I was a pretty good pitcher from a young age. Then, I got started with a travel team and worked with the lower team. After that, I got an opportunity to play for the higher team, but it would only be for me to pitch. Then I decided to focus on just pitching.”
What’s Head Coach Jordan Bischel like?
“He’s really open to any conversation. His door is always open, and you can go in there whenever you want and talk about baseball and life outside of it. He’s a down to earth guy and he encourages us to bring the three E’s (energy, enthusiasm, and excitement) every single day.”
Now that Cincinnati is in the Big 12, what are some of the differences you have seen compared to the AAC?
“It’s more competitive every single weekend. There is a lot of talent, and you have to play a lot of great teams every week.”
How were you feeling the day of the Kansas game? Did you do anything different?
“It felt like a normal day. I had my pregame meal at Panera Bread, showed up to the field, and did my normal routine. Honestly, if you had told me that I was going to have a no-hitter going into the ninth inning, I wouldn’t have believed you. But sometimes that’s just how the ball falls, and it fell the right way that day.”
So Panera is the Pregame Meal. What’s the order there?
“Sausage, egg, and cheese on an asiago bagel, a yogurt parfait, and a strawberry mint-charged lemonade.”
At what point during the game were you thinking about the no-hitter?
“I first paid attention to it at the top of the fifth inning. The Kansas pitcher and I both had no-hitters going and when I walked out on the mound that inning I saw the scoreboard and thought it was pretty cool to have a pitchers’ duel.”
What did you think of the bunt to break it up in the ninth?
“That’s baseball. It was a one-run game, and if a bunt gives them the best chance to win, then that’s what they are going to do. It was a smart baseball move, and I have no hard feelings toward the bunt in that situation.”
Have you ever pitched a no-hitter?
“I pitched a perfect game my senior year of high school.”
You were named Big 12 pitcher of the week and the top D1 Baseball top pitcher over the weekend; how does that feel?
“I just want to thank my teammates and coaches, especially the coaches, for giving me the opportunity to keep pushing myself every day. The season didn’t start off the way I wanted it to, but they trusted me and stuck by me. And our catcher played one heck of a game as well.”
Any Superstitions before a game? Is there something you have to do before you pitch?
“The only thing I have been doing more recently is wearing high pants. I didn’t last year or at the beginning of the year. Ever since I put my pants up, I have been throwing better.”
What is your favorite pitch?
“I enjoy throwing the cutter a lot. I feel like that can get a lot of weak contact and a lot of swing and miss when it’s going good.”
Toughest Batter you have faced?
“This season, it would be Brady Day from Kansas State. He’s a really tough out and a patient hitter. He’s a really good player. Last year, I would say Lane Hoover from East Carolina and Jack Payton from Louisville. He hit two home runs off me in two innings.”
What’s the go-to at Skyline Chili?
“It depends on how hungry I am. If I am really hungry, I will get three coneys and an order of chili cheese fries and pink lemonade.”
Favorite place to eat in Cincinnati (outside of Skyline)?
“The Eagle. They have the best chicken sandwich I have ever had, and they have fantastic sides.”
