Speaker 1 00:00:12 Hello, welcome to the Roundhouse Podcast with Paul Soro of Wichita State University's strategic communications. Our guests today are Wichita State baseball players, Jordan Rogers and Caden Favors. Shockers opened the season on Friday at Long Beach State. Jordan Rogers is a sophomore outfielder. He is from Robinson, Texas. He started 34 games in 2022 as a red shirt Freshman hit 3 0 7 with nine doubles. Caden Favors is a junior left-handed pitcher. He is from Midwest City, Oklahoma. Caden went two and one with a 2.82 era r a last season, started six games and appeared in 23. So Caden, we are three days away from the opening series going out to Long Beach, California. Just give us a check, describe where people are at, kind of physically, mentally, as you're, you're almost to the big day.
Speaker 2 00:01:01 I think everyone's just ready to get going. You know, it's, it's fun playing against each other. You, you see each other every day, but for the most part, everyone's wanting to kick the, kick the other team's butt and, you know, get going.
Speaker 1 00:01:15 Jordan, how about you as a position player? Is it, is it different? How are you, where, where are you guys in the process of ramping up to Friday?
Speaker 3 00:01:22 Yeah, I mean, I kind of agree with Caden. I think at this point, uh, I feel like we all have put in the work and we're just ready to go
Speaker 1 00:01:29 Putting in the work. That was gonna be my next question. Cause baseball kind of has a unique calendar where you're here in the fall and then you leave for three or four weeks, go home, holidays, Christmas, new Year's, lots of food, lots of temptations, and then you come back and you wanna be in your best shape. But that's not always easy. Jordan, where do you find the motivation to really keep working hard while you're, while you're home?
Speaker 3 00:01:52 Uh, I mean, it's, it's a privilege to be doing what we're doing here. Playing Division one baseball. So like, every night I just think about how I'm very thankful for this opportunity. Opportunity and I don't want to let it go to waste. And so when I go back home, it's just like, how, how much do I want this? And each day I try to get better than the day I was before. And yeah, that, that's typically like my mindset going through the holidays. How bad do I want it,
Speaker 1 00:02:23 It, so Caden for a pitcher might be a little more, you've gotta find a somebody to catch. You've gotta find a mound to throw off. I guess that's easier these days cuz there's so many indoor facilities. What, what's the routine for a pitcher maybe during those three or four weeks, over the holidays?
Speaker 2 00:02:37 Well, I, I know for me that I have a place to train. Um, it's only, you know, 30 minutes away from home, but I go there every day and I, I really prioritize baseball. You know, I, I'd love to be a student athlete first, but I, I will say baseball is my, my main focus and I just, you know, really prioritize trying to be the best that I can. I, I chase perfection even when it's not attainable, which is, you know, hard. You, you want to be perfect as a pitcher, but I mean, I just try to keep, you know, working every day.
Speaker 1 00:03:15 So the shockers will be leaving Wednesday, I believe. Is that right? To, yes, sir. To fly out, to play at Long Beach State. Uh, Jordan, what's the most important item you've got on that plane ride to keep you comfortable? Are you a neck pillow guy? Do you have your earbuds? How do you, how do you survive a long, long plane trip?
Speaker 3 00:03:31 I'd say the biggest thing you have to have is a pair of headphones. Uh, for me, I love listening to music and whenever, whenever like I get tired of listening to music, I switch over to Netflix and start watching some Netflix series just to keep me like, focused and ready to go.
Speaker 1 00:03:48 What are you watching on Netflix?
Speaker 3 00:03:50 Uh, I watch a quite a bit of different things. Last year I would watch Stranger Things some, and then I'd watch, uh, this All American, so on Netflix, like kind of, I usually try to keep it like sport related. All those stranger things isn't sport related <laugh>, it's just, I don't know. I like
Speaker 1 00:04:07 It. There was a lot of swimming in, uh, swimming pool scenes early and straightener things. <laugh>. Caden, how about you? Uh, you're getting on the plane. What do you have snacks? What's, what's important to get you through that four or five hours?
Speaker 2 00:04:18 I mean, you always have to have snacks. I'm a big candy guy. Um, but I, I would, I would agree with Jordan. I would say my headphones are my most important thing. You gotta make sure they're charged the night before. If not, you're gonna be listening to the win while you're up in the air. So
Speaker 1 00:04:35 Do you have a go-to podcast TV show that you watch when you get on a plane?
Speaker 2 00:04:40 Um, while we're sitting in the airport, I, I do listen to some podcasts. I like, I like listening to, uh, the Pitching Ninja podcast. Uh, see what the big league guys are doing, kind of see their perspective on the, the mental side of things and, you know, see if I can pick anything up from 'em. But, uh, while I'm on the plane, I normally just listen to music or play games, and then if I have a movie downloaded, then I'll watch the movie. But for the most part, just kind of listen to music.
Speaker 1 00:05:09 Who are the pitching ninjas?
Speaker 2 00:05:11 Um, the, it's, it's a podcast slash YouTube channel. Um, the Pitching Ninja show is, uh, I wanna say his name's, uh, I can't even think of his name actually, but he has a bunch of, uh, big league guys on, like Logan Webb was on, um, he had Shane Bieber. So just a bunch of big name guys. I think it's getting to be, you know, pretty well known. So
Speaker 1 00:05:40 Jordan, tell us about the time you, and maybe it was a moment, maybe it was a period of time when you fell in love with the sport of baseball and said, this is, this is what I want to be doing, this is my deal.
Speaker 3 00:05:51 Um, I would say realistically probably like the sixth or seventh grade because my whole life I was growing up playing basketball, football, and baseball. So at the time, like I never knew like which one I wanted to like pursue as I got older. And so whenever I got to middle school, like, it kind of came obvious that like baseball, like would be my best option. Like basketball, I, I love bas basketball so much, but obviously like you gotta be like really tall <laugh> and I, I just, I wasn't able to do that. So yeah, baseball kind of caught my eye when I was in the sixth or seventh grade.
Speaker 1 00:06:30 What was it about the sport that that grabbed you?
Speaker 3 00:06:32 Uh, for me it was just, it took my mind off things. Uh, back at home, like back in the hometown, I was able to like escape reality a little bit. And whenever I'm on the baseball field, I just feel like at peace and like I'm just doing something that I love.
Speaker 1 00:06:49 Now. You played other sports in high school? Mm-hmm. <affirmative> football, right? Right. You were a receiver. What's the advantage of a, of a, uh, high school student? Being a multi-sport athlete, that always seems to be a good, good discussion. Specializing versus playing multi-sport. What do you think about that issue?
Speaker 3 00:07:05 Uh, I think it's a, a big thing. Uh, I mean, you're working on a bunch of different like hand eye coordinations that like go with baseball and when you're playing football, like I was a receiver, like you said, and whenever I transitioned from the infield to the outfield here Wichita, it, like, it felt easy for me cuz it, like, it reminded me of like going to catch a, a pass from a quarterback, like tracking the ball. So like, for that reason, it kind of helped me a lot.
Speaker 1 00:07:33 So some carryover skills. Caden, how about you? When did you fall in love with baseball?
Speaker 2 00:07:37 Um, um, I mean I probably when I was six or seven, I, I didn't really play any other sports. I would say, I'm not gonna say I'm not athletic, but I would say that I, uh, am a little bit behind most of the other guys. Um, I, I just remember growing up playing catch with my dad in the front yard, and I wanted to be a first Paceman growing up, but my dad saw that, you know, I'm a left-handed pitcher and he kind of told me that that's where the money's gonna be or that's where I have a future at. And so I, I took it serious. I remember we'd play catch out in front yard and then I'd pitch to him and I'd, you know, you'd go over the bottom of the ninth bases, loaded two outs and you'd strike the guy out and you'd win the World Series kind of thing. So yeah.
Speaker 1 00:08:26 Did your dad play baseball?
Speaker 2 00:08:28 Uh, for a little bit, but he didn't really carry it on through high school. He, uh, he like, he was kind of like me. He's not super athletic, so he didn't have pitching going for him like I did.
Speaker 1 00:08:40 So when the position players tease the pitchers about not being real athletes, you've just kind of gotta say, yeah, there's, there's something to that.
Speaker 2 00:08:46 I mean, I, I like to think that I can hang with them, but I probably wouldn't be able to hit a fast ball or even sit on a curve ball. I'd probably bail out. So
Speaker 1 00:08:58 <laugh>, those are difficult things to do. Jordan, uh, hit us with a newcomer that fans should keep an eye on as the season's getting rolling.
Speaker 3 00:09:06 Um, I would say Garrett Pennington, um, in the fall, I mean, he was tearing it up, big power guy, big contact guy. And whenever we came back to the spring or uh, past winter break, he was still tearing it up. Like you can tell he's putting in the work, taking it serious and it's gonna be a guy who we can rely on in the spring.
Speaker 1 00:09:28 Garrett is a first baseman transfer from University of Central Missouri, which is a great division two program. So yeah, I'm familiar with, familiar with Garrett. Heard good things about him. Caden, how about you? Who's, who's a newcomer that's maybe stood out to you that fans should know about?
Speaker 2 00:09:41 Uh, I would, I would probably say Jack Little. Uh, I see, I see him as a potential to be like Brock just taller. I mean, he has the speed, like Brock, he, he shows, you know, glimpses of power like Brock and I think he's just a, you know, he, he goes all out and he loves baseball and so he's gonna be a really good, really good fit here. And he's got a great guy to learn from.
Speaker 1 00:10:09 I also heard a lot about Jack. He's a freshman, infielder played second bass.
Speaker 2 00:10:13 He can play outfield too.
Speaker 1 00:10:14 Can play outfield really fast, is what people keep tell, kept telling me about. Yeah, about Jack Little. All right, two good ones. How about a returner who may be, uh, improved a lot, who may be stepping into a larger role this season? Jordan, any names popped to mind there?
Speaker 3 00:10:29 Um, I would say, uh, Chuck Ingram, like he had a, he had a good year last year, but, um, like he's just like me. He, he wants to get better and he doesn't want to be content with having just one good year. And like, him and I both are very focused on having a better year than last
Speaker 1 00:10:48 Year. Chuck Ingram? Yes. Did have a great year last year. Uh, outfielder from, uh, I think he went to Rockhurst High. I remember that. Yes sir. In Kansas City. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Caden, how about you? Is there a returner who you think is maybe ready to, to step into a larger role that fans should know about?
Speaker 2 00:11:03 Um, yeah, I mean, I, I would agree with Jordan, probably probably Chuck Ingram cuz he, uh, you know, last year he struggled a little bit with, uh, hitting the off speed pitch and kind of laying off of it. And this series, in my eyes, he's shown improvement on not swinging at, you know, pitches that aren't the best <laugh>.
Speaker 1 00:11:27 Okay. Okay. Jordan, let's talk about last season. You're Richard Freshman started off, uh, rough and then in mid-May, maybe against the series against East Carolina. I guess I'll let you tell me when you started turning things around, but you hit 3 49 over the last probably two months of the season, you had a 10 game hitting streak, a seven game hitting streak. Uh, what got you going?
Speaker 3 00:11:48 Uh, for me it was always keeping it simple. Uh, coach Siri and I always talked about the, uh, saying k i s s, kiss, keep it simple, stupid. Um, like that, that actually helped me a lot. Just being able to be relaxed in the box and swing at pictures that I can hit. And I that, I think that was for sure the turnaround point for me last year by keeping it simple, putting the ball in play, let the defense try to make a play on it.
Speaker 1 00:12:19 So Jordan, you played outfield, you played some first bass, ended up the year, uh, playing a lot in left field. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, and you can play other spots on the infield too. Do you enjoy that variety?
Speaker 3 00:12:30 Oh yeah. I, I love it just being able to like, like not know where you're gonna play. Uh, like every practice I feel like I'm out somewhere different and I, I find enjoyment in that. I think it's good for me and I think it's good for the team as well.
Speaker 1 00:12:43 Do you have a favorite position?
Speaker 3 00:12:45 Uh, I would say probably left field is my favorite, but I, like I said, I I love 'em all. I try to play everywhere I can.
Speaker 1 00:12:54 So, Caden, you're also a versatile person. Fill a lot of, lot of different roles on this pitching staff. When I talked to pitching coach Mike Pelfrey earlier this week, he said Caden Favors is a guy who he could start, he could close, he could throw in long relief, all that kind of stuff. So especially for a pitchers maybe different than a position player that comes with a lot of, lot of demands. Uh, how do you prepare for all these possibilities?
Speaker 2 00:13:18 I mean, personally, I, I, I really just like Jordan said, keep it simple, stupid. I, um, thinking, thinking can only hurt the team in my opinion. Like for me, I just, I like to go out there and pitch. I mean, it's, it's the same game we've played since we were six years old, so I don't try to put any pressure on it and whatever role I'm called upon, whether it's the opener or the closer or long relief, even starting, if I need to, then that's what I'm gonna do. I mean, I just go out there, I want to compete, and when they take the ball from me, I guess that's, that's my time to give it up.
Speaker 1 00:13:58 So when people hear baseball players think, say things like, uh, thinking is, thinking is bad, I need to just keep, keep it simple. Tell us a little bit more about that. What, what does overthinking, how does that hurt you?
Speaker 2 00:14:09 Uh, for me personally, I, when I think I, it's not, I tend to think about bad things. I just tend to think too much and try to put too much pressure on a spot. I was, I was telling one of our freshmen, uh, Michael Mulholland, he's gonna be really good for us. But, um, I just told him, I was like, you know, if it's a fastball away, all you gotta do is think fastball away. You've thrown it a million times. Don't think about all my mechanics are off, I'm pulling, I'm doing all this stuff. Like, just throw it to the spot and for the most part, hitters are gonna get themselves out.
Speaker 1 00:14:47 Do you enjoy that, that part of it? Mentoring, helping younger
Speaker 2 00:14:50 Teammates? I do. Uh, I, I'd like to, I'd like to stay once I'm done with baseball. If I can't play anymore, I'd like to stay on the coaching side of it. But I mean, it's fun just seeing the guys that you help or try to help, you know, succeed and get better.
Speaker 1 00:15:07 So, Caden, you started six games last season as the opener for Wichita State. Describe that role for people who might not be familiar with the opener.
Speaker 2 00:15:17 The opener is someone who starts the game and goes two to three innings and then they can do it again one or two days later. Last year I did it back to back games against usf. Um, and I, I don't, I think we might have won the first game, second game, kind of got a little bumpy, but, uh, yeah, the opener is just basically a short relief guy to start the game, to give, give the ball to the starter and hopefully the starter can carry it to the ninth or even finish the game.
Speaker 1 00:15:52 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah, there can be all kinds of strategic reasons, I guess Flipping the other lineup and yeah, starting bullpen. Describe a little bit about what, what's the strategy behind the opener?
Speaker 2 00:16:03 Uh, basically just eat up some innings so that way the starter can treat the, like if I started and I went three innings, the starter could treat his first inning, like it's the first inning of a game and he's completely fresh. And then by the time his fifth or sixth inning would've rolled around, it would've been seventh or eighth for our team. And then we could've just handed it off to the closer.
Speaker 1 00:16:29 Do you remember when they first approached you about being the opener? And what was your, what was your reaction?
Speaker 2 00:16:35 Um, the first time we did it was against Tulane on the Friday game. And I wasn't, I wasn't really sure. They were just, they told me, go out there until we take the ball from you. And I remember, I think I went two or three innings and we handed it off to Kaska and he told or not he told me, um, we handed the ball off to Kaska and I think he ended up finishing the game and I was just like, wow. Like we, something clicked, we figured it out.
Speaker 1 00:17:11 That was a good weekend series for the shockers. Yeah. Swept Lane. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I got, got things off to a good, a good start for Wichita State. Definitely. Yep. Uh, Jordan coaches love your positive energy. That's, that's the way they describe that to me. Uh, why is it important to contribute that, that enthusiasm to the team?
Speaker 3 00:17:30 Uh, I mean, not too long ago we were just talking about having, uh, energy vampires, like you don't want to surround yourself with people who are like thinking like negative thoughts all the time. It just kinda like puts a wear on your team. And so, like me, I just, I just love to be positive. Uh, and I think, uh, seeing the people around me, like I can see like it going to them, I, I just love doing that.
Speaker 1 00:17:56 Have you always been like that? Is that a skill you had to learn?
Speaker 3 00:17:59 Yeah, I, I would say it's my personality. Just be happy.
Speaker 1 00:18:03 Okay. We're sitting in the, uh, in the classroom here at X Stadium and up on the wall we've got six different shocker jerseys. I know this is horrible cuz it's not a visual medium, but I'll give you a quick description. We've got black with the script shockers, we've got Gray with a Wichita State. We've got white Shockers, we've got another black with a Wichita State, we've got Yellow Shockers and we've got, uh, white pin stripe. Caden, which is your favorite jersey?
Speaker 2 00:18:30 That's, that's a hard one to choose. I mean, you can never go wrong with pin stripes, but I mean, I look good in all of 'em. So, <laugh> hard thing. I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go with, I'm gonna go with, uh, all black,
Speaker 1 00:18:45 All black with Wichita State, kind of the, I don't know how, what that, I guess it's script Wichita State and we've got the tail there with the state in there. Yeah. Okay. Jordan, what's your, what's your choice? Which one do you look best in?
Speaker 3 00:18:56 Uh, I think the one I look best in is all gray. Uh, I feel like it's a old school type look and it's just, it's like, looks like you're a dirt bag in that thing. Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:19:07 I love it. You don't want to be a Long Beach state Dirtbag though.
Speaker 3 00:19:10 Yeah, you're right. That's
Speaker 1 00:19:11 Right. Small D Dirtbag. Yes. Small Wichita State kinda dirt bag. I think the last time I was over here talking to Lauren Hibbs, he was not sure how, how the jersey was going to be selected, cuz I think they've done it different ways for years. I think it was the starting pitcher. Got to select the jersey. Have, are there any, have, have we come to Resolution? Do you know what jersey you'll be wearing on Friday?
Speaker 3 00:19:32 Yes, we're gonna be wearing, uh, black on black and I like that one. Not sure which black jersey it is, but I know we're bringing both of the Black jerseys. And then, uh, Saturday we'll be wearing all gray and then Sunday we'll wear all black again.
Speaker 1 00:19:48 All black and all gray for the road trip. Yep. Okay. Very good. Uh, walkup song. Jordan Rogers. What's your walkup song?
Speaker 3 00:19:55 Uh, mine is regulate by Warren G. It's kind of a old school, uh, rap song. It just puts me in the right right space of mind. Okay.
Speaker 1 00:20:05 Caden, I guess they call, what do they call it, an introductory song or a walkout song
Speaker 2 00:20:09 For a pitcher? Yeah. Uh, I think it's a walkout song. Yeah, A walkout song. Um, mine is a Public Service Announcement by Jay-Z. It's a, uh, it's a rap song, but I mean, I just like the introduction and by the time I get on the mountain and starting my wind up and whatnot, the the beat drops when it makes me feel good. Like I'm throwing hard or something.
Speaker 1 00:20:33 <laugh>, who's got the best block up song on, on this team? One that you would you wish you, you had thought of first? Oh,
Speaker 3 00:20:39 That's tough.
Speaker 2 00:20:40 Um, I mean, I like mine. I don't know if, I don't know if Rob's changed his or not. Uh, yeah, I don't, I don't, I I don't know. I mean yours. That's a tough question. This is pretty good.
Speaker 3 00:20:53 Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:20:54 Minor. If I was a hitter, I'd go with yours. Yours does sound nice. So
Speaker 1 00:20:57 Who's got the worst, who's got the song that you just don't understand?
Speaker 2 00:21:01 I'm gonna go with Minor. I'm gonna go with J Minor.
Speaker 3 00:21:04 It's probably gonna be, uh, Mauricio Mcgon this year. Oh
Speaker 2 00:21:08 Yeah,
Speaker 3 00:21:09 <laugh>. He's a big, uh, fan of Bad Bunny.
Speaker 2 00:21:13 Oh God, I didn't even know that was, I'll go with Mo then. <laugh>, I'm gonna go with Mo.
Speaker 3 00:21:17 Unanimous. Be be ready for that one.
Speaker 1 00:21:19 Okay. All right. We'll, we'll be on the lookout. Uh, say one nice thing about one of your coaches here at Wichita State. Caden, I'll, I'll let you start.
Speaker 2 00:21:28 Um, Hibbs really cares about us and I I find that to help me relax while I'm at the field. I mean, I know that he does it out of love and he also does it out of the fact that he wants to win, and so he gets everyone on the same page and it's relaxing. Jordan,
Speaker 1 00:21:45 Your turn.
Speaker 3 00:21:46 Um, I'd say I have nothing but respect for every single coach we have. Um, they all push us to be the best version of ourselves and I, I'm extremely thankful for that. And obviously we all know it's been a different type of year, difficult, but without those guys, uh, it it'll be very difficult, uh, to keep going. But they've made us feel welcomed and I'm very appreciative of that.
Speaker 4 00:22:26 Hi, this is Rick Mima, president of Wichita State University. Check out the latest episode of the Forward Together podcast. Each episode I sit down with different guests from Chacar Nation to celebrate the vision and mission of Wichita State University. Listen wherever you get your podcasts,
Speaker 5 00:22:55 Great insight as always. Thanks for listening to the Roundhouse podcast. Courtesy of Wichita State University strategic communications. We encourage you to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can always find more roundhouse
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Speaker 6 00:23:12 And they let him pass it up court and then he gets picked off along three by Pango. No good. One second. It's over. It's over. And Wichita State has beaten the number one team in the nation to go to the Sweet 16. Go crazy Wichita. I know
Speaker 0 00:23:28 You are.
