Andrew Graham

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Andrew GrahamBullpen to Top Step of the DugouteFH: What was the mostimportant thing you learned inbaseball?

A: I loved the game so much, butstruggled early in my careerdealing with disappointment. I

think the biggest think I learnedwas how to not take thefrustra=on home with me a>er abad game. Youre lucky inprofessional baseball, becausethere is always the next day toget back up to the plate andswing again. In a season that is so

long, you cant get down onyourself or youll be out of thegame very quickly.

eFH: You played for 6 years in theminor leagues reaching as high asthe AAA Toledo Mudhens. You

also played in the World BaseballClassics Australian NaDonalTeam. What were your greatestmemories during those six years?

A: My greatest memory inbaseball started on the day I wasdra>ed. Being dra>ed completedone of my main goals of

becoming a professional baseballplayer. A>er that I would saywinning the Mid West LeagueChampionship in 2004 andplaying in the World BaseballClassics in 2006 and 2009 againsMajor League All Star players. Inever forget playing in Japanagainst the Japanese DreamTeam in front of a crowd of37,000 people.

HavingTommy Johnsurgery mayhave been ablessing indisguise forme.

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eFH: You had Tommy John surgery in 2008.Can you tell us what that was like?

A: Having Tommy John surgery was emo=onallyand physically draining. It basically takes youaway from playing for a good year which wasdevasta=ng.

eFH: o you have any advice to others whoare having the same or similar problem?

A: Having the surgery may have actually been ablessing in disguise for me. I was around therookie ball team a lot while doing rehab. I

helped the catchers a li le bit and during that=me established a nice rapport with the othercoaches and staff. My advice is to look for thatsilver lining. My experience denitely gave mea new perspec=ve on baseball.

eFH: So is this where you rst saw yourself asa future manager?

A: Denitely! The idea of coaching came upfrom =me to =me with some of the higher ups.The next year Detroit turned me into a playercoach. This doesnt happen much, but I wouldmove around from team to team as a rovingcatcher coach/player if I was needed. Then ifanother catcher was injured at any level, Iwould take over un=l they had someone ready.The next year, I became a full =me coach. Istarted as the Gulf Coast Tigers hi]ng coach in2009 and then in 2010, I was promoted to theDetroit Tigers Catching coordinator. In 2011, Ibecame the Short Season A manager for theNorwich Connec=cut Tigers.

I learned to be professional, butalso to stand up for our kids. I alsolearned that there is a lot more tocoaching than just going out andtelling kids to take third on a ball in

the gap.

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Currently managing in the Minor Leagues for the Detroit Tigers

I would say tosomeone thatwas looking tocoach that ifthey truly loveworking withyoung peoplethey should ndsomeone thatthey trust whocan mentorthem

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eFH: Certainly there were a lot of

good and difficult Dmes

throughout your career. Would

you say you had some help along

the way?

A: My father has always beenthere for me. He was my coachfrom 5 years old un=l I was 17.He taught me the game un=l Imoved to America. I guesscoaching was in my blood. My junior college coach taught mehow to play the game hard. He

showed me how to just let thekids play and not over instructand teach. Then there were thecoaches in the Detroit Tigerssystem. There are a lot ofqualied coaches in our systems.Some would say, There is a lot ofdirt in Detroits coachs spikes.From them I learned to be

professional, but also to stand upfor our kids. I also learned thatthere is a lot more to coachingthan just going out and tellingkids to take third on a ball in thegap. Un=l you start to manage ateam yourself, you dontappreciate what goes on behindthe scenes. Ive been very

blessed to have the help Ivereceived from friends and familyas well as the support fromwithin the Detroit System.

eFH: o you have anyadvice for other athletes whoare looking to coach aUerplaying?

A: Well, I love coaching. Myfather was a coach, so I think itwas something inevitable for me.I would say to someone that waslooking to coach that if they trulylove working with young peoplethey should nd someone thatthey trust who can mentor them.That way when the opportunity

comes, theyll already understandwhat it takes to be a coach. Imtalking about the paperwork,rela=onships, strategies etcThere is so much more tocoaching than just direc=ngplayers around the bases. Id saythat would be the best advice Icould give.

eFH: Could you help otherathletes looking to coach?

A: Absolutely. eFieldHouse meIm on the site.


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Born in Sydney,Australia

6 years in the minorleagues reaching AAAToledo Mudhens(Detroit Tigers)

Australian Na=onalTeam

3 World BaseballClassics

Currently managing inthe Minor Leagues forthe Detroit Tigers


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Andrew Graham coaching...

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Andrew Graham