University of North Carolina Athletics
Catching Up With Tim Federowicz
March 16, 2007 | Baseball
March 16, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After setting the Carolina freshman RBI record a year ago, Tim Federowicz was already slated to be a key contributor on this year's Tar Heel team, but the Apex native has added a new role this season to his catching duties. After some impressive results on the mound with Team USA last summer, he has emerged as a top-notch reliever and has pitched in five games this season and owns one win, one save and a 3.38 ERA. He's also still getting it done at the plate and is batting .328 with two home runs and 18 RBI. Federowicz is second on the team in RBI and third in batting average.
TarHeelBlue.com recently caught up with "Fed-Ex" to see how he's enjoying his expanded role this season.
TarHeelBlue.com: How have you enjoyed your double-duty role so far this season?
Tim Federowicz: I like it. It adds little mix to what I've been doing, so it's more exciting. I'm glad to feel the coaches have faith in me when I get on the mound, coming from behind the plate.
THB.com: Was it tough to do what you did in the Sunday win over Miami, going from catcher to the mound to back behind the plate?
TF: It wasn't that bad. I did it all in high school, I was kind of used to it. When I'm catching my arm is usually more loose, so when I go out to pitch I'm ready to go. It's pretty much the same when I go back behind the plate.
THB.com: Is it tough mentally to go from one position to the other?
TF: Coming back from behind the plate, I know what the umpire's strike zone is when I go in there to pitch, and I know pretty much what all the batters will hit or what they'll take, what there approach will be. So I think it's a little easier to pitch. Mentally, I just know how to pitch to all the guys.
THB.com: Have you started calling pitches this season?
TF: Most of it's coming from the dugout so far this year. Coach Forbes said that he would like to get to the point where he doesn't have to call any pitches. I called mostly all my pitches in the fall and in the preseason.
THB.com: How are you splitting up your practice time?
TF: I'm still lifting. I'm still doing everything as a position player. Every now and then if I need to I'll go down and throw a light bullpen. Mostly, I'm doing the same thing as last year, working as a position player.
THB.com: Would you rather hit a game-winning home run or strike a batter out with the bases loaded?
TF: I think a game-winning home run would be better because I've been a hitter all my life. I think it's more of an accomplishment.
THB.com: Did you enjoy your time with Team USA this summer and how did that help prepare you for this season?
TF: It was a lot of fun. I called all my pitches with Team USA, so that helped me out in the fall and this spring. It was a lot of fun playing with great players and that's pretty much what I'm doing here - playing with great players. It actually got me more relaxed behind the plate. I kind of took it easy and was able to concentrate on my catching over the summer. Therefore, I came back and catching seemed easier to me.
THB.com: How did you end up pitching this summer?
TF: We were in a midweek game with Team USA against a summer league team down in Georgia. They didn't want to use any pitchers because we were beating the team pretty bad, so I told them I could pitch and I could throw strikes. I went in there and pitched an inning and struck out two of three guys. They were like, `well I guess he can pitch.' From then on, whenever they could they would put me in there.
THB.com: What was it like getting to travel to Cuba with Team USA?
TF: That was a lot of fun. It's a lot different. It was a lot of fun, mingling with the Cuban people and practicing my Spanish a little bit that I hadn't used since high school. Great scenery down there.
