Get to know... Freshman CF Tyler Holt
When FSU signed Tyler Holt, both Jamey Shouppe and Mike Martin
Jr said he will remind fans a lot of Shane Robinson. It's true, and although
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Holt is a bit bigger - he even has some of the same mannerisms as Robinson.
Holt racked up the honors in high school, named the 2006 Large School Player of
the Year by the Gainesville Sun, made it to the Forida Sports Writers
Associations Baseball All-State team all four years, and was named named a 2007
Top Prospect by Sunshine State Baseball.
Expect a lot of stolen bases from this freshman, and more than a few singles
turned into doubles because of his speed and knowledge of what do to with it.
Tyler Holt CF
5'11 175 lbs
Gainesville, FL (Gainseville HS)
1) You were pretty much branded by Coaches Shouppe and
Martin Jr as FSU's center fielder of the future. Given the names of some of
FSU's previous center fielders like Shane Robinson, J.D. Drew, Deion Sanders,
etc... how does that make you feel?
It makes me feel pretty good. I have the opportunity to
be added to that group of great centerfields if I work as hard as they did.
There's no way there can ever be another Deion Sanders, J.D. Drew, or Shane
Robinson at this program, so what I have to do is play within myself, work hard,
and just see what happens.
2) Since you're from Gainesville, I've got to ask the
customary question - how much pressure was there on you to sign with the
hometown Gators? Were you ever a UF fan? What other schools did you consider?
There was no pressure at all to sign with Florida, I've
never been a Florida fan and never will be. Since I was little, I knew
where I wanted to go and where I would end up - and that was right here in
Tallahassee. I didn't really consider any other schools, once I knew Florida
State was interested, the other schools recruiting me had no chance.
3) Now that you're in the middle of Fall Ball, what are
your thoughts on how this team is going to be? In your opinion, what are it's
strongest points going to be?
It might be to early to really tell how this team is going to
be. All i know is that we are a young team with a bunch of great guys who really
love the game. The older guys really set the tone for us younger guys the first
day we stepped into the locker room. The strongest points of our team is that we
all want the same thing: The first national championship for FSU.
4) So far through fall practice, what player has helped
you the most in making the transition to the collegiate level?
Well there are really three guys who have helped me make the
transition to the collegiate level. Those three guys are Dennis Guinn, Buster
Posey, and Jack Rye. Dennis has helped me understand my role on the team as a
freshman, and you have to earn the respect of each player and coach. Buster is
that guy who comes up to you when he knows your frustrated with yourself and
down and comes to pick you up and give you the advice you need to get going
again. Jack Rye is the senior in the outfield. He lets you when you did a good
job and he tells you when you screwed up. Overall there's not one guy who I
haven't learned something from.
5) Do you have any gameday superstitions or traditions?
Well the first inning no matter if we are home or away, I
always run to center when we take the field that first time, and I hit second
with my right foot and point to the sky. Every time I go to hit, I put my
left batting glove on first, then my right. Then I put my fingers through the
ear holes and spin the helmet around one time then slide it on.