Just Catching Up: A Profile Interview with Vincent Cowdrey
By Gabriella Trevisani
It turns out that rain doesn’t care about state lines. Both, in New York and Michigan alike, spring
showers kept interfering- not just with our attempts to connect, but with a pretty hefty baseball
schedule. Games were getting rescheduled left and right, and trying to line up this conversation
felt like trying to beat a rain delay. But finally, the skies cleared just enough for us to connect.
And what followed was a conversation that was well worth the wait.
Vincent Cowdrey is a twenty-year-old catcher and outfielder from White Lake, Michigan. He is a
sophomore at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan currently pursuing his
associate’s degree, but plans to continue on for a bachelor’s degree in Business. His intelligence
and leadership skills translate both on-and-off the field as his team’s captain and a respected
voice in the clubhouse. Vincent leads by example, demonstrating a strong work ethic, a
level-headed mindset, and a commitment to playing for enjoyment not just excellence, that
inspires his teammates day-in-and day-out.
It’s very rare to meet someone that makes you, the interviewer, feel more at ease than the other
way around- but that’s exactly the kind of presence Vincent brings. Grounded, confident, and
charismatic, he’s more than ready to elevate his game and embrace the challenges and
camaraderie that summer ball with the Blue Sox has to offer.
So without further ado, here’s our conversation—just catching up, in every sense of the word.
Gabriella: “So we’re going to start with an introduction for the Blue Sox fans out there. Can you
tell us a little about where you’re from, what position you play and how you first got into
baseball?”
Vincent: “So I’m from White Lake, Michigan, which is about 35 minutes northwest of Detroit.
I’m a catcher and an outfielder. I’ve been playing baseball my whole life and I really enjoy the
fun aspect of it. I like to have fun when I’m playing because without fun, baseball is just kind of
a game.”
Gabriella: “Are there any memorable moments that stand out from when you first started
playing?”
Vincent: “When I was about 10, our team was – we needed a catcher, and I was an infielder at
the time. And I’m like, you know what? I’ll try catching, and ever since then that position stuck,
and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Gabriella: “That’s awesome how it just kind of sprung up on you. So you say, you’re from
White Lake, Michigan and you’re still studying and playing there in college… I’m curious, what’s
your favorite thing about being from Michigan?”
Vincent: “I like all the lakes in the area. I’m a pretty avid fisherman, and, when I’m not playing
baseball, I own a fishing boat, so I go out and I go fishing on all the different lakes around here.”
Gabriella: “That’s super nice. And with Michigan sports being such a big part of the culture too,
I’ve got to ask, are you a Michigan sports fan, and which teams do you root for?”
Vincent: “Yeah, for sure. I’m definitely a Michigan Wolverines fan. Football has been pretty
good over the past couple years. Basketball is getting a little bit better—”
Gabriella: (avid Wolverines fan): “I hope so.”
Vincent: “As far as professional sports go, I’m a huge Lions fan, a big Tigers fan. And just like
Michigan, those teams have been getting better and better each year. So it’s been exciting for
sports here in Detroit.”
Gabriella: “Definitely. So now we’re going to dig into your performance. You currently play for
your college’s team, the Macomb Monarchs, and looking at the game schedule, I find it
impressive how you’re able to balance athletics and academics. What do you value most about
college, and are there any lessons that you’ve learned that have translated onto the field?”
Vincent: “I’d say that obviously academics come first. I take pride in my academics and my
performance in the classroom. I want to get all my schoolwork done as quickly as possible, but
with good work, obviously. But once I can get that out of the way, then it’s just baseball I’m
focusing on. And the more time I can have for baseball, the better I can be, (and) the better
mindset I’m going to have going into games, knowing that I’m prepared.”
Gabriella: “Of course, yes. And what are you majoring in?”
Vincent: “Right now I’m just getting my associate’s in General Studies, but I’m planning on
when I go to a four-year (college), I’m going into business.”
Gabriella: “Nice. So I’ve been following your season, and I’ve got to say you’ve had an
incredible year so far. Your performance at the plate has been amazing, hitting .352, slugging
.937% with 13 home runs—two of them hit this weekend. So it sounds like everything’s clicking
for you— what’s been the key to your success at the plate?”
Vincent: “It’s just confidence. Putting in the work during practice, putting it in when we don’t
have practice, and knowing that when I step up to the plate, I’ve prepared myself for these
moments. When I get the pitch I’m looking for, I’m going to do exactly what I want to with it,
and it’s been working out pretty well this year.”
Gabriella: “Yes, definitely. I’ve also got to congratulate you for being named the MCAA
Eastern Conference Player of the Week. That’s a huge accomplishment, and how impressive are
your numbers? You hit five home runs, posted a .588 batting average over a single week. So
could you walk us through what that week was like for you?”
Vincent: “It’s been really exciting. Seeing the ball go over the fence is always an awesome
feeling. But I’ve mainly been focusing on driving in runners when I’ve got guys in scoring
position and trying to live in the gaps. Lately, the ball’s just been finding its way over the fence.
I’m really happy with that. My swing’s been clicking, and I’m helping the team in a way I wasn’t
even aiming for—but it’s working.”
Gabriella: “What’s your mindset when you’re in a groove like that?”
Vincent: “When I step up to the plate, I know I’m going to make solid contact. I’ve been finding
barrels consistently, and with all the backspin I’m generating, the ball’s really carrying. It’s
exciting — especially when we’ve got four or five guys getting on in front of me. I’m like,
alright, let’s go. Time to go again.”
Gabriella: “Definitely. You’ve also been doing well behind the plate, achieving a perfect fielding
percentage, so far. Given the physical and mental demands of catching, how do you stay sharp
behind the plate, while still staying focused throughout the game?”
Vincent: “Just staying engaged the whole time. I like to interact with my umpires a little bit.
Most of them are good dudes. So having a good conversation with them and having a good
relationship keeps me loose. And I find that very helpful because if I’m too tense, I’m thinking
way too much. So just trying to stay loose and calm helps me play a little bit better.”
Gabriella: “Yeah, I really love the mentality of being communicative. From an outsider’s
perspective, I feel like that’s such an important part of the role- catchers as the backbone or
leaders of the team. Do you think your teammates would describe you as someone that they can
rely on on and off the field?”
Vincent: “I would say yes, speaking for them. Obviously we butt heads here and there, but I
mean, those are my guys. I love them to death and I’ll do anything for them. At the end of the
day, it’s me and them working together and we’re just trying to get outs. We’re trying to get back
on offense so we can put up runs for them. And I feel like I have great relationships with my
pitchers and I’m just looking forward to getting with these guys on the Blue Sox and seeing what
we can get going.”
Gabriella: “That’s awesome. And aren’t you the captain of your team?”
Vincent: “Yes, yes I am.”
Gabriella: “So how might that influence your approach to both catching and the team morale?”
Vincent: “I mean, my role as captain is to lead everybody else, right? And if I’m doing my job
right, I’m communicating and holding everybody else accountable. I’m also holding myself
accountable. So if we have guys who aren’t giving it their all one day, myself included, we got to
get on them. I want to make sure that everybody is giving 100% everyday because, while it is a
game, I like to win and winning is a lot more fun than losing.”
Gabriella: “Of course. You sound like a great captain.”
“So, staying on the topic of catching, who is a professional MLB catcher that you look up to and
what’s one thing you appreciate about their craft?”
Vincent: “I’m going to have to say Salvador Pérez. Something I really like about him is his
receiving has gotten a lot better within the last five years, especially with all this one-knee
catching— something I’ve been doing recently. I’ve been trying to model parts of my game after
his. He’s a strong guy, definitely bigger than I am, so that part’s tough to match. But he stays
super calm behind the plate, and that’s something I’m working on — staying composed,
receiving pitches well, and doing everything I can to support my pitchers.”
Gabriella: “That’s awesome that you’ve modeled your approach after him. In your own life, has
there been a specific mentor or role model who inspires you? And can you think of any lessons
that they’ve shared with you? “
Vincent: “I’d say my dad. He played college baseball and he coached college baseball. So I’ve
been working with him for 20 years of my life and going into the batting cage with him. He
knows a lot about hitting. So again, we butt heads a lot, but at the end of the day, he knows what
he’s talking about and he’s helped me a lot with my swing and with my approach and just
becoming better as an overall person.”
Gabriella: “That’s sweet. What position did your dad play?”
Vincent: “He was an outfielder.”
Gabriella: “Nice. So looking ahead to your upcoming season with the Blue Sox, what excites
you most about playing summer ball? And what brings you to Utica? Because it’s a pretty
cross-country trip.”
Vincent: “What brings me to Utica is one of my buddies that I’ve known since I was about four
years old, Ryan King. He played there last year, and he’s a pitcher. So I love working with him.
He actually went to my rival high school over here in Michigan. So we’ve got some competition,
but I love catching him. He got me in contact with the Blue Sox. And ever since I’ve talked to
Mr. Deak, it’s been Utica all the way.”
Gabriella: “Of course. So now that we’ve covered the big stuff, I kind of want to switch gears
and get to know you a little bit more off the field. So we’re going to wrap up with some
rapid-fire personal questions. So just give me the first thing that comes to mind.”
Vincent: “Sounds good.”
Gabriella: “Alright, question one: what’s your walk-up song?”
Vincent: “My walk-up song right now is “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” by Travis Tritt.”
Gabriella: “That’s a good song. Favorite highlight of yours?”
Vincent: “I’m going to have to say just the other day when I broke my school’s single-season
home run record.”
Gabriella: “Oh, wow. That’s insane. And wasn’t it a doubleheader the other day?”
Vincent: “It was, yeah. I actually had one in each game. One to tie and one to break it.”
Gabriella: “That’s awesome. Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?”
Vincent: “I try to tell myself that I’m not going to have a good game because, typically, when I’m
feeling good before the game, I’m feeling a little bit too good, and then the game doesn’t go the
way I hope. So I try to talk myself down, to jinx myself.”
Gabriella: “Reverse psychology, I love that”.
“Do you have any nicknames? What do your teammates call you?”
Vincent: “I mean, people call me Vinny, which is pretty obvious. But for whatever reason, I got
the nickname Chinny, which I don’t even remember how I got it, but that’s what my teammates
have been calling me for eight years now.”
Gabriella: “That’s funny. What’s your pre-game meal?”
Vincent: “I’m going to have to say macaroni and cheese.”
Gabriella: “Good choice. What’s your go-to celly or celebration?”
Vincent: “Let’s see. For a double celebration, I like the LeBron James. If you’ve seen the edit
where he’s listening to Tee Grizzley, then he’s like, “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!” I love that
one.”
Gabriella: “Yes! That’s good. Do you have a secret talent or hobby?”
Vincent: “Oh, gosh. Well, I already told you I like fishing.”
Gabriella: “Maybe something that nobody else would guess about you at first glance?”
Vincent: “You know what? Yeah. I’m actually forklift certified, so I can drive a forklift.”
Gabriella: “Oh my gosh. How did you get that?”
Vincent: “So, I’ve been working at a transportation company, and we have a forklift, and I’ve
always wanted to be forklift certified. So one day, they tested me, and I passed.”
Gabriella: “That’s super cool! Alright. So this kind of leads into the next question: If you weren’t
playing baseball, what do you think you’d be doing?”
Vincent: “As far as profession goes, like a dream profession, I think I would like to be a
NASCAR driver. I think that’d be pretty awesome.”
Gabriella: “Yeah, that would be great. Alright, night or day game?”
Vincent: “Ooh. I like a good day game”
Gabriella: “Unique. I feel like everyone likes to play under the lights”.
Vincent: “You know, I just like the sun beaming down. Gives good vibes.”
Gabriella: “True. Alright. Last question. What’s the dream?”
Vincent: “I want to take baseball as far as it goes. So if I can make it to professional baseball,
that’d be awesome. If not, I just want to have as much fun as possible while playing the game. So
if I can drag that fun out as long as possible, that’s the dream for me”.
Gabriella: “That is a great answer. So, to send it off, a lot of our viewers and fans are young
players who dream of making it to the next level and pursuing baseball as a career. So I just want
to ask you, what’s some advice you’d give to a younger player who dreams of following in your
footsteps and reaching the next level”?
Vincent: “Personally, a lot of people have counted me out. That’s why I’m at JUCO baseball, So
I would say just proving not to them, but to yourself that they were wrong and that you deserve
this more than they thought you did. I like to take a lot of things personally like that. So I’m
trying everyday to get better, get better —not only to prove them wrong, but to prove myself
right.”
Gabriella: “That’s a great answer. Very authentic.”
“All right. Well, that is actually all I have for today. So thank you so much for meeting with me.
This was a lot of fun.”
Vincent: “Awesome. Thank you very much.”
Gabriella: “I look forward to watching you play this summer.”
Vincent: “Thank you. I look forward to playing.”
Gabriella: “And good luck with the rest of your season.”
Vincent: “Alright, thank you, have a good one.”