Kansas City Royals Prospect Interview: Andrew Edwards

Spring Training is in the process of wrapping up and the regular season will soon be underway. It is a time of hope and promise not only for the fans, but for the players and the teams as well. As the players head off to their respective destinations, it is a great time to see what their goals for the season are and what they had been working on during their time in Arizona.

With that being the case, we reached out to friend of the site Andrew Edwards to catch up and see how things have been through the offseason and Spring Training. He was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us once again as he prepares for his second full season in the Kansas City Royals system.

Dave Hill: First, how is your mother doing with her battle with cancer? I can imagine that knowing that she is better has made this time through Spring Training easier.

More from KC Royals Prospects

Andrew Edwards: She is doing wonderful! It is a day by day process but she has been unbelievably brave and strong throughout this entire time. Even while she was battling the cancer during her treatments, she never lost hope or gave up! It’s truly a blessing that I can still pick up the phone and call her. Will never be able to thank the man upstairs enough. Yes, spring training was a lot easier. The thought of her struggling is gone, and off my mind. It has allowed me to focus 100% on getting better and getting ready for the long season.

DH: Last season, you moved between the starting rotation and the bullpen. Have the Royals determined your role this season, and does that make preparing for the season easier?

AE: Yes, I’m going to be coming out of the bullpen this season. Last year was a learning curve for myself. Playing one hundred forty games was an adjustment for me. I learned when to tone it back, so I didn’t hit “the wall” mid season. Preparing has been easier this spring. I know exactly what my role is and where I fit in the organization.

DH: What have you been working on improving during Spring Training?

AE: It’s a cliche statement, but a little of everything. Physical training, mental training, mechanics,etc. It has been a nonstop offseason for me in the training aspect. Last season was not the season I had pictured during last spring training. I went back to the drawing board and just simplified everything.

DH: Last season was your first in as part of a full season minor league team. What was the biggest adjustment you had to face in pitching all year?

More from Kings of Kauffman

AE: Like I said before, knowing when to tone it back. You have to listen to your body and do what it’s saying. If you feel good enough to lift, lift. If not, take that take to recover. Also a big adjustment was learning how to deal with failure for 5 months, everyday. You might have twenty games in a row, and you learn to discard bad outings. In the same hand, you can’t hang on to good outings too long. Enjoy them and try to build off of them.

DH: What are your goals for this upcoming season?

AE: Stay healthy, have a great year, and keep moving up in the organization.

DH: Finally, what would you want Royals fans to know about you as they follow your minor league career?

AE: I would like them to know first off they are the best fans. Watching them come to the games and show their support for the Royals during the playoffs was special. It’s an awesome feeling knowing you’re in an organization where the fans are that awesome! I’d like them to know, I’m working hard everyday to pitch in front of them in the near future.

Our thanks again to Andrew Edwards for once again taking the time to answer these questions for us, and the best of luck to him during the upcoming season!

Next: KC Royals Player Projections: Salvador Perez

Home/KC Royals Prospects