Senior infielder Adrian Damla is the latest Anteater to be featured in our Q&A series. Both on and off the baseball field, Damla shares how his family's support is everything to him. Without them, his achievements and success would not have been possible.

Damla also talks about his lifelong dream to one day play in the MLB, and how what he has learned as an Education Science major can help him pursue a coaching career.


Q: Making it this far in your baseball career, how do you keep pushing yourself to improve?
A: My childhood dream has always been to become a professional baseball player. I've put in so much time and effort in this game that there is no way I'm stopping now. I'm going to continue to work hard to hopefully achieve my dream.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: In 10 years I would love to be playing in the MLB, God willing. If that isn't in His plan, then I would like to either be a college baseball coach or take over and expand my Dad's business of selling used commercial trucks.

Q: What has been the biggest contributing factor to your success thus far?
A: I would have to say the support from my family. My dad was my first coach so any advice or tips I get from him, I would utilize them. My mom on the other hand, helps me with the mental side of the game, staying relaxed and calm in situations not only in the game of baseball, but in life. Lastly, my brother is my best friend. I can tell him anything that I'm struggling with on or off the field. We have a strong connection so we vibe easily.

Q: Did you play any other sports growing up other than baseball?
A: Other than baseball, I grew up playing club soccer. Going into high school I had to make the decision of either focusing fully on baseball or soccer. I would say I made the right decision. I still really enjoy watching soccer though.

Q: How do you deal with high pressure situations during a baseball game?
A: The way I deal with high pressure situations is quite simple. As I mentioned earlier, my mom helps me with the mental side of baseball that helps me stay relaxed. Also, at the end of the day it's just a game, my family will still love me the same no matter what.

Q: If you could compare yourself to any MLB player, who would it be and why?
A: I can't really compare myself to an MLB player, but I take bits and pieces from Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves. When it comes to Mike Trout, he plays the game the right way and hard. He never settles and always look to get better at his game and year after year he produces with amazing statistics. Another big thing I take from him is that he has no off the field issues. With Ronald Acuna Jr. he plays the game with a lot of heart. Also, he isn't the biggest player in size, which gives me more confidence in myself knowing that if he can hit 41 home runs in a season, then I am more than capable of producing high power numbers.

Q: What is your pregame ritual?
A: The only thing that I do before every game consistently is pray. I pray for good health before every game.

Q: If you had to choose to eat only one cuisine for the rest of your life what would it be and why?
A: I would have to say Mexican Cuisine. I am half Mexican so it's a pretty easy decision. Plus, they have such a wide variety of foods that are delicious.

Q: What made you interested in Education Science as a major?  Have you had the opportunity to use what you have learned?
A: I got interested in Education Science because I would like to become a collegiate coach in the future. I have gotten the opportunity to use what I've learned in the classroom in afterschool programs with kids. Learning how to cope with kids was a great experience because it makes it easier to deal with them since they have so much energy. Also, I have taken a Coaching Sports class which showed me how much is put in to becoming a successful coach.

Q: What is the most bizarre thing you have witnessed playing baseball?
A: The most bizarre thing I've witnessed playing baseball was in high school when the stadium lights completely shut off during a game in the 5th inning.

Q: If we asked your teammates to describe you in three words, what would they be?
A: Competitive, caring, and positive

Q: What made you get into playing backgammon? 
A: I am also half Armenian, so throughout my childhood, I would always see my dad playing with my mom and relatives. I really enjoy playing backgammon to the point where I would play it every day with my parents.