Andrew Graham
Content
June 2011
EFIELDHOUSE.COM
“Having
Tommy
John
surgery
may
have
been
a
blessing
in
disguise
for
me.”
Andrew Graham Bullpen to Top Step of the Dugout
eFH:
What
was
the
most
important
thing
you
learned
in
baseball? A:
I
loved
the
game
so
much,
but
struggled
early
in
my
career
dealing
with
disappointment.
I
think
the
biggest
think
I
learned
was
how
to
not
take
the
frustra=on
home
with
me
a>er
a
bad
game.
You’re
lucky
in
professional
baseball,
because
there
is
always
“the
next
day”
to
get
back
up
to
the
plate
and
swing
again.
In
a
season
that
is
so
long,
you
can’t
get
down
on
yourself
or
you’ll
be
out
of
the
game
very
quickly.
eFH:
You
played
for
6
years
in
the
minor
leagues
reaching
as
high
as
the
AAA
Toledo
Mudhens.
You
also
played
in
the
World
Baseball
Classics
Australian
NaDonal
Team.
What
were
your
greatest
memories
during
those
six
years?
A:
My
greatest
memory
in
baseball
started
on
the
day
I
was
dra>ed.
Being
dra>ed
completed
one
of
my
main
goals
of
becoming
a
professional
baseball
player.
A>er
that
I
would
say
winning
the
Mid
West
League
Championship
in
2004
and
playing
in
the
World
Baseball
Classics
in
2006
and
2009
against
Major
League
All
Star
players.
I’ll
never
forget
playing
in
Japan
against
the
“Japanese
Dream
Team”
in
front
of
a
crowd
of
37,000
people.
1
EFIELDHOUSE.COM June 2011
Andrew Graham Player/Coach
eFH:
You
had
Tommy
John
surgery
in
2008.
Can
you
tell
us
what
that
was
like? A:
Having
Tommy
John
surgery
was
emo=onally
and
physically
draining.
It
basically
takes
you
away
from
playing
for
a
good
year
which
was
devasta=ng.
eFH:
Do
you
have
any
advice
to
others
who
are
having
the
same
or
similar
problem?
“I
learned
to
be
professional,
but
also
to
stand
up
for
our
kids.
I
also
learned
that
there
is
a
lot
more
to
coaching
than
just
going
out
and
telling
kids
to
take
third
on
a
ball
in
the
gap.”
A:
Definitely!
The
idea
of
coaching
came
up
from
=me
to
=me
with
some
of
the
higher
ups.
The
next
year
Detroit
turned
me
into
a
player
coach.
This
doesn’t
happen
much,
but
I
would
A:
Having
the
surgery
may
have
actually
been
a
move
around
from
team
to
team
as
a
roving
blessing
in
disguise
for
me.
I
was
around
the
catcher
coach/player
if
I
was
needed.
Then
if
rookie
ball
team
a
lot
while
doing
rehab.
I
another
catcher
was
injured
at
any
level,
I
helped
the
catchers
a
liWle
bit
and
during
that
=me
established
a
nice
rapport
with
the
other
would
take
over
un=l
they
had
someone
ready.
The
next
year,
I
became
a
full
=me
coach.
I
coaches
and
staff.
My
advice
is
to
look
for
that
started
as
the
Gulf
Coast
Tigers
hi]ng
coach
in
silver
lining.
My
experience
definitely
gave
me
2009
and
then
in
2010,
I
was
promoted
to
the
a
new
perspec=ve
on
baseball. Detroit
Tigers
Catching
coordinator.
In
2011,
I
eFH:
So
is
this
where
you
first
saw
yourself
as
became
the
Short
Season
A
manager
for
the
a
future
manager? Norwich
Connec=cut
Tigers.
I
would
say
to
someone
that
was
looking
to
coach
that
if
they
truly
love
working
with
young
people
they
should
find
someone
that
they
trust
who
can
mentor
them
Andrew Graham
!
2
Currently
managing
in
the
Minor
Leagues
for
the
Detroit
Tigers
EFIELDHOUSE.COM June 2011
eFH:
Certainly
there
were
a
lot
of
good
and
difficult
Dmes
throughout
your
career.
Would
you
say
you
had
some
help
along
the
way? A:
My
father
has
always
been
there
for
me.
He
was
my
coach
from
5
years
old
un=l
I
was
17.
He
taught
me
the
game
un=l
I
moved
to
America.
I
guess
coaching
was
in
my
blood.
My
junior
college
coach
taught
me
how
to
play
the
game
hard.
He
showed
me
how
to
just
let
the
kids
play
and
not
over
instruct
and
teach.
Then
there
were
the
coaches
in
the
Detroit
Tigers
system.
There
are
a
lot
of
qualified
coaches
in
our
systems.
Some
would
say,
“ There
is
a
lot
of
dirt
in
Detroit’s
coach’s
spikes.”
From
them
I
learned
to
be
professional,
but
also
to
stand
up
for
our
kids.
I
also
learned
that
there
is
a
lot
more
to
coaching
than
just
going
out
and
telling
kids
to
take
third
on
a
ball
in
the
gap.
Un=l
you
start
to
manage
a
team
yourself,
you
don’t
appreciate
what
goes
on
behind
the
scenes.
I’ve
been
very
blessed
to
have
the
help
I’ve
received
from
friends
and
family
as
well
as
the
support
from
within
the
Detroit
System. Born
in
Sydney,
Australia 6
years
in
the
minor
leagues
reaching
AAA
Toledo
Mudhens
(Detroit
Tigers) Australian
Na=onal
Team 3
World
Baseball
Classics Currently
managing
in
the
Minor
Leagues
for
the
Detroit
Tigers
eFH:
Do
you
have
any
advice
for
other
athletes
who
are
looking
to
coach
aUer
playing? A:
Well,
I
love
coaching.
My
father
was
a
coach,
so
I
think
it
was
something
inevitable
for
me.
I
would
say
to
someone
that
was
looking
to
coach
that
if
they
truly
love
working
with
young
people
they
should
find
someone
that
they
trust
who
can
mentor
them.
That
way
when
the
opportunity
comes,
they’ll
already
understand
what
it
takes
to
be
a
coach.
I’m
talking
about
the
paperwork,
rela=onships,
strategies
etc…
There
is
so
much
more
to
coaching
than
just
direc=ng
players
around
the
bases.
I’d
say
that
would
be
the
best
advice
I
could
give.
eFH:
Could
you
help
other
athletes
looking
to
coach?
A:
Absolutely.
eFieldHouse
me!!!
I’m
on
the
site.
3
EFIELDHOUSE.COM June 2011
Andrew Graham coaching...
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Matt Righter Doreen Cappelaere Mark Cunningham
Follow
eFieldHouse
On:
Facebook
hWp://twiWer.com/#!/e_Fieldhouse
Publisher Editor Photography
eFieldHouse would not exist without our contributors. We thank them for their time, generosity, and wisdom. You’re given the unlimited right to print and distribute this article and we encourage you to share it. You may not alter this in any way though, and you may not charge for it or for any of the content. The copyright in this work belongs to the publisher, who is solely responsible for the content. All images from Mark Cunningham have been used with his permission.
Contact
us:
info@efieldhouse.com
4
EFIELDHOUSE.COM
“Having
Tommy
John
surgery
may
have
been
a
blessing
in
disguise
for
me.”
Andrew Graham Bullpen to Top Step of the Dugout
eFH:
What
was
the
most
important
thing
you
learned
in
baseball? A:
I
loved
the
game
so
much,
but
struggled
early
in
my
career
dealing
with
disappointment.
I
think
the
biggest
think
I
learned
was
how
to
not
take
the
frustra=on
home
with
me
a>er
a
bad
game.
You’re
lucky
in
professional
baseball,
because
there
is
always
“the
next
day”
to
get
back
up
to
the
plate
and
swing
again.
In
a
season
that
is
so
long,
you
can’t
get
down
on
yourself
or
you’ll
be
out
of
the
game
very
quickly.
eFH:
You
played
for
6
years
in
the
minor
leagues
reaching
as
high
as
the
AAA
Toledo
Mudhens.
You
also
played
in
the
World
Baseball
Classics
Australian
NaDonal
Team.
What
were
your
greatest
memories
during
those
six
years?
A:
My
greatest
memory
in
baseball
started
on
the
day
I
was
dra>ed.
Being
dra>ed
completed
one
of
my
main
goals
of
becoming
a
professional
baseball
player.
A>er
that
I
would
say
winning
the
Mid
West
League
Championship
in
2004
and
playing
in
the
World
Baseball
Classics
in
2006
and
2009
against
Major
League
All
Star
players.
I’ll
never
forget
playing
in
Japan
against
the
“Japanese
Dream
Team”
in
front
of
a
crowd
of
37,000
people.
1
EFIELDHOUSE.COM June 2011
Andrew Graham Player/Coach
eFH:
You
had
Tommy
John
surgery
in
2008.
Can
you
tell
us
what
that
was
like? A:
Having
Tommy
John
surgery
was
emo=onally
and
physically
draining.
It
basically
takes
you
away
from
playing
for
a
good
year
which
was
devasta=ng.
eFH:
Do
you
have
any
advice
to
others
who
are
having
the
same
or
similar
problem?
“I
learned
to
be
professional,
but
also
to
stand
up
for
our
kids.
I
also
learned
that
there
is
a
lot
more
to
coaching
than
just
going
out
and
telling
kids
to
take
third
on
a
ball
in
the
gap.”
A:
Definitely!
The
idea
of
coaching
came
up
from
=me
to
=me
with
some
of
the
higher
ups.
The
next
year
Detroit
turned
me
into
a
player
coach.
This
doesn’t
happen
much,
but
I
would
A:
Having
the
surgery
may
have
actually
been
a
move
around
from
team
to
team
as
a
roving
blessing
in
disguise
for
me.
I
was
around
the
catcher
coach/player
if
I
was
needed.
Then
if
rookie
ball
team
a
lot
while
doing
rehab.
I
another
catcher
was
injured
at
any
level,
I
helped
the
catchers
a
liWle
bit
and
during
that
=me
established
a
nice
rapport
with
the
other
would
take
over
un=l
they
had
someone
ready.
The
next
year,
I
became
a
full
=me
coach.
I
coaches
and
staff.
My
advice
is
to
look
for
that
started
as
the
Gulf
Coast
Tigers
hi]ng
coach
in
silver
lining.
My
experience
definitely
gave
me
2009
and
then
in
2010,
I
was
promoted
to
the
a
new
perspec=ve
on
baseball. Detroit
Tigers
Catching
coordinator.
In
2011,
I
eFH:
So
is
this
where
you
first
saw
yourself
as
became
the
Short
Season
A
manager
for
the
a
future
manager? Norwich
Connec=cut
Tigers.
I
would
say
to
someone
that
was
looking
to
coach
that
if
they
truly
love
working
with
young
people
they
should
find
someone
that
they
trust
who
can
mentor
them
Andrew Graham
!
2
Currently
managing
in
the
Minor
Leagues
for
the
Detroit
Tigers
EFIELDHOUSE.COM June 2011
eFH:
Certainly
there
were
a
lot
of
good
and
difficult
Dmes
throughout
your
career.
Would
you
say
you
had
some
help
along
the
way? A:
My
father
has
always
been
there
for
me.
He
was
my
coach
from
5
years
old
un=l
I
was
17.
He
taught
me
the
game
un=l
I
moved
to
America.
I
guess
coaching
was
in
my
blood.
My
junior
college
coach
taught
me
how
to
play
the
game
hard.
He
showed
me
how
to
just
let
the
kids
play
and
not
over
instruct
and
teach.
Then
there
were
the
coaches
in
the
Detroit
Tigers
system.
There
are
a
lot
of
qualified
coaches
in
our
systems.
Some
would
say,
“ There
is
a
lot
of
dirt
in
Detroit’s
coach’s
spikes.”
From
them
I
learned
to
be
professional,
but
also
to
stand
up
for
our
kids.
I
also
learned
that
there
is
a
lot
more
to
coaching
than
just
going
out
and
telling
kids
to
take
third
on
a
ball
in
the
gap.
Un=l
you
start
to
manage
a
team
yourself,
you
don’t
appreciate
what
goes
on
behind
the
scenes.
I’ve
been
very
blessed
to
have
the
help
I’ve
received
from
friends
and
family
as
well
as
the
support
from
within
the
Detroit
System. Born
in
Sydney,
Australia 6
years
in
the
minor
leagues
reaching
AAA
Toledo
Mudhens
(Detroit
Tigers) Australian
Na=onal
Team 3
World
Baseball
Classics Currently
managing
in
the
Minor
Leagues
for
the
Detroit
Tigers
eFH:
Do
you
have
any
advice
for
other
athletes
who
are
looking
to
coach
aUer
playing? A:
Well,
I
love
coaching.
My
father
was
a
coach,
so
I
think
it
was
something
inevitable
for
me.
I
would
say
to
someone
that
was
looking
to
coach
that
if
they
truly
love
working
with
young
people
they
should
find
someone
that
they
trust
who
can
mentor
them.
That
way
when
the
opportunity
comes,
they’ll
already
understand
what
it
takes
to
be
a
coach.
I’m
talking
about
the
paperwork,
rela=onships,
strategies
etc…
There
is
so
much
more
to
coaching
than
just
direc=ng
players
around
the
bases.
I’d
say
that
would
be
the
best
advice
I
could
give.
eFH:
Could
you
help
other
athletes
looking
to
coach?
A:
Absolutely.
eFieldHouse
me!!!
I’m
on
the
site.
3
EFIELDHOUSE.COM June 2011
Andrew Graham coaching...
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Matt Righter Doreen Cappelaere Mark Cunningham
Follow
eFieldHouse
On:
hWp://twiWer.com/#!/e_Fieldhouse
Publisher Editor Photography
eFieldHouse would not exist without our contributors. We thank them for their time, generosity, and wisdom. You’re given the unlimited right to print and distribute this article and we encourage you to share it. You may not alter this in any way though, and you may not charge for it or for any of the content. The copyright in this work belongs to the publisher, who is solely responsible for the content. All images from Mark Cunningham have been used with his permission.
Contact
us:
info@efieldhouse.com
4
