Journey to the Top: Interview with Atlanta Braves John Gant’s Father
BC: Finally, he has a break through 2015 and jumps up from high-A to AA with the Mets, and then he gets traded. Was there some trepidation with leaving the organization that drafted and developed him for John or for you?
JG: There was no trepidation at all. The scout that signed him was Les Parker. He is a fabulous man and was very good to our family. He would sit us down and go through the processes that would take place. He always told us the truth and I’m very grateful to him for treating us that way. I mention that to say we had a very good experience with the Mets organization. However, because of our fondness for the Braves we were very happy with the trade. Paul DePodesta was another individual that was good to us in addition to many Coaches and Managers along the way. We thank the Mets, but we’re glad to be Braves! We did learn that this is a business and that was good experience for us.
BC: What are your favorite memories of John’s baseball journey on the way up the minor league ladder?
JG: That first HR in the rain is a good memory for one reason. He kept his composure that day, never flinched or showed any negative body language, and I was reassured that he had the makeup to succeed as a professional ball player. I remember he was the #1 starter in Brooklyn and for opening night pitched in front of 8,000 fans and had a great night. We were able to view a NY station broadcast of his post game interview. We loved seeing him conduct himself and you could see the joy on his face. The whole Savannah season was a blast. He performed very well and, as I stated earlier, the support was incredible. I think he threw a couple of 1 hitters. Often the many friends and family would hang around after the game and wait to greet him when he came out of the locker room. We have many pictures of hugs and handshakes for congratulations on a job well done. Spring Training was always fun for us as he seemed to do well each year (just as he did this year).
BC: What makes your son excel on the mound? What pitches does he use, and which one(s) is/are his best from your perspective?
JG: There’s no doubt that the Lord has blessed him with physical gifts and put something in his arm that most of us don’t have. However, to me that differentiator has been his psychological and emotional makeup. In my opinion he is mature beyond his 23 years. He never gets “caught up” in the moment, keeps his head, and exudes a steady presence on the mound. He is very driven inside and will do what it takes to succeed. You may beat him one time, but he will learn from it and make sure next time goes his way. When he graduated high school he was a lanky 175 lbs. He now weighs in at 205 lbs. He works very hard in his preparation to succeed. He has worked extremely hard on his mechanics to fine tune them and his fastball has gone from 89 in high school to touching 95 now. That fastball has sink on it and he uses the corners well. His curve ball is average but steadily improving as he’s working on it. It has a good sharp break on it and once he develops depth to it, it will be a major asset in his arsenal. To me his best pitch is his change up. Thrown with a Vulcan grip, the ball has a split action to it and dives down hard at the plate. He can throw it at any time in the count. The best part about the pitch is he doesn’t give it away with his arm action. It’s very difficult to pick up. Also, in his delivery he seems to hide ball well from the hitters getting a good read on it.
Next: Interview Concluded...