Journey to the Top: Interview with Atlanta Braves John Gant’s Father
BC: His debut set the internet on fire with everyone talking about his unique wind up. When did you first notice the unique aspect of his wind up?
JG:
This has been very comical to us. He began doing it slightly in Savannah. Not as pronounced as it is now but he did it. I guess he just became comfortable with it. I guess after you see it so many times it looks normal! No pitching coach or any baseball person ever has tried to change it or even mentioned it to him.
BC: Last question – his first big league game against Washington – tell me about the experience as a father seeing your son be able to achieve his dream and make his big league debut:
JG: I was watching the game on MLB tv. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to attend the game and have “The Rookie” movie moment to watch him jog to the mound from the pen. It was one of those moments you feel your self floating in air and not really aware that anything else exists. I shed a slight tear as I watched his warm up tosses. My kid was pitching in a MLB game in the 9th inning! I watched with great anticipation as he toed a MLB mound for the first time. It was one of the very few times in my life I was nervous. I hung on every pitch. I could feel his heart pounding as he hit 95 on the stadium gun. I remember seeing that you could really tell how much movement he had on the television. I remember the movie “The Natural” and the young kid coming in to pitch at the end. I remembered that in the book the kid struck him out. Then he had his first big league strikeout. I was made completely alive by my kid’s actions that night and I was better for it. I watched him get the 3rd out and walk off high fiving the catcher. I thought of buying his first glove and playing catch with him as a little boy. I remembered bringing him home from the hospital and giving him his first bath. I remember him telling people – “I’m going to play baseball for the Atlanta Braves”.
The picture on this page was supplied by John C. for this interview. It’s of a young John getting an autograph from a Savannah Sand Gnats player in his Atlanta Braves shirsey with his name on the back.
We want to thank John for taking the time to share these awesome insights into his unique position in a major league career. You can follow John on Twitter at @JohnCGant. This was a great chance to hear the perspective of a parent of a player on the thrill of the climb and finally, the arrival at the major leagues. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed getting the information!