Team News

Q&A With Former Logger Justin Toole

January 15, 2009

Our spotlight Loggers in the pros today is former player Justin Toole.  Justin is currently affiliated with the Cleveland Indians in the minor leagues as a member of the Arizona League Indians.   Here are Justin’s answers to the questions we had for him.

Team               BA       G         AB       H         2B        3B        HR       RBI     

Loggers 07’      .242     59        190      46        6          0          1          15   See Justin's University of Iowa Bio

Loggers 08’      .289     63        197      57        9          0          1          18       

Iowa- Career    .366     114      391      143      26        6          1          85       

University of Iowa Accomplishments

2009 Pre-season Third Team All-American - Ping!
2009 Brooks Wallace Watch List
2008 All-Region
2008 Third Team All-Big Ten
2008 Academic All-Big Ten
2007 Third Team All-Big Ten
2007 First Team All-Region
2007 Academic All-Big Ten
Tied Iowa single-game singles record with five vs. UNI (Apr. 30, 2008)
2008 Music City Classic All-Tournament Team
Established school record 25-game hitting streak in 2008

LL:  What is the best memory you have so far in your young professional career?

JT:  The best memory so far would probably be just playing in my first professional game with Mahoning Valley in the New York Penn League.  It was a wild game that we won in extra innings.  So many crazy things happened.  I was robbed of a home run late in the game, which would have been my first professional hit, but as it turns out I got my first hit off a roommate and teammate that I played with at Iowa.  It has always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball, and to finally get to that point it was a dream come true.  

LL:  What has been the most challenging thing that you have faced so far playing with this higher level of competition?

JT:  The hardest part for me was getting back to playing again after an injury and having to do it at the next level.  I broke my arm April 25th in a game against Michigan State after being hit by a pitch right above my wrist, and I was in a cast until the beginning of June.  Obviously it took me awhile to get my strength and range of motion back, and that affected my hitting and fielding abilities.  Once I joined the Indians after I was healthy again, I still wasn't quite at the level I was at before the injury.  It took me awhile to get back in the swing of things, but once I did I started playing much better.  It was definitely a challenge after not being able to do much for all of May.    

LL:   After not being selected in the initial player draft, what kept you upbeat and encouraged that you could ultimately play at this level and make a professional team?

JT:  Had it not been for the broken arm injury in April, I would have been picked up in the June draft.  After talking with a few different teams, they all wanted me to be healthy before they signed me, and with me not being a high draft possibility the draft wasn't really an option after the injury.  Knowing that I needed to be healthy, I just did everything I could to get back on the field as soon as possible.  I signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association (Independent Ball) at the end of June, once I felt like I healthy enough to be back on the field.  I did really well there in the 8 games I played, and week after signing there I signed with the Cleveland Indians.  I had a lot of success in college and during my summers in La Crosse against some very good competition.  Ultimately I felt like I could play at the next level, I just had to get healthy before I could get that opportunity. 

LL:  You set a school record 25-game hitting streak with the University of Iowa back in 2008; did you have any close calls where you didn’t think you could keep it going? And do you think anyone at the university will be able to match this record any time soon?

JT:  To be honest, I wasn't too worried about the hit streak and I actually didn't realize I had a hit streak going until it got up around 20 games or so.  The streak was just one of those crazy things where wherever I hit the ball it found a hole.  I was always told that once you make contact with the ball, a lot of what happens after that is out of your control.  Going with that I just always tried to put good swings on good pitches and with that I felt like I was giving myself the best chance for success.  I'm sure a little bit of luck every now and then didn't hurt either.  As for it being broken, records are made to be broken, so I'm sure it will be matched or surpassed at some point in time.  

LL:  Which coach has given you the best advice at any level? And what was the advice given to you?

JT:  The best advice I was ever told was by my hitting coach at the University of Iowa.  He always told me to "Be who you are and stay with what made you good".  Baseball is a very mental game and as a result a lot of people get caught up in trying to be perfect and trying to do things that aren't necessarily their strengths.  I was guilty of this early on in my career, and once I learned the type of player I was I had a lot more success.  I was never the flashy player who hit for a lot of power or had a tremendous arm. Instead, for me to have success, I had to play hard every day and do the little things right.  I couldn't afford to take days off or roll through the motions.  As a result I'm a scrappy player who doesn't always catch your eye, but always finds a way to get the job done.  That advice shaped and molded me into the player and person I am today.    

LL:  What advice would you give current Loggers players who have dreams of some day playing at the professional level?

JT:  My advice would be to enjoy every second of playing ball because you don't know when your last game might be.  My senior year at Iowa I was excited about the draft and being picked up and starting my professional career.  I was having a decent season and everything was going as scheduled until an inside fastball in the first inning against Michigan State broke my forearm right above my left wrist.  I missed the rest of my senior season and went from being a draft prospect to having to sign as a free agent.  It was then that I realized how easily this game can be taken from you and it made me cherish and appreciate playing baseball so much more.