Baseball Factory Staff Q & A: Steve Bernhardt, Executive VP of Baseball Operations

Q: Where did you attend college?
A:University of Richmond

Q:What were the factors that lead you to choose Richmond?
A: I was looking for a small school that was south of Maryland, which is where I grew up. I really wanted to have good academics along with the opportunity to walk on the baseball team. I was cut from my high school team as a freshman and never really had a ton of interest from college coaches. I liked Richmond because it was far enough away that my parents weren’t right down the road, but close enough if I ever needed to go back I could.

Q:What was your recruiting process like?
A: I wasn’t recruited. All I did for my recruiting process was write a few letters to coaches at schools that fit what I was looking for, like Richmond. I got answers back from a few schools that I kept in contact with but I was never offered a position or scholarship to any of those schools.

Q: If you were to go through the recruiting process again what things with you do differently, what would you have done the same?
A: I would have definitely gone through a program like Baseball Factory. I would have probably started with the Tryout and then I would have had video done and an evaluation. I think that sending out videos with a real evaluation would have served me better than sending out the letters. Although I don’t think I would have changed my choice in school. It was a perfect fit for me.

Q: What would you tell high school players going through the recruiting process?
A: I would tell them a few things: 1. Players need to have a planned out marketing strategy. They also need to understand that they need to be aggressive in the recruiting process. They need to try to get their name in front of as many college coaches and recruiters as possible. 2. They also need to do as much on their own as possible. The beauty of today is the internet. Players can do so much research on their own. They can look up conferences, media guides, rosters, coach bios, post season appearances, almost anything they need to help make a decision about a school. This type of research helps in many areas. It allows the players to save time because they can rule out schools before they get too involved. By looking at rosters and grade year they can look at the position availability. If the player is a catcher they can see if they have two catchers and if they are graduating soon or are underclassman. Finally, 3. They need to understand that there are opportunities out there to play and get a great education. They have to realize that this may not be at a top 25 school. The right fit depends on the individual. They need to keep an open mind, the best fit may not be the biggest name, it may be a JUCA, NAIA, DII, DIII or it may be that top 25 school.

Q: What position did you play?
A: Mainly shortstop, some at second.

Q: What was it like playing professional baseball?
A: I always dreamt of playing in the Big Leagues, so it was a little of a realization of that dream. It was also nice to be paid to play a game you love. Its amazing to put on a uniform and play a game every night in front of fans. The fact that people wanted my autograph and I could make a living playing baseball was simply unbelievable.

Q:What is one thing that people assume about professional baseball that isn’t true?
A: When people here the word “professional” they often think only of the Majors. However, players in the minors don’t make much money and only get paid during the season. When players are not in season they do anything they can to make money since a regular season pay probably doesn’t cover all of their costs. Another thing people don’t realize is that a lot of these professional players are young some are just teenagers. So when they make a bad decision or say something to the press that isn’t 100% appropriate it is still upsetting, but people have to realize they are just still kids that haven’t fully matured. Many of them are living by themselves or away from their parents for the first time in their lives.

Q: What is something that all players need to be aware of as they try to reach the professional level?
A: Young players need to understand that everything needs to be earned. Hard work and mental toughness is key. No one will promise you a spot regardless of performance. You need to earn a spot and playing time in a game. They need to play hard everyday to earn and hold onto playing time. Major League players have earned their spot through hard work and they know that there is someone everyday vying for their job.

Q: How did you get started with Baseball Factory?
A: I was playing with the Rockies during Spring Training in 1998. However, I was released at the end of spring training so I headed back to Maryland to look for a job. My sister worked in a bank and Steve Sclafani’s mother also worked in that back. She, like Steve, loves baseball and knew I played professionally and just happened to ask my sister how I was doing. When she found out I had been released she told my sister about Baseball Factory and set up a meeting. I started working that Summer part-time and by the Fall I was full-time.

Q: What is your favorite pro team?
A: Orioles

Q:Who is your favorite current player?
A: Todd Helton, I got the chance to play with him and the way he plays the game day in and day out impresses me.

Q: Who is your overall favorite player?
A: Ryne Sandberg, the way he played his game with his body type. He did the little things. I also grew up next door to a former Chicago Cubs manager who managed Ryne so I followed the team pretty closely and got to like Ryne because of that.

Q: Who did you model your game after?
A: I would say probably Ryne Sandberg. We both played middle infield and even though I didn’t have the same tool set as Ryne I believe that we had similar styles of play.

Q: What current Major League player do you believe best represents the professionalism, talent and character upon which the “American Pastime” was established?
A: Todd Helton. I was able to know him and play with him in the Minors and got to see how he handled himself both on and off the field. He was just great at what he did. He is a throwback to how the game of baseball is supposed to be played.