For
the week of :
September 8, 2003
Interview with Jason Ellison
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Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.
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Ellison finds ways to
compensate for his size Jason Ellison knows he has to try harder than everyone else on the field. At 5'10" and 180 pounds, the San Francisco Giants outfield prospect is always one of the smaller players in any given game.
But the lack of size doesn't bother Ellison one bit. "You've got to use the tools you have," said the product of Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. "Most of all you've got to play hard all the time. If you're playing hard and giving your all, no one can say anything bad about you. Ellison already defied the odds by making it to the major leagues this summer for a brief cup of coffee. The Giants' 22nd round pick in the 2000 free agent draft got into seven games, batting 10 times and collecting one hit. The right-hand hitting outfielder spent the rest of the season with the Giants' AAA affiliate in Fresno, batting .295/.356/.399 in 461 at bats. He stole 21 bases in 34 attempts and hit six homeruns, one on the evening of this interview. Ellison reached the big leagues in only his fourth pro season, skipping Class AA en route to a mid-season call up to AAA last season from High A San Jose.
"They've given me the opportunities to succeed," Ellison said about the Giants organization. "Being a lower round draft pick, they've given me good opportunities ... to prove that I could play ... I just hope I can continue to do well for them." The taste of the majors that he got this year has whetted his appetite for more time with the big club. "The game is real intense up there," said Ellison. "They're playing for a lot. It's a pretty big deal. Being around that kind of environment, older guys and stuff, I enjoyed it a lot and I look forward to playing there." One of the Giants' regulars took a particular interest in Ellison. "Marquis Grissom (Giants' center fielder) worked a lot with me on outfield defensive work and on baserunning," stated Ellison. "He even helped me with my swing a little bit. He was a big part of my season." Ellison doesn't expect to rest in the off-season.
"I'm thinking about winter ball," answered Ellison when asked for his off-season plans. "I think that's something I'm going to end up doing. I'm still exploring options." When asked if he had a preference in winter leagues, he answered, "Wherever I end up, I'll be happy as long as I'm playing ball." Ellison's primary objective is to improve his hitting. "That's something everyone wants to improve on," remarked Ellison. "That's an experience thing, and you just work hard on it and try to perfect your swing." With the end of the AAA season, Ellison believes he met his objectives coming into the year. "My goal was to come out and play hard," he stated. "Try to open some eyes and do well and get a shot, which I did, and hopefully they'll give me another one." It defines the formula for success set out by the 25-year-old Ellison. "Play hard, work hard every day, and good things will happen for you." --- Bill Mitchell |
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