00:00Oh
00:20Cruel cruel they have to go to the hair chief
00:24How old were you in that picture 18 probably gosh crazy?
00:29Pablo how you feeling feel great feel great. Just happy that baseball's back. It's a 15
00:34I got here at 6 got a bike right in and I feel good spring training such a fun routine to
00:39Get back in the crew for baseball get back to catching with catching up with everyone. There's new faces opportunity
00:44So introduce yourself pick their brains like hey like back with your team. What was your philosophy?
00:49What can you add to our culture our philosophy and then we just get to do a lot of team bonding
00:53We get to go and you know practice bond defense play shag batting practice work out together
00:58So it's a really really fun atmosphere that I was very anxious to participate, you know when January comes around
01:04I know spring training is almost here
01:06and I just want to show up and it's just a fun opportunity to do what we love and
01:11Continue adding to the dynasty the culture the philosophy we want to build you're back home in the offseason
01:18What were you working on this year? I was working on replicating a lot of the good things
01:23I was feeling with my mechanics in the second half of 2024
01:26You know, I was able to find I could read them with some
01:30Exercises some drills that gave me good muscle memory on when things are feeling right? This is what I'm feeling on the mount
01:37It's also you have to strike a balance during a season to like feel those things while trying to get people out
01:42So the offseason allowed me to like really tinker with those drills, you know, like, okay
01:47How can I feel what I feel maybe just extend it for a little bit longer who I didn't like that
01:51Let me just take it out. So it was just
01:54Repetition and replicating good mechanics with every single pitch just to make sure that I made everything as
02:00Consistent and as tight as possible. You work with a team with a coach
02:03Who do you who do you work with or is it just you I work with former teammates?
02:07players from other teams and we just have a good rapport I I trained with reliever with the
02:14Houston Astros one of my best friends Luis Contreras from the same hometown
02:17We went to three national tournaments when we're growing up. So we both live in Miami
02:22We both trained at the same place
02:24So it was it's just and it's it's really cool when you get feedback from the people you play catch with feedback from other players
02:31So I think it just it builds a good relationship and a good awareness of like this is the feedback
02:36I want from how the ball is moving where the ball is going. Hey, did that stay through the target or to the target?
02:42So like hearing those things from someone that also like is in the game
02:45Just gives me a better idea of like this how I want to operate
02:50Expectations are high for the pitching staff this year. How do you feel about your kind of starting crew?
02:55I feel that we want to turn those expectations into standards this year
02:59We know what with this speech we know what with what this pitching staff can do
03:04You know
03:04We use so all of the young guys last year step up and took a step forward and I can already see them
03:11During this camp spring training. They look more confident. They look more comfortable
03:14And I think you know this pitching staff can really carry this team both the starting rotation and the bullpen the bullpen is lights out
03:22Either like both people that could be in a longer reliever role and the people that are like the high leverage the closers the setups
03:28Like it's just electricity all around. So this pitching has a lot of strength and depth
03:34So like, you know, if we stay on top of our routines if we stay healthy if we can remain
03:41Available in my case every fifth day, then we're gonna be in a good spot
03:45What's it mean to you to know already your your opening day you get the ball. It's a good feeling
03:50It feels just like the first time Broca did it two years ago in 2023 and I don't take it for granted
03:55You know, I'd like to think of myself as one of five but someone has to start the first game of the year
03:59So I feel honored and blessed to have that opportunity
04:02And then it just lets me know that the team really trusts me to set the tone
04:06For a game for a series for a season so I don't take that lightly or for granted so it just puts me
04:14Puts another chip on my shoulder to come into the ballpark every day and try to be the best version of myself
04:19Pablo Lopez if you were not playing baseball, what would you be doing with your life?
04:23I wanted to go to med school before I got into professional baseball. I also like nutrition
04:28I like that. I would like to be a nutritionist a dietician so I would do something
04:34school related
04:36Related to the body or something that could also keep me close to the game. You cook too, right?
04:40A little only a little a couple of the other pitchers were telling me what good cooks there. How about that?
04:45I I'm a goody. I can eat
04:49I'll make myself available for fun. What do you do to burn off steam? I like playing this golf
04:55I like playing pickleball. I like playing beach volleyball. I like walking. I like biking
04:59So as you can see a lot of sports related activities, I like taking my dog out for walks
05:03I like just sitting and calling my family. I called my grandma my grandpa my aunts my sister my nephew
05:08So are you the caller you call I call yeah
05:11Yeah that then you must be the favorite anybody who calls a grandma is a winner. I think for a while
05:17I mean my grandma's favorites. I pride myself a lot on that
05:21Very good Pablo. Thank you. Have a great season. Thank you very much always
