00:00As, uh, Justin Foscue joins you now here on your home of the Rangers, 105.3 The Fanon.
00:06Good afternoon, sir. How the heck are you?
00:08Hey, man. I'm great. Thanks for having me on.
00:10So, uh, yeah, is hitting, uh, is hitting home run in the bigs, everything that's cracked up to be?
00:14What's your report?
00:16Yeah, I think it is, man. I think, uh, it is. I think it really is, man.
00:20It was, uh, man, I couldn't even feel myself rounding the bases, so I would say so.
00:25So, that's what, you know, uh, Rangers president of baseball operations, Chris Young, joined us yesterday.
00:31We asked him, he hit one home run in his career. We asked him what it felt like, and he
00:35said,
00:35well, I figured out why everybody was so excited, uh, when they hit home runs off me as they were,
00:40they were running around the bases. But, um, what kind of pitch did he get?
00:45What were you thinking as you were locked in up there?
00:47Yeah, man, he threw me a fastball, a sinker, middle end.
00:51And, um, I really was just trying to sit on that pitch the whole at-bat, trying to keep,
00:57keep something close to me. And, um, luckily it hit the barrel and luckily it went over the fence.
01:02So, um, no, man, baseball's hard. That's why, that's why people celebrate it. Um,
01:07and, uh, yeah, that was, that was kind of my approach going into just trying to get something
01:11close to me, get something to, that I can drive. And, um, yeah.
01:15Hey, Jesse, did you get the ball back? I saw it came back into field of play. Did you get,
01:20did you get the ball? I did. Yeah. They, they brought it back to me. Um, yeah,
01:24I got it yesterday. I got it in the case. So, um, yeah, it's going to be hung up on
01:28the wall one
01:29day and, uh, in the house. So, um, yeah, pretty cool. Well, congratulations on that. I'm glad you
01:34got it back. I'll tell you, they had a replay. You running down first year, your eyes were as wide
01:39as they can go. I was sitting there, man, my man is not blinking for, uh, 90 feet here watching
01:45that
01:45one over you. You tracked that the whole way, didn't you? Man, I tried to, um, I, when I hit
01:52it, I was like, I hit it good. I hope it, I was hoping it would stay fair. And then
01:55like I said,
01:55I hope it was going over the fence, but yeah, I was, uh, I've been waiting on that one for
01:59a while
02:00and, uh, had to, had to track it as long as possible, make sure I touch first base, but,
02:04um, yeah, it was pretty cool. Yeah. I mean, it's been quite the journey. I know you were,
02:08you were pretty outspoken about that after the game in your interview. So how's this been for you?
02:13You're, you're a first round draft pick, and then you're kind of navigating through the minor
02:17leagues. Then finally you had to wait a while, but you get the first home run. You seem to be
02:21a
02:21lot more comfortable right now. Yeah, absolutely. I think I am too. Um, yeah, it's been a journey
02:26for sure. I think, um, the most important thing is just sticking with it, keep working hard. Um,
02:32you know, it's, you know, I said it the other day, but you know, I feel like a lot of
02:37people expect
02:37their career to go one way and, and when it doesn't go your way, you kind of got to sit
02:41there and,
02:41and reflect and, and try to get past that and keep working hard. And, um, I'm proud of myself
02:46for, for doing those things. And, um, I'm not done by any means, you know, like it's going to,
02:52hopefully I can play for a long time and you just got to keep, you know, take it day by
02:55day,
02:56um, and keep going. Hey, Justin, it looks like your, your bat bag and glove bag has gotten a little
03:02bigger. You're carrying more mitts in that, uh, in that bag. How about to play a couple different
03:06positions? Kind of tell me how the adjustment has been, you know, dealing with the second base,
03:11first base. I know you're going to tell me you're going to play wherever they ask you to play,
03:14but how's that adjustment been for you? Yeah, it's cool. You know, it's, it's,
03:18it's really cool to play different positions, um, especially at the big league level. Um, it's,
03:22it's good to have those tools in my bag, you know, um, you know, like you just said,
03:27like wherever they need me to play, I'm, I'm hoping that I'm prepared for wherever that is. And,
03:31um, yeah, it's definitely cool to have a couple different gloves in your bag and, um, you know,
03:37talk to different guys at different positions and learning the positions and, um, that makes you
03:41more valuable as a player. So, um, that's just my job to come to the field and, um, get as
03:47much work
03:47done as I can at different positions and be prepared. You know, we've, uh, we play a clip on
03:52our station, Ron Washington talks about, it's really hard to play first base, you know, money ball,
03:57it's money ball. It's, it's really hard. First base is hard. Is first base really,
04:01really hard, man. I, I would probably agree with that statement. Um, when I, when I'd played,
04:07you know, I'd played third base a little bit, second base, um, along my career. And when I
04:11finally started playing first base, um, there's just a lot more to it. You know, you got to hold
04:14guys on, um, you got to be the cut. Um, you know, if there's a base runner on second going
04:19home,
04:20um, they're just a, just a lot of different assignments that you have to, you know, and, um,
04:26and learn. And, and that's a lot of responsibility. And, um, so I would, I would probably agree
04:31with that. Uh, uh, it's Ranger Justin Foscue here with you on one Oh five through the fan
04:36hilarious quote, uh, last night or the, the other night after the home run, I almost took
04:40out the star shortstop last night. So the last 24 hours have been a lot of ups and downs.
04:46How, how has that been in the, in the aftermath of that is, is, is Sieg's joking with you about
04:51it or giving you the cold shoulder? How are you guys doing?
04:53No, Sieg is great, man. I think I'm joking with him more. I asked him the other day if that
04:57was the craziest play he was ever involved in. He said, yeah. And that didn't make me feel so
05:01great. So, um, no, I'm glad I got a home run the day after that. It kind of flushed that.
05:07Um,
05:07it kind of made things easier a bit, but you know, he texted me after the game and, and said,
05:11we're all good. And, um, that we need, you know, we need you to tomorrow. So, you know,
05:17it made me feel a lot better about the situation, but again, I definitely don't want that to happen
05:21again. I definitely, I'm glad he's okay. He can't, you know, if he was hurt again, I don't know
05:25if I would be here the next day, but, um, you know, it's just, you know, we're, we're good now.
05:31Um, it's just all starts with communication and me knowing to get out of the way when the ball
05:36comes, you know, in between us like that. Do you, do you think that moment had anything to do with
05:42you hitting a home run the next day? I don't think so. Um, but it's because when I have a
05:50bad show,
05:51when I, when I, when I don't do good, uh, the next show, I'll be more locked in. I'll, I'll
05:56at
05:56least, you know, and maybe you're already locked in 110% every game. I don't know, but you know,
06:00it's just me. No, I definitely, yeah, that play, man, I, like looking back at it, I still don't know
06:06how it, like, I'm embarrassed by that even happening in the first place. But, um, again, I, like I said,
06:12like when he texted me that night, I was like, all right, we can kind of flush that, move on
06:15to the next
06:16day. Um, and hopefully it never happens again. How have you kind of learned to handle the
06:20struggles, right? I mean, I think like as, as fans, we watch, it's like, we just want instant
06:24gratification, go up there, hit home runs, get on base. But there's the mental side of this that
06:29we've kind of, I think as a society opened up more to, uh, when it comes to, to athletics. So
06:34for you,
06:35you know, being in the minors, being called up, maybe being sent down, how have you kind of learned
06:38how to adjust and handle all that? Yeah, it was definitely tough. But, um, as soon as you learn that
06:43the, the game's about how to fail, you know, you're going to fail seven out of 10 times and be
06:47an elite
06:48player. And, um, if you can be good at failing is as crazy as that sounds, if you can be
06:52good at
06:52handling failure, um, it's going to be easier to have success and, um, you're, you're able to bounce
06:58back easier and kind of ride those struggles a little bit better than what you would normally do.
07:02And, um, yeah, it's definitely difficult, right? Everybody wants to succeed immediately and,
07:07um, immediately produce and stay producing the whole year, but this is, that's just not how the game
07:12is. Um, so as long as, um, you know, you just got to be good at that. You got to
07:18be,
07:18you got to understand how to fail and then learn and how to make adjustments and little things like
07:22that. Um, so yeah. Hey, Justin, how has it been like, you know, now being called up and having a
07:28little success, you're coming to the ballpark every day, kind of like with a little bit different
07:32planned, aren't you? Like, instead of like kind of looking over your shoulder, I maybe still look
07:38over your shoulder a little bit, but it seems like coming to the ballpark is a little different
07:41for me because you do have various roles and opportunities for you. Yeah, absolutely. I
07:47would say that home run helped a lot. Um, I've probably felt more comfortable the last few
07:52days than I ever have. Um, as, um, you know, as, as I don't know how much time I have
07:57up here,
07:58but, um, you know, getting that out of the way helps a lot. And, and, um, you kind of, like
08:04you
08:04said, you kind of know what to expect, um, as the day goes on and then up to up until
08:08game time. Um,
08:10and then I know kind of my role off the bench against left-hander sometimes and whatever
08:13that might be. Um, I'm definitely more comfortable now than I, than I was before. Um, but yeah,
08:20it's a different kind of, um, a way to approach your day, um, when you're not in the starting
08:25lineup and, um, definitely feel better about that now.
08:29So what's the mindset going forward now to probably try not to overswing, right? Try not
08:34to do that every time you get up there. What are the, what are the coaches telling you?
08:36Um, no, man, I think, I think just, just going into my bad, knowing what to expect. Um, kind
08:43of like what you said, I can kind of like exhale a little bit and, and relax up there now
08:47and
08:47kind of just do my thing. Um, I feel like I'm a pretty good hitter when I'm relaxed and
08:52I know, um, what my approach is and, um, I have good bat to ball skills. So, um, just letting
08:57that, you know, over time, just get better and better. And, um, you know, just knowing the
09:02scouting reports and stuff like that. So, um, each day I get more comfortable, like I said,
09:07and, and hopefully we can build off of that. Now you grew up in Alabama school at Mississippi
09:12State. Uh, do those States come close to Texas when it comes to the old brisket sandwich,
09:18Justin Foscue? That's a good question. Um, I feel like all those States have a good brisket
09:25sandwich. Um, I would, um, Texas is really good with that kind of food. So, um, I don't
09:34know. That's a, that's a really good question. I would say yes. Okay. I would say they compete.
09:39How's that white barbecue sauce? I've never had it, but it's just, it's just wild to me
09:43to think about. There's white barbecue sauce, white barbecue sauce. Is that an Alabama thing
09:48or is that Memphis? Am I mistaken? I don't know if that's an Alabama thing or not. I'm not,
09:52I'm not an expertise on that, but I mean, like all that sounds pretty good right now,
09:57to be honest. Well, you're at a great place to enjoy it. Uh, Justin, appreciate you so
10:03much joining us here on your home of the Rangers and best of luck to you, man. Give them hell.
10:07We'll be pulling for you. Hey guys. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate you guys.
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