Athlete of the Week: Drew Pynes, Winter Garden Squeeze

Winter Garden Squeeze’s Drew Pynes has been explosive from the batter’s box this season, hitting for an average of .378 with 14 RBIs and a league-leading three home runs.

In his second season in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, Winter Garden Squeeze’s Drew Pynes has been lights out from the batter’s box this season. Through 17 games, the sophomore catcher from St. Petersburg College leads Winter Garden with a .378 batting average (14-for-37), 14 runs batted in, and leads the entire league with three home runs.

THE BASICS 

Age: 20

Sport: Baseball

Grade: Sophomore

College: St. Petersburg College

How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Week?

It’s a privilege and shows the success I’ve had this past week and all the work that’s been put in behind the scenes is shining in the game.

What do you enjoy the most about baseball?

I enjoy meeting new people and being able to go new places because of this sport.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from baseball?

Failure is going to happen, the biggest part is how you come back from it.

What is your favorite baseball memory?

My favorite baseball memory is hitting three home runs in one day during a double header. 

Who is your favorite athlete?

Either Barry Bonds or now it would be Ronald Acuña Jr.

What’s your go-to pregame meal?

Pregame always has to be something I’m grilling at the house.

What’s your go-to pregame hype song?

Best pregame song has to be a good country one by Morgan Wallen or Chris Stapleton.

What is your favorite non-sports hobby?

I love playing video games, that’s where my free time goes when I’m not playing ball.

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?

I’d probably take a lighter, a knife and a good friend just to make sure I don’t go crazy alone.

What is your favorite movie?

“Interstellar” is my favorite mainly because I enjoy the turn-around at the end of the movie changing the whole plot.

If you could have dinner with one person — dead or alive — who would it be?

Bo Jackson mainly because I’m a huge Auburn fan and he’s a legend.

If you could go back in time to a specific period in history, when and where would you go?

I would go back to high school ball and play one more game with all my old teammates that I’ll never get to play with again.

Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your younger self?

If I could talk to my younger self I would tell him not to stress about the future but stay in the present as life goes on much better if you live in the moment.

If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?

I love to know where we end up after junior college as it’s been on my mind for quite some time now.

Who is your favorite superhero?

Batman mainly because I just watched all the movies again, so I have a little recency bias.

Who is your favorite supervillain?

Darth Vader, he is overpowered and the only thing that could defeat him was his own son.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would pick the ability to teleport mainly because I hate driving.

If you could travel to three places in the world, where would you go and why?

I would go to Tokyo, just to be on the other side on the world; then I would go to Egypt, just so I can see the pyramids; and lastly I’d go Bora Bora to finish it off with a nice vacation spot.

What is your most controversial food take?

Moe’s is better than Chipotle.