Bryanwayne13

(Sorry this Got Long Winded) I was lucky enough to get to know Eddie in his first stop along the Twins path to the majors in Elizabethton Tn for their long time Rookie League team here. Many a great has been through here. One of my friends families host lots of the players every summer and just happened that was the first summer I realy got to know some the players. Many nights after and days leading up to games were spent with Eddie and some the others at their house that summer. Days off he would come over to my house and use ourr pool to get some laps in after team workouts. Pedro Grifol was the catcher with that team and was also one I thought woud make it, but he didn't Think Hocking may been on that team and Jarvis Brown may been as he spent couple season there. Koskey was few years before them. AJ Piersinski was there couple season later But lots parts of some those later Twins teams were there around the same time. Just as Hrbek, Gaitei, Pucket had all been there in late 70's early 80's that led to mid 80's success. Had friendships with many those there in 91-thru mid 90's but Eddie was the one I seemed to always have the closest one with. Others had their own rides, rode with team mates or on days off or after games always hung out with team mates, but Eddie just liked to hang out with me and my friends whose family hosted him. The Hyders Play video games, watch TV. Swim, go fishing what ever we were up for. I was going into my senior year in High school. Jason Hyder the oldest of the boys who hosted was probably a sophomore in college he had been the Twins batboy for years and now his middle brother Justin had taken over. He was probably a sophomore in High school younger brother Jarrod was in 7th grade more than likely and he eventually be the bat boy. All were very good baseball players. Eddie and other players were always willing to help them practice when they had time, but especially Eddie as Justin and Jarrod were pitchers, Jarrod also a mid infielder so few others helped him. Jason and Justin played first they got help from various 1B's and of course coaches. Though with Jason had be carefully since he was in college but he was at time in NAIA and not as bad as NCAA come crazy guidelines and no one was trying sign him no deals and he wasn't paying them nor was he a scholarship athlete. ANYWAY point is Eddie always went out his way to spend time with the family who hosted him, though he spent his money on his own groceries he would cook meals for the entire family and myself. That was four of us plus their mothers sometimes Jarrod have friend over. Plus he cook for the other 3 players staying there. He never complained. He sad it made him feel like he was at home to at least do that once a week. As he normally cooked a big meal once a week for his family in California. Made him feel normal to do that sort of thing for all us. One the few players who didn't need be treated like another one the "kids" n the house at the Hiders but yet he was like another adult there as he tried keep the Players area clean. They also had a 2nd house rented out to players and when he see those players not keeping it clean if we stopped by it to hang out he would jump all over them for it as he would tell them they were guest in this families home and what they paid was nothing compared to what this family was giving them for the summer and better believe the next day the place was usually spotless. He was by all means a respected man in the clubhouse even then. On the field he was just as wild as you come to see in the majors. He was a starter then and probably the top in the league. In fact his last or next to last start of season actually threw a no hitter. He was hard to hit for most that league while having a mediocre fastball even then but everything else was just nasty to the hitters. The Twins have always had one the best teams in that league. My thought has always been usually they send those who are either off college rosters, older players from out of country like Canada or Australia or if younger player its a top prospects through Elizabethton while other teams send younger later rounders or Hispanic players to the league who most have never been away from home before. They end up struggling for that reason early n while the Twins it doesn't bother and they get out to a lead early on or they can also handle coming from behind late as younger team may crumble from pressure they don't. They have a rookie league below Elizabethton that get the younger players and then after a year or even half year they may end up here. Eddie though shouldn't been the best pitcher on that staff, but he was because he had the best head and that is eventually what he came to rely n in the majors. His grasp of what would work and what wouldn't. I mentioned Grifol, those wo being room mates worked out with that even moving up through the ranks for few seasons. Pedro was a very smart catcher, good pop and good arm, think maybe an injury hurt him, cause I never understood what kept him from going up though that time period Twins were rich with catcher prospects ahead and behind I'm. I mean AJ was like I said right on his heels. They had Steinbach and Javier Valentin also for ETwin ahead him also. So I guess with those ahead you on depth chart would be hard break through. Would always loved send Eddie and Pedro make it up together. 90, 91, 92 all had some great eventually players for Minnesota. I know some the players stayed in touch through the years. Those who made it and those who didn't. I stayed in Touch with a few for a while, but got into my own college life and then on the road for nearly 20 years with professional wrestling. Funny I started my career the year AJ Pierzinski was in town here. Always thought it was funny he later got involved in wresting later on himself while he was with White Sox. Since he always had jokes about it when he came out to see me starting out. Yeah AJ you weren't so good yourself in your first time out either. Bahaha. Most though saw AJ as this arrogant rich kid when he was around, but again he was nice to me and by then I was older and we had fun hitting clubs after games. I was actually starting bounce at few towards end that summer but funny story got my car towed at one for parking at a Subway and AJ paid get it out for me. Anyway though Eddie is focus this long winded thing and to me he was a class act as a player, a friend to a teenager who he didn't have to be, but also have seen he does a lot giving back to his community with what he made through his career and now as a coach can teach the next generation it isn't about being the most dominant always, but about using your head to make your outs and getting to the end and winning.