Rounding the Bases with Dan Grovatt

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First year outfielder Dan Grovatt has had a solid start, leading the team in batting average while standing among the team leaders in nearly every offensive category. Many fans have already begun to compare him to former Cavalier standout Sean Doolittle as he hails from the same small New Jersey town, sports the number 21 and possesses a powerful bat from the left side of the plate. He took some time to sit down and talk about some things like the impact of Sean Doolittle, recently making “friends” with the left field wall and some of the experiences that he has had as a Cavalier so far.

First of all, that was a scary moment during the Stony Brook series. Are you OK after slamming into the wall?
Grovatt: (laughs) Yeah, I looked up, then back at the wall and then back up at the ball and realized that I had a long way to go and I just put my head down and hit the wall full speed.

Did you hit with your head or your shoulder?
Grovatt: I hit with everything. It just knocked the wind out of me. I couldn’t breathe for a while but I’m fine now.

What factors were key in your choice to attend the University of Virginia?
Grovatt: It was the combination of the coaches and success of the program in the past. The atmosphere here and the way the coaches coach and run the team is mostly why I chose to come here. Sean Doolittle was not exactly the reason why I came here, but it was nice having him play here before and telling me about the school and how the coaches ran the team. I knew him pretty well so he was a big help.

Speaking of Doolittle, did you pick to wear No. 21 or was it assigned to you?
Grovatt: It was a little of both. The fact that it was Sean’s number and I kind of picked it since there weren’t too many good numbers available.

To you, what is the team’s biggest strength this year?
Grovatt: I would say that our pitching staff is unbelievable.

You did some pitching in high school. Do you see yourself pitching any while a Cavalier?
Grovatt: Yes, hopefully. In the fall Coach (O’Connor) told me that this year I would be more of an asset as a hitter. I am still doing some pitching and working with Ks (pitching coach Karl Kuhn) and for right now the pitching is on hold.

Tell us a little bit about your first road trip a few weeks ago to NC State.
Grovatt: It was a really neat experience. I had never been on one of those tour buses before and the whole experience in going down there was new to me. Unfortunately we lost two games but it was a really fun experience.

What has your role been on the team so far this year?
Grovatt: Honestly, I just go out there and play wherever they put me in the lineup or out in the field. I just go out there and try to be prepared. I really don’t put too much thought into what my role is other than just going out there and giving it my all.

You are leading the team so far in a few categories. Does that mean anything to you or do you not pay attention to the numbers?
Grovatt: Numbers are nice and everything, but really what ultimately is your goal is to go out there and play hard every day and the results will take care of themselves.

Do you have any plans to play in a league this summer?
Grovatt: Yeah, I’m going up to the New England Collegiate Baseball League to play for the Keene Swamp Bats. I believe (Greg) Miclat played there a few summers ago.
[note: Grovatt will be joined this summer by teammates John Barr, Franco Valdes and Sean Tierney as members of the Swamp Bats]

What MLB player most resembles your playing style?
Grovatt: I don’t know if I can answer that as someone who resembles my playing style. As far as whom I would like to be compared to, I’d say Chase Utley is someone I want to play like.

Who is your favorite MLB team and player?
Grovatt: The (Philadelphia) Phillies and Chase Utley.

What would you say is the best rivalry in sports?
Grovatt: Ohio State and Michigan football games. I grew up a Buckeye fan, my dad went there and my grandparents went there so I grew up going to Ohio State football games.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
Grovatt: I’d say my dad has had the biggest influence in my life; just the way he has pushed me baseball wise and in life in general. He’s never let me settle for anything less than my best. My whole family really is very supportive and I couldn’t do anything without their support.

What is the thing you miss most about home?
Grovatt: I don’t know if you’ve ever been to southern Jersey, but it’s a really laid-back farm area and Charlottesville is close, but I guess I just miss the whole laid-back farm atmosphere.

What is your favorite sport or TV show to watch?
Grovatt: Baseball is absolutely my favorite sport to watch; as for TV shows I’d say SportsCenter, I watch that every morning.

What is one pet that you would love to own?
Grovatt: A dog, a big dog.

Do you have any nicknames?
Grovatt: Everyone down here calls me Danny. In high school I was always D-Grove or Grovatt or just Grove.

If you could have dinner with any four people, what would you eat?
Grovatt: One of them would be Derek Jeter; another would be Terry Francona, Chase Utley, and Big Papi (David Ortiz). I got to meet Francona when he was here for Step up the Plate and that was really neat. I would definitely eat steak.

You have just been given your own baseball team in the majors. What one player do you build your team around?
Grovatt: Derek Jeter.

What sport would you want to be great at other than baseball?
Grovatt: Football.

Position?
Grovatt: Quarterback.

If you could pick any sporting event to attend what would it be?
Grovatt: An Ohio State football game against Michigan in the Horseshoe.

Which sport do you have the most respect for?
Grovatt: I would say Major League Baseball. They play 162 games a year and that’s grueling and very tough.

Name the strangest food you have ever eaten.
Grovatt: I’ve eaten squirrel in jambalaya before, it wasn’t that bad actually. It kind of tasted like chicken.

What animal would scare you the most if set loose on an airplane with you?
Grovatt: I’d say a Wolverine.

Any connection with being a Buckeye fan?
Grovatt: Absolutely. (laughs)

Cavaliers or Wahoos?
Grovatt: Cavaliers.

Orange or Blue?
Grovatt: Orange.