I go to baseball games for the beer, peanuts, the chance to heckle at random strangers and wear cute sporty outfits, but that’s as far as it goes! As I write this I am sitting on the couch watching the second game of the ALCS (Royals v. Baltimore – my husband told me!), but secretly wondering what the Kardashian’s are up to tonight.
That being said, I have a great deal of respect for young athletes – for their discipline, hard work and perseverance. Fabian Roman is a Jersey City native and pro-baseball player for the Cincinnatti Reds and he is destined for greatness.
When I reached out to Fabian to set up his interview, we thought it would be cool for me to join him for a training session, so I can experience a pro athlete workout. We met at Next Generation Training Center in Wyckloff, New Jersey where Fabian trains 5 times a week.
Coach Rich kicked my butt! I mean, I am in decent shape thanks to my boys at Krank Systems but coach Rich really pushed me out of my comfort zone. It was a humbling experience! After cooling down we headed over to Fabian’s old High School; Marist High, on the border of Bayonne and Jersey City. We hung out on the field he used to practice and I also got a chance to meet his old coach and get the background story on Fabian.
Rich, Tell me about “Next Generation”. When we opened up we just started training athletes. I realized that’s probably not a successful business plan, unless we have 100-200 athletes. We opened up a training program and we mimicked what we would do for athletes and people fell in love with it. We have over 120 adults that train, along with athletes, so it’s a full training facility.
Is your training more sports specific? Yeah – I think everyone wants to be an athlete to some degree, and no one likes to go to the gym and sit on a treadmill. It’s awesome when adults come in and they see that they’re doing the same stuff as Fabian and they’re like that’s so awesome! It spices up their training!
Right now Fabian just got back with us so we’re using the next 3-4 weeks as like a pre season off-season program, so we can prepare them as much as possible.
What makes Fabians training different from others? The main thing most athletes look for when they come here is to gain strength, but we also need to do other things to help his agility. Every ounce of strength and explosiveness we add to him we also have to add flexibility. It’s a hard combination but we have to add everything together.
Great workout! Fabian, ready to go back to High School? Let’s do it.
This is where it all started? When did you start playing baseball? Yes it is – I started when I was 10, it didn’t get serious until I came here to high school. I went to Hudson Catholic my first year, then I transferred out here my sophomore year…That’s when I met coach Hayward, and he basically changed my life. He helped me build a work ethic; he helped me build a strong mindset, and helped me believe in myself to fulfill the talent that I have.
What is the best part about being a baseball player? You know I’m doing what I love as a living and I get to play in front of thousands of people. I’ve got little kids that dream of being in the major leagues like I did when I was a kid, it’s an amazing thing seeing kids look up to you.
How do you like playing for the Cincinnati reds? It’s a blessing, I’ve run into a lot of people I know, and a lot of people I play with, and in Travel Ball, its more than just performance, it’s about shaping yourself into a man and what happens after baseball.
That’s awesome! Pitch me a ball will ya? We used to practice here…
Was coach a hard-ass? OH YEA!
(Coach)But I lightened up after I had my daughter.
What’s your name coach? Ron Hayward
And how long have you been a coach? 10 years.
I heard you also got drafted to the Cincinnati Reds? Yup, that’s true. Even though they drafted me I decided I wanted to be a father and Coach instead.
Can you tell me a little more about him? He’s a great kid. He always had that drive to be the best. Growing up, he was always good, he was always talented, it was never about that…it was about him getting mentally focused at being great. Once he figured that out I think our connection was easy because I was the same kid, just like him. I had my issues when I didn’t want to listen to people, so when you’re that young and that talented its hard to adapt to what people are saying.
I think when he met me and got to know me… I was able to teach him what’s right from wrong and how to respect people and how to enjoy life – once he saw the big picture, he ran with it and he’s doing what he should be doing, enjoying his life.
How long ago did he get drafted? He was first drafted in 2010, and in 2013 he was drafted by the Reds.
Anything else…? He’s just a great kid, when I raise my kids I want them to remember where they come from. He does that, he gives back and in the off-season he helps me out with kids, he volunteers and never asks to be paid…out of the kindness of his heart.
Fabian can you explain to me what happens during off-season? Off season, you’re basically preparing for the next season, some people they get part-time off-season jobs, but I take my training serious. I’m trying to make it a career, not a part-time job, so I do yoga, I keep myself busy with boxing, running… I like to stay very active. When I’m not doing training stuff I like to help younger kids, I like to come back to my high school and help the kids in the camps and motivational speaking with them, get them pumped up and believing in themselves.
That’s great! You just won a championship how was that? It was crazy! We had a pretty bad first half of the season and then the second half we clicked and we became a family. We all started hanging out together…going out on weekends, we always kind of stayed together in a group and it showed on the field. We won the first championship in 11 years! We made history with that win so we’re in the books this year! It’s a great feeling!
That’s exciting!!!
So when does the season start back up again? I leave February 27th, and then im here till then working out.
So you grew up in Jersey City? I grew up in the Heights, I lived there my whole life. It was a rough neighborhood and my family didn’t have much money. My mom was sick with Lupus and she’s been battling that for a while so its been tough.
She’s a single parent, she built me up as a tough kid and I know I had to get something done in life, I didn’t want to just run around the streets and be another knucklehead or another coulda-been. I have a lot of friends on the streets that do their own thing you know for personal reasons, it doesn’t change anything doesn’t mean they’re bad people it doesn’t mean it’s a bad city, they just need somebody to show them by example.
Do you have a favorite hangout spot? I like staying in the Heights and will go out in NYC sometimes.
Do you have a favorite restaurant? My pizzeria is Rizzo’s, the best pizza in Jersey City, I could be wrong but it’s my favorite since I was younger.
What’s your long-term plan? I would like to have a long career… I’m trying to get into athletic modeling; I did something with NIKE last year and I’d love to do that again.
So what’s next in baseball? Right now they move us up a level and we go to Ohio, I have to be in the major leagues within the next year. That’s what I’m training for. That’s what’s next.
Don’t forget me when you’re famous! I know! I want to be traded to a NY team! I want to be home! I’ve been gone my whole life playing everywhere else since I was 17, when I come back to Jersey City it’s a beautiful feeling. That’s why I love seeing people like you who are doing these awesome things with this beautiful city.
Thank you that’s so kind! What do you do before a game starts, like what goes through your head? I’m usually calm, before the game. I come in towards the end of games usually, they bring me in during tough situations and I help carry it, at that point there’s butterflies in my stomach. You gotta come ready, I gotta prepare myself mentally and physically. I love that feeling that adrenaline rush you gotta be the man to help your team and it’s awesome.
So you’re just a pitcher, how did you discover that? I was just throwing a lot harder than the kids at my level from the beginning, and that separated me. Coach showed me the ropes; if I wanted to make it, I had to be focused. Eventually I was just focused on just pitching because coach said if you’re gona make it, you’re gonna make it as a pitcher.. And I had to focus on that.
Anything else? Yeah – if you’re looking for a high school and want to take athletics and education serious, Marist is a great school for that. I came here and the people you’re surrounded by athletic wise and teacher wise are amazing, I have my catcher here with me and I’ve been with him since 8th grade and my high school coach helped change my life and we stay in touch and help each other out.
Coach was telling me how much you give back… It’s a blessing to come back to Marist and love giving back.
Play ball!
Great interview!!!
I hope he gets to play in the bigs. Great interview.