Getting To Know MJ Hubbs
January 21, 2016 | Baseball
The Huskies have 17 new faces on the roster this season. GoHuskies.com will present "Getting to know" segments on the newcomers leading up to the season. Up today, junior outfielder MJ Hubbs.
Does MJ stand for anything?
It actually stands for Michael Anthony Hubbs, Jr. (I've been MJ) pretty much since I was born. That's what they've called me since I was a little kid, so it just kind of stuck.
So you've been here now for a quarter, what's it been like for you so far in Washington?
I think it's everything that I expected -- it's been amazing. We have great facilities and a great coaching staff. I've been able to get (along) with the team really, really well; it's a good group of guys. We are just continuing to get better and preparing for this season as much as we can, and they do a really good job of that here. I am just excited for what's to come.
How hard was it for you to adjust from Arizona weather to Washington?
It's different for sure. It's good for change though; it is pretty much what I expected. It hasn't been too hard really at all. I think with baseball being an outside sport, that is something that you're going to have to deal with when you're continuing to go on to the next level. It's been good.
What was the process for you of going from high school to junior college to Washington?
I think what I've been through and the way I did it, I look back at it and I don't regret any of it. It was everything that I wanted. It's good with the JC route. I was able to mature, develop more as a player and grow both physically and mentally. So, coming here to D-I, I feel prepared to come out and help the team right away.
There are different steps at each of the levels you have played. What's that adaptation been like for you?
I think I have realized you have to slow the game down. You see a lot of young players come out of high school, to D-I or even junior college, just trying to learn to slow the game down so they can understand it better.
What can Husky fans expect to see from you on the field or when you're at the plate?
I'm kind of a calm, collected type of player, but I bring a lot of excitement as well. I love getting my teammates and coaches excited. I'm going to hustle my (rear) off for sure at everything I do. I just love playing the game hard and getting the job done and playing with fire while having fun. You know you have to have fun and just enjoy the time you're here and everything that comes with that.
You join an outfield group that has a few veterans out there. What's it like being with Jack Meggs, Kyle London, Josh Cushing? What do you learn from those veteran guys and how have they helped you adapt?
Me coming in as a junior college transfer, I think we all are just competing and making each other better. I think that is the main goal that we all have, and that is being able to compete with each other and getting better every single day. I think with the depth that we have -- not just in the outfield, but everywhere else on the field -- all the good players that we have, that's going to create some hustle and makes everyone around you better. I think that's the main thing that's really, really good here -- just the amount of depth and being able to compete every single day with each other.
There are 17 newcomers, 18 returners -- some of the newcomers are JC guys, some of them straight from high school. How is the group coming together?
Like I said this is a really, really good group of guys and we meld really well. We stick together; we're with each other almost every single day. We do a lot of team bonding. It's a good group of guys and I love being around them. I think that everyone else would say the same thing.
Why did you choose Washington?
Honestly, it was my first visit out here and my first official visit. I got to see what it was about and I liked the coaching staff for sure. I was able to fit with them really well. They got to know who I was and I got to see how they played the game and what they expected out of their players and out of me. And that's where I really saw myself. It was the first visit and it just worked out the way it did. I was happy with that and it drew me here even more.
You came here in tremendous shape and really strong. What's your workout routine?
I just try to be consistent with my workout routine. Coming in here, I stepped it up even more. The training facilities are fantastic and (strength and conditioning coach Dave) Rak really knows what he is doing. That helped me even more. I got better and faster and stronger. Everything here is very consistent and scheduled.
What do you plan on studying while you're here?
I came here looking to do marketing, but after how all my credits transferred, I switched to communications.
Any messages for the Husky fans out there?
It's going to be a good year. I'm excited and I hope they all are too. We're going to bring some excitement for sure.
