Meet the Stars of the CBA – Mike Todoroff

With the demise of Major League Baseball, North America was left without a top flight baseball league. That was, until the Championship Baseball Association was formed. The CBA is still in its infancy but has begun to gain traction amongst fans across the United States and Mexico. So, who are these players you see playing in the CBA? Our new series with reporter Steve Harper, will bring you interviews from the top players in the CBA, as Steve travels the country to meet your newest sports heroes.

In our first installment, Steve traveled to San Francisco to meet with Bay Area Pandas budding superstar Mike Todoroff. Mike spoke about being a top pick in the inaugural amateur draft, what he does with teammates in his off time, who he admires in the CBA, and a number of other topics.

Steve Harper (SH): You were the first pick in the inaugural CBA amateur draft. What were your feelings about joining a brand new league and being the first player taken?

Mike Todoroff (MT): It was an interesting feeling for sure. Growing up I had always wanted to play in the Majors, copy my game after guys like Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Shohei Otani. Then, to just hear that that dream was taken away was a bit heartbreaking. To be able to continue my path in the CBA and be considered to be the best player who was available coming out of Kentucky is an honor and hopefully I will be the next player a kid growing up can model their game after.

SH: You mentioned Babe Ruth and Shohei Otani, two guys who both hit and pitched in their career. You did both in college and we recently saw you make your debut on the mound with the Pandas. Would you like to be a two way player, pitching and hitting, as you move forward in your career?

MT: Obviously every player wants to make the biggest impact they can in order to win a championship and I know that pitching and hitting would maximize my value. It’s something I have discussed with coach, but it’s ultimately up to the team to decide. I definitely think that I have the ability to do both at a high level, especially playing in the Bronze League; I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the ability to play both positions would influence my decision of where I am going to spend my career.

SH: Your nickname is Hulk. Can you tell us about that and how you got that nickname?

MT: Well, honestly, I have been this size since I was like 14, so it kind of came naturally in middle school. As I grew older I was able to define and add on some muscle, but I don’t remember the last time I actually grew. It can be pretty intimidating being 12, 13, 14 and going up against someone who is 6’2″ and 170-180 pounds. Plus it didn’t help that my middle school team wore green uniforms. They said they made me look like the Incredible Hulk.

SH: Your team, the Bay Area Pandas, has a unique approach in that there are a number of young players throughout the organization. How do you feel about this approach and have you felt the need to take on a leadership role amongst your young core of teammates?

MT: It’s a weird feeling for sure, I won’t dance around it. To be, what, 2 years removed from college and one of the newest members of the team, yet being older than same of the other guys. Hector, Nipples, and Vas have been with the team during it’s entirety yet they are younger than me, it’s a give and take relationship. I learn a lot about the game from those guys, since they have the experience of playing it at a semi-high level, and can teach them a bit about life (Mike laughs). I remember going out in March to celebrate Hector turning 21 and having to teach him about alcohol and everything that is involved with it. Thankfully we have older guys that I can learn from about the game and learn how to be a leader so I can be ready to step into that role when the time comes and the process is complete.

SH: It sounds like you have made some good friends on the team, what is a typical day off like for you guys and what do you all do in the locker room in your downtime between games?

MT: At the beginning of the year it was a bit weird. We’d play 2 games and then have a day off, then another game and another day off. It was hard to get into a rhythm with the schedule like that and I hope the CBA can remedy that next year. I mean, we won like 4 games in the 1st month with that shitty schedule, but have really hit our stride since then. I think that comes down to the entire team getting more comfortable with each other and the area. We have a handful of guys who were born outside of the US or have never been to some of the cities we play in. So we take time to go around the new cities, explore, see the sites, act like real tourists. That’s a cool thing about the CBA being so young, we can still go around town and not be mobbed like the celebrities we think we are.

SH: The Pandas had a rough year last year and got off to a tough start like you mentioned. But you guys have a winning record in June, at 11-9, and seem to be playing much better baseball. What’s been some keys to the turnaround and the recent success of the club? 

MT: It’s really simple, we’ve just gotten more comfortable; more comfortable with the schedule, each other, and what it takes to be successful in the CBA. I don’t think anyone would argue with you if you told them it would take time for a young player to get comfortable playing at this stage, even if it is only the BL. A lot of us have used the experience we gained last year in order to improve, which is why the team went with the strategy they did at first. They were smart to realize how quickly people would develop and grow into their roles. Plus, they finally decided to put me back on the mound, that’s only going to make us better.

SH: It looks like you guys will spend another season in the Bronze League next year. Do you feel your team is close to making that jump to Silver and how important is that, not just for your club but also for you as you grow in your career?

MT: To answer the first part, I think we are definitely close to making that jump, despite what the experts seem to think. Our hitters will continue to develop and grow, and we already have one of the best pitching staffs in the BL, which will only continue to get better. It’s definitely important to the team to be promoted to the SL within the next couple of years, from both a team and individual standpoint. To be able to play on a higher stage against so-called, better talent, and showcase what we really can do would be great to set us up for the future. I don’t want my first time playing in the SL or PL to be with a different team because BAP got stuck in the BL. I love the city, the organization, and the way they have treated me so far, but it would be hard, for anybody, to turn down multi-millions from a team that would be able to provide a bigger and better stage for them to showcase their talent on.

SH: The Premier League and Silver League are obviously goals of yours and the Pandas, do you spend any time watching those teams play and do you have any players in those leagues that you admire or enjoy watching?

MT: Not really, no. I know I was just talking about the prestige and wide-reaching nature of the PL and SL compared to the BL, but there’s so much I have to focus on at this level just to make sure I am ready to do whatever my team asks of me that day. It might be easier for someone who only wants to excel at one aspect of the game, but I want to master both. I have to say, (Jonathan) Broyles is a bit of an inspiration. Come in the league as a free agent at 25 and able to pull in 5 million dollars a year. That must be nice.

SH: We’ve heard the opinions of many people across the country about baseball, especially after the demise of the MLB. You’ve been in the CBA since it’s inception, what makes this league different from the failed baseball leagues before and where do you see the league 10 years from now?

MT: Hopefully in 10 years we see a BAP dynasty at the top of the PL.

With that, Mike took his wireless microphone off and headed out to the practice field. It seemed like Mike wasn’t aware of how long the interview was. Before Steve had even left the Pandas conference room where the interview took place, Mike was in the cage hitting. 

We would like to thank Mike for his time and wish him and the Pandas the best of luck. 

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