We spoke with Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier about what it takes to make the postseason, how he became a perennial Gold Glover in center field, his love for football, and what he would be doing for a living if he wasn't playing baseball. This conversation has been lightly edited.
theScore: You've played on four different teams that reached the playoffs. What does a clubhouse need to make those runs?
Kiermaier: Good players. First and foremost, players who care. Throughout the course of a 162-game season, the teams who are committed from the start to the end more than the other teams usually make it. You need a lot of skill and a lot of luck along the way, but you need good players who care and want to win those extra-inning games and who want to do the little things right. There's a certain level of focus needed to sustain that consistency, and the best teams every year limit the low times and stay even-keeled and try to ride out those heaters - those eight- or nine-game win streaks - when you can and limit the losing streaks.
theScore: Do the 2023 Blue Jays have these qualities?
Kiermaier: We do. We are much better than our record shows, but we make our own bed. You win games and you lose games for a reason. Our record is what it is. I think everybody in here would say that we haven't performed to the level that everybody thought we would, but we're still in the thick of it. We got a shot. We just need to play our best baseball this last month and go from there. We got a great mix of really good veterans who are leaders on and off the field, young superstars, and amazing pitching. We have amazing defense and, offensively, when we're clicking we're as good as anyone.
So, we just need to find better ways to hone that in and stay consistent. We have just had a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. We're searching to get momentum on our side and get that rolling for us. This game is tough. We're playing great competition every night but guys are committed. We're working every day and it's a lot of fun to be a part of. We have all the pieces to the puzzle to win a World Series and we're still in a good position to do that, but we need to play really good here and get our foot in whatever way possible to the playoffs.
theScore: Kevin Gausman recently talked about having a sense of urgency. What does that look like on the field?
Kiermaier: We know we need to play better, and when we get leads we need to keep them. We need to try to put teams away. We need to win games. We should have a lot more wins than we do. Every team in baseball can say that. So I try to tread lightly when I say that. We know what position we're in and we're fighting for a wild-card spot most likely, and we just need to go on a heck of a run. Black out for the rest of September.
A lot of us are banged up right now but we just need to come to the field ready to go and try to do everything in our power to have the best at-bats possible. We gotta use the talent in our lineup like we're supposed to and score a lot of runs and go defend and let our pitchers do what they do. Once again, it's easier said than done. We try to go out and win games every day but it doesn't work like that. We gotta be really good moving forward.
theScore The team has started to hit with RISP. What's changed for you guys?
Kiermaier: I just feel like we've been pressing throughout the whole year. Everybody wants to be the guy who gets the job done. If we just let the game come to us and slow the game down - I think we've done a lot better job of that late. We know that when we're up there stepping in the box and it's a crucial point in the game and we're trying to come through. Sometimes you overthink and try to do a little too much, but if we let the game come to us, that's the best version of this Blue Jays team. So we feed off each other through the good and the bad times unfortunately.
theScore: You became a fan favorite in Toronto quickly. What's your secret?
Kiermaier: These fans appreciate if you play hard. I'm not the most talented player on the field. I've said that throughout my entire career. But I like to think I play a lot harder and I care a lot. Fans notice that and those things go a long way. I play with a lot of passion and people enjoy that. A lot of guys now make a ton of money and try to make everything look cool. I want to prove to my coaches, teammates, and fans that I'm willing to scrape my knees and elbows and get bloody. I'm willing to do anything for a win to get closer to the ultimate goal of getting into the playoffs and winning the World Series.
theScore: So, you were taken with the 941st pick in the 2010 draft. How were you able to stand out and reach the majors despite going so low?
Kiermaier: I had to do everything right. I wasn't going to get any extra opportunities. I knew I had to play good in the minors right away and let the organization know that I wasn't your average 31st rounder. I solidified that in my rookie year and I just said, "I want to create opportunities for myself, and when I get them, I want to run with them." And I did just that.
theScore: You'll go down as one of the best defensive center fielders of your generation. Is there anything you believe led to you being so good defensively?
Kiermaier: I was a Gold Glove nominee in right field in my rookie year. It completely caught me off guard, and once I had that I said, "I want to win a Gold Glove every year and I truly want to be the best." I knew I had the talent and the skills to be the best defensive outfielder in the big leagues, and it's something I've always worked toward. I didn't want anybody to be better than me. I know for the majority of the last decade - and I certainly think that I'm the best - I've had a lot of injuries, but it feels great to be in that conversation, and my numbers will back it up. I'm very proud of the steps I've taken mentally to get where I'm today. If you told me this 10 years ago, I probably would've said you're crazy, but you develop certain things along the way.
theScore: Do you like stealing a homer or hitting one better?
Kiermaier: I like robbing them and I like hitting them. I don't hit a lot of homers. So, whenever I do something offensively it always makes me feel a little better about myself. I'm expected to do things defensively, but sometimes I'll surprise y'all offensively. But they are still far and few between.
theScore: You were recruited by colleges to play football. Things obviously worked out really well for you but looking back do you have any regrets not pursuing that?
Kiermaier: I know I made the right choice playing baseball, but there are times where I would've loved to see what kind of free safety I could've become. When I went to junior college, I never thought I would've played pro baseball. But I just got into a mode where I decided I was going to outwork everybody, and I would never take no for an answer when it comes to me getting what I want.
I always say that I was the best free safety that never was. I was going off high school but I always knew where the football was going. Same with center field now. There's times where I know this baseball is going to be hit to right center and sure enough it is. I miss hitting guys. I miss those guys coming across the middle. I miss getting interceptions. That was such a thrill for me. But I made the right choice. I don't know if I could've taken all those hits to the head, and I've had a lot of injuries. Baseball has been good to me.
theScore: Is there anything different here in Canada compared to the U.S. that still makes you laugh?
Kiermaier: I've come here three times a year for the last nine years. So, I had a good idea of how things were up here. But when I'm driving here and the cars are parked in the right lane with their hazards - you can just park anywhere in the streets here. Trying to get use to kilometres and the metric system. Celsius compared to Fahrenheit. I still don't really know what the temperature is or how fast I'm going. But I love it here. The people are awesome and the weather is amazing. I live in Florida and it's miserable there during the summer with how hot it is. So, being up here reminds me of home in Indiana. My wife loves it and my kids love it.
theScore: Lastly, what would you do if you weren't playing baseball?
Kiermaier: Fish biologist. Especially, common carp. I do a lot of bowfishing and these things are so hard to figure out and locate. I love that. There's people who do stuff like that, and I would love to be a part of the studies or conversations on the boat. There's something about marine biology that I love. I was always intrigued about working for the department of natural resources or wildlife police. I love nature. So, probably something like that.
theScore: Have you ever considered modeling?
Kiermaier: I've had people bring it up to me, but I'm not about to be that guy getting on a photo shoot and having all my teammates ream me out. People always ask me that and I kind of just run with it. I'm glad baseball worked out.
