Wolfe Weeks, who plays for 16 Red, is a standout student at Lee’s Summit West. The 2019 graduate currently has a 4.1 GPA and starts at pitcher or first base for the West JV team. If those stats don’t show it, he thrives in high-pressure, challenging situations–something he learned watching Mike Moustakas struggle in the 2014 season.
You play first base but you say you learned the most from Mike Moustakas, who plays third base for the KC Royals. Can you explain that?
I’ve learned a lot by watching Mike Moustakas the last few seasons. In 2014, Moose was playing terrible baseball. He looked nervous during every at bat. The next season he appeared relaxed and seemed to enjoy the game. He went on to have his best season of his career that year. Watching him go through that I learned to relax and to not be uptight while playing.
Is Moose your favorite player?
While I’ve learned a lot from him and I enjoy watching him play, he’s not my favorite player. It’s actually Carlos Correa. I love his passion and the effort he gives to the game. I’m also a huge fan of Barry Bonds, the late Jose Fernandez, and Mike Trout.
Wow. Players from all over the league and history. With such a broad group of players, which is your favorite MLB team?
No doubt, the Royals. I’m a huge Royals fan and always will be. I love the way they play baseball and interact with their fans. Kauffman is also my favorite place to watch games because of its layout and the fact that there are no bad seats. I’ve been to Kauffman, Chase Field, Busch Stadium, and Angel Stadium. The two parks I want to visit the most are Safeco Field and AT&T Park.
What other favorites can you share with us?
I love biscuits and gravy! Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day. I also like cereal and waffles. My favorite dinner would probably be either pizza or wings. Hip-hop and Rap are my favorite music styles. I love how raw it is and how the artists use that energy to understand and embrace the struggle. Guys like Logic, Vince Staples, and J. Cole aren’t afraid to open up and chase their dreams.
I enjoy watching sci-fi and adventure movies. They have interested me for as long as I can remember. Interstellar is my favorite movie. The story behind it really makes you think, and I love movies that challenge me that way.
Are you saying the struggle is real?
I guess so (laughing). I like to be in pressure situations, especially on the mound, because the best feeling in the world is getting out of a challenging situation. Some of that comes from my dad. He always told me to play every game like it’s my last and to enjoy every moment because it will be over in the blink of an eye.
It’s easy to understand how that advice helps you on the field. Is there a particular game or play that comes to mind where that advice really helped you?
Oh yeah. I hit the game winning homerun against Staley my freshman year. We were down 2 in the 7th. I hit a 3-run home run with 2 strikes and 2 outs. There’s huge pressure stepping into the box in that situation. Rather than worry about the outcome, I focused my attention on each pitch and simplifying my swing. The outcome was the result of staying calm under pressure. That was my best game…so far.
How would you simplify that idea for young players?
Have fun. Don’t get caught up in slumps or hot streaks. You know what you’re capable of; focus on what you can do and have fun doing it. The results will be there.
Would you say that playing at Inside Edge Baseball challenges you?
No doubt. But, it’s been a challenge in the right way. There isn’t so much pressure as much as there are expectations that we will give our best effort every time. The coaches do a great job of managing situations for us, which gives us players the opportunity to learn how to apply strategy rather than pressure to get the best results. I love IE Baseball for that. Coach Mitchell has been there with me each year and has helped me through some tough stretches. I also like the access I’ve had to former pros like Paul Quantrill and Dave Silvestri. Both of those guys provide great perspective–they’ve been there and they know what it takes to compete. The travel and showcase tournaments are a good way to get out in the wider baseball community. Going on the road and playing at top universities has given me a better appreciation for what it takes to play at the next level. It’s also given me the chance to play in front of the area’s top scouts.