University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
7th Inning Spotlight: Moises Ceja
March 30, 2016 | Baseball
7TH INNING SPOTLIGHT
An ordinary day for a UCLA baseball player sounds a little like this: 6:00 am wake up call for weights, class throughout the day, and practice in the afternoon going into the evening. With most of their days committed to baseball it's hard to think they'd have time for anything else in their lives, but rest assured they do.
The Seventh Inning Spotlight aims to shine light on the unique personalities and lifestyles of each UCLA baseball player with Q & A's to get to know each player beyond their athletic abilities. Each week we will be highlighting a new student athlete. So stay tuned to learn about one of your favorite Bruins.
Q & A with Moises Ceja
Hometown: Arleta, CA
Age: 20
Year: Junior
Major: Sociology
Position: Pitcher
Tell me a little bit about your family.
I have a very quiet and conservative family. A lot of times at the games they usually just sit by themselves. My mom is always super nervous when I go to pitch. I have two brothers. One is a minor league umpire and the other is going to Med School. My dad is like my mom and comes to every game and supports me a lot.
What were you like as a kid?
I was a troublemaker. I'm still considered the crazy one in the family. My parents have always told me that I'm the one that makes everyone laugh. At school I was always quite and an introvert and when I came to college I became more social. Baseball is also a getaway from all the social life.
What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Lie on my bed for another 20 minutes or so and press snooze.
What passes through your mind right before a baseball play?
Nothing. At that point you just have to trust your instincts and the process that you work so hard on.
What is the most nervous you've ever felt?
Definitely had to be during the 2015 Regional against Cal State Bakersfield. That was definitely a highlight of playing baseball here. There was a lot of pressure. That game was the difference between us going to the championship.
In 3 words, how would you describe your teammates?
Competitive, humorous, and focused.
Excluding LA, what's your favorite city?
Bellingham Washington. I spent a summer up there playing summer ball and just the experience up there and the weather up there was ideal for me. I got to meet a lot of new people from all different schools. I had wonderful host parents that spoiled me. And just the organization that I played for was focused but at the same time relaxed and made it enjoyable to play.
What is your favorite subject in school?
Math at the lower levels.
Favorite subject outside of school?
Home cooked meals (his favorite are his mom's enchiladas).
What are you most excited about right now?
I'm excited to be the best I can this season and see how far I can help the team succeed.
What is the movie made you laugh the hardest?
Good Will Hunting.
If you could have coffee with someone living or dead who would it be and why?
Betty White. I don't know she kind of reminds me of my own grandma. She has a very touching sense of humor. Whatever she does just makes you laugh.
What was the last book you read that you couldn't put down until you finished?
Tuesdays with Morrie. It's about a man with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, who has a former student, who after graduating meets with him every day. Eventually he passes away. Morrie was giving the student life lessons about expressing yourself and getting in touch with your emotional side and not letting other people tell you that it's wrong.
What was your first pet?
A Chiwawa named Pinky.
What TV show do you plan your day around?
How I Met Your Mother. The humor is incredible. It touches pretty much all the emotions but for the most part its funny.
Where would you prefer to live?
I'd prefer to live in the countryside because it's just always been a dream of mine since a little kid…and to own a Saint Bernard that goes with me everywhere.
If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?
Plain steak.
If you could read minds, whose would you read?
John Wooden towards the end of his life because towards the end I'm sure his thoughts were one hundred percent genuine.
Are you a night person or day person?
Night person for sure.
Name three things on your bucket list.
1. Driving across the United States on the I-10.
2. Traveling to Southeast Asia.
3. Skydiving.
Previous 7th Inning Spotlights
Luke Persico
Christoph Bono
Eric Filia
Brian Gadsby
Brett Urabe
