University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
7th Inning Spotlight: Trent Chatterton
April 27, 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 Trent Chatterton
Hometown: Garden Grove, CA
Age: 23
Year: Senior
Major: Political Science
Position: Infield
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I would definitely say freshman year winning the College World Series. Just the opportunity to go to Omaha is a big deal and then wining the whole thing was pretty amazing.
What did you love most about your hometown?
I love that it's close to the beach and pretty much in the middle of everything. I'm an hour away from LA and literally down the street from Disneyland and 15 minutes from the beach. The people are very genuine and no one is really stuck up, it's a lot of down to earth people.
Who's your favorite band of all time?
Rebelution or Iration
Shark diving, bungee jumping, or sky diving.
Skydiving. It's the single most craziest thing I've done in my life and I would encourage people to try it even if you're not 18.
Tell me about someone who has positively impacted your life.
My dad. He has been there every step of the way. He's been there for baseball since I was 4 and before I could drive he'd take me to every workout. He has just been a huge factor to my success on and off the field.
What's the most random thing you've watched all the way through on Netflix?
Unlikely Animal Friends. There's a lion and a dog that were best friends and there was also an elephant and a friendship.
If you had a chance for a do over in life what would you do differently?
To be more spontaneous and travel more. Now that I'm older I think that's easier than when I was younger so I'd like to travel and go on adventures… like even just places in LA I haven't been before. Overall I'd like to be more open to new things.
Do you have a sweet tooth or a savory tooth?
I have a bad sweet tooth. Chocolate-chip cookies and ice cream are my favorites.
Tell me about the best vacation you've ever taken.
I just went to Hawaii with my family this past summer where we road quads through the jungle up to the biggest waterfall on the Big Island. We went zip lining, went to a couple beaches – with some decent ride-able waves, swam with turtles and fished.
Is there a movie or book that really changed the way you thought about something?
Lone Survivor. We saw it as a team when it came out. There were about 20 of us and everyone was speechless because we realized that the daily grind of being a baseball player is so much easier than what military personnel go through daily. Everyone came put with a different perspective and everyone was just overall thankful that they have the opportunity to play baseball at UCLA and thankful they don't have to be in war.
Who is someone you looked up to when you were little, and who do you look up to now?
I've looked up to Ken Griffey Jr. pretty much my whole life. I like the way that he played baseball. He just looked like he was having fun every time he was out there. I also now look up to Derek Jeter because he was a shortstop as well and I liked to model the way I play after the way he plays.
If you could do anything right this moment what would it be?
Surfing.
If you could star in any movie in history what would it be?
Probably Pirates of the Caribbean, so I could wear an eye patch like Filia.
Where would you go in a time-travel machine?
Back to my childhood and relive memories from I was a kid. Back when school was like daycare. I don't have any desire to go back in the past cause I think now everything is just s much more improved. Just in the fact of cars, and technology and cell phones.
What long-lost childhood possession of yours would you like to see again?
The Go-Ped I had when I was 8.
Now without context what's the punch line to your favorite joke?
“There it isn't.”
If you could play baseball with anyone currently living who would it be?
Derek Jeter.
…What about not living?
Jackie Robinson.
What passes your mind at the time of a play?
Nothing. The less you're thinking the better you're going to be. I try to keep my mind as blank as possible. When you start thinking that's when you get in trouble.
If you had to eat at one restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be?
El Burrito Junior in Seal Beach.
Previous 7th Inning Spotlights
Luke Persico
Christoph Bono
Eric Filia
Brian Gadsby
Brett Urabe
Moises Ceja
Sean Bouchard
Kort Peterson
