UCLA's Chris Giovinazzo Shares Thoughts on Bruins' Baseball Season
May 7, 2011
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Senior outfielder Chris Giovinazzo has been an integral member of the UCLA baseball team since his freshman season in 2008. The son and nephew of two former Bruins, Giovinazzo has seen the highs and lows of the program, culminating with a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., last June. Now as a senior playing alongside his brother, Matt, he looks to capitalize on his final season with the program and hopes to bring a national championship to Westwood in June. Giovinazzo sat down with UCLA sports information student assistant Peter Soroko earlier this season to discuss his success at UCLA and the program's aspirations as the team grinds through Pac-10 play.
Q: How did the feeling of losing the Regional Final at Fullerton in 2008 and falling short of the postseason in 2009 fuel your desire to get better in 2010?
A: It's tough when you work all year to get there. It doesn't really hit home that you didn't achieve your goals until it happens and you're sitting and watching other teams play on. But you use that in the off-season. In my off-season workouts and practices I reminded myself of that feeling of not achieving our goal. That sour taste in my mouth was definitely my biggest motivation in the last off-season. During those early morning weights and the conditioning at night after practice, you just remind yourself all the time of that sour taste you have from not getting there.
Q: What was it like playing in Rosenblatt Stadium at the College World Series last summer? What surprised you most about your trip to Omaha?
A: That was an unforgettable experience. After we got back home, I spent a lot of time that summer thinking about that experience. While you're there, you just have to make the most of it, and I think we did that. Even though we came up short and there are obviously a few things we would change in the World Series, I think we made the absolute most of it. Just being there with the fans, the people and the environment is unbelievable. There's nothing like it and that's why we want to go back.
Q: You were selected in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, but chose to return to play your senior season for UCLA. What prompted your decision to return for your senior season?
A: There was a combination of things that made me come back for my senior season. Getting my degree was a factor, but I think the bigger picture was getting back to Omaha to win a national championship. Not winning prompted me to come back, and we all want to get there again. With the guys we have this season, it's definitely an achievable goal. We're working hard to get back to Omaha.
Q: There are many players from the Orange County area on this year's roster. How has being around so many familiar faces impacted your collegiate experience?
A: It's a lot of fun. It's different obviously playing with those guys because it's kind of a different culture. Playing with Orange County guys and pretty much all of the Southern California guys is different than playing with guys from anywhere else. It's really cool. It's what I grew up with, so now I get to play college baseball with people who are very similar to me. And also because we're similar on so many levels, a lot of those guys are people who I can hang out with on and off the field.
Q: Last year you made 31 starts in all three positions of the outfield. What makes you such a versatile player?
A: I actually came in as a catcher and then flip-flopped in the middle of the season and started playing in the outfield. I've always been an athletic player. I don't have a favorite spot in the outfield so I've been working at each position. Mixing it around and moving back and forth is something I enjoy. I just want to improve and become a great player at all three spots. And the versatility part of it is important. It's always nice to have options and it can't hurt to play multiple positions.
Q: If you had to describe your game and the way you compete to someone who had never watched you play, what would you tell them?
A: Controlled aggressiveness. I like to play aggressively, but for me I've had to tone it down a little. In the past I used to get caught up in the moment to a point where I was almost too aggressive. But now, I feel like I've finally started to be able to control that and play with more controlled aggressiveness. That's what we call it on the team, and I think that has been a big thing for me. And I'm still learning and trying to figure things out every day, so being calm while balancing aggressiveness has been huge.
Q: For the second consecutive season in 2010 you earned All-Academic Pac-10 accolades. How have you been able to successfully balance academics and athletics?
A: I think the biggest thing for me is separating both baseball and school. When it's school time, I'm completely focused on my schoolwork and can't think about baseball. And the same thing goes for baseball. A lot of times, in the back of their minds, people will be thinking about the paper or final they have the next day. But when I step onto the field, my entire mindset is concentrated on baseball. I think being able to separate both and blocking out each world from the other has been the biggest thing to achieve success.
Q: Your younger brother, Matt, redshirted in 2010 but has pushed for playing time this spring. What's it like being able to play for UCLA alongside your brother?
A: That's an unbelievable experience. Last season it was a little bit different because he redshirted so when it came time for games, he didn't really travel and he wasn't around as much. But he's played in a few games this year and has traveled a little more this year. It's weird being out on the field with him because sometimes I don't think people would even think we were brothers. We don't really talk when we're on the field because he plays first base and I'm in the outfield. So we're always in different groups. But I notice it more in the locker room and just being around the guys. That's when it's really special to me just because I get to hang out with my brother all the time.
Q: You batted .381 during the Pac-10 season in 2010. What made you such a force during that stretch?
A: In the beginning, I was pressing too hard and struggling a little bit. My problem has always been that I try too hard, and sometimes when I try to force success it doesn't happen. So I think I finally said, `Whatever happens is going to happen,' and stopped worrying so much about everything. It wasn't so much a physical adjustment, but more of a mental one. I decided just to go out there and do my thing, and it ended up working and I had success. It's also easier to have success when the team is doing well. I think that was also a factor because the team was playing good baseball.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience as a member of the Bruins' baseball squad in your three seasons?
A: Without a doubt it was going to the College World Series. Just the atmosphere in Omaha was something I had never experienced. And all of our families were there, so the entire team just felt like a family. It was more than the baseball stuff. We were doing all these events and dinners together with our families. That family atmosphere in everything we did while in Omaha was an unforgettable experience and something I enjoyed with everyone that was there.
Q: Both your father and uncle attended UCLA. How did their experiences impact your decision to attend UCLA?
A: Ever since I was little I've always been in a UCLA environment. I've had a UCLA flag in my room as long as I can remember, and my family has had football season tickets for over 60 years. I've always grown up as a UCLA fan so coming to UCLA was something I dreamed of. I didn't have the opportunity to attend UCLA until late, but once it happened it was a no-brainer. Once I had the opportunity to come here, it was without a doubt the right choice for me.
Q: Describe the experience of the Dodgertown Classic. What is it like playing your crosstown rival at one of the premier stadiums in the country?
A: It's really cool because we get to play USC in front of both our local fan bases. I think last year there were about 15,000 fans. It's fun seeing people from the local community come out and support one of the two teams. And being able to come out on top last season was the icing on the cake. It's Dodger Stadium. There's nothing like it. But it's also a good learning experience because it prepared us for Omaha by playing in front of that many people. You don't see that anywhere else besides the College World Series so just playing in a big league park with all those fans was awesome.