TBR Interview--Jonathan Ratledge

Jonathan Ratledge, South Mecklenburg, Player of the Year SW4A, All State P/OF is affectionately known as JRatt. He has been called by Impact as the best righthanded hitter in NC. He has incredible balance at the plate and is rarely fooled by a pitch. Jonathan is a quiet young man until he gets to know you, but there is no quiet in his baseball game. He approaches it in a workman-like style...confident, focused and just goes about his business. He lets his game speak for itself. I cornered JRatt coming out of a batting cage to answer a few questions before Coach Bagwell could catch me:

-Congratulations on your signing with USC. What made you decide to be a Gamecock?
It really came down to where I felt most comfortable and where I thought I would be the best fit. The Gamecocks are an elite program as well as a great academic school. The coaching staff is very knowledgable, so hopefully I can become better as a player as well as getting a good education.

- Last year, you transferred from Charlotte Country Day to South Mecklenburg. What made you decide to do that?

It was actually an easy decision for me. I wanted to be able to play for the best high school team in the state. It also helped that many of my close friends already went to South so the transition was very easy.

- What was it like for you to play for Coach Bagwell @ South Meck?
Coach Bagwell is an amazing coach. He's very well organized so there's no confusion where your suppose to be. He pushes you when he has to but in a way that shows he cares. He tries to to teach us something new everyday that we can use not only in baseball but in our lives as well.

- How do you handle all the acclaim that you deservedly received?
I really try not to even think about it, because once you let it get to your head your done. I use it more as a motive to make myself get better each and every day.

- What advice would you give a young ballplayer wanting to be successful?
The best advice I could give someone is to trust yourself. One of my On Deck coaches told me this and it really holds true for everyone no matter what level your at. If you don't have confidence in yourself, then you're not going to be able to perform at your highest ability.

- Who influenced you the most in baseball and why?
The one person that has influenced me the most in baseball has probably been my mom. She's showed me that you have to fight through things and can't just give up when they get tough. She's a very strong person and has continually told me not to believe what other people say, but to just use it as motivation to get better.

- Favorite movie?
Old School and Gone in 60 Seconds

- Favorite food?
Steak

- What do you like to do during your free time?
With all the baseball and school work, whenever I get free time I like to just relax and enjoy it. I like hanging out with my friends and also watching a lot of college sports.

- You've been involved with many successful teams. Who are the players that you respect?
It's not really players that stand out, it's more a certain type of player. It's the player thats always pushing themselves and others to get better no matter what it takes. The type thats going to go 110% even though they know no one's watching. These are the type of players that really make you want to get better. I've been fortuante to play with a couple of these guys: Greg Miclat, Drew Martin, and TJ Worrell to name a few.

- What are your goals for this year?
My number one goal is to win a state chamiponship. Aside from that, I just want to continue to get better so that I hopefully will have a chance to start next year for the Gamecocks.

Thanks JRatt. I know that it is a difficult time during this busy season to do this interview, but we here at TBR appreciate it. Congratulations again for your signing with USC. You are a terrific young man that we will follow all through your baseball career. Although you have mentioned your Mom, I think it is important for people to know that your Mom, Lisa, is the epitome of a baseball Mom. She has never missed a game...spring, summer or fall that you have played. Her devotion to you, your brother and sister is something that is rarely mentioned as an ingredient for success, but in reflection, it may be the most important. You are an excellent player but you are an equally excellent young man! Good luck this season in achieving your goals

 

After watching JRatt play for awhile now, he's an absolute monster at the plate.

He works hard and is one of the best conditioned players you would ever want to see. A pure masher. Good luck down the road big guy !!!!

 

JRatt Interview

What a terrific interview I'd like to see that type of thread continued. Maybe Dusty White @ Hopewell and Mike Cavassini @ North would provide excellent interviews. I enjoyed the JRatt interview immensely. Thanks for your hard work.

 

Great interview Braves. Good luck to Jonathan at USC next year and in MOST of his games this season. He's a great kid with an outstanding future.

I also like the way JRat has already learned to manipiulate the press. After saying in his pre-season Charlotte Observer interview that he "doesn't swing at anything but fastballs until he has two strikes," on opening day he proceeded to jump on two first pitch breaking balls from On Deck teammate Tom Porter, lining a two-rbi double in the gap and a line drive single up the middle!

As I overheard one pitcher say, "I've got a pretty good book on most of the better hitters in Charlotte. Except JRat; there is no book on JRat." :229031_ha

 

Congratuations

Great interview, and Good Luck to Jonathan and all the South Meck Sabres this season! Win that State Championship!

 

Say goodbye to the 05's

 

Bump for nostalgia