One-on-One with Daniel Aldrich

Daniel Aldrich made quite a splash in his first season of college baseball, finishing tied for third in the nation in home runs with 22 as a College of Charleston redshirt freshman outfielder. The Wando High School graduate (and son of former South Carolina Gamecocks baseball player Charlie Aldrich) didn't stop there, winning the College Home Run Derby before 20,578 fans in Omaha last week. Playing this summer for the Wilmington Sharks in the Coastal Plain League, Aldrich took a break from winning national freshman of the year awards to talk homers and more with The Post and Courier's Gene Sapakoff:

How much fun was it winning the College Home Run Derby in Omaha with your dad serving as your pitcher?

"It was a great experience having him there. He gave me the love for the game, which is very important to me. It was just a fun experience overall."

I take it that wasn't your first home run derby.

"No, it wasn't."

Can you remember your first one?

"Yes, it was in Minnesota at an AAU national tournament. I was 12. I tied for first place when a bunch of us each hit five. They didn't do a tiebreaker in that one."

Wow, 22 home runs as a freshman. More than you expected?

"I expected to have a good season. I put in a lot of hard work and lifted a lot of weights, and I was really excited to get out and play after redshirting. I didn't predict the stats exactly but I did expect to have a good year. I set high goals for myself."

The new BBCOR bat specifications took power away from virtually every college team, but you didn't seem to have much trouble adjusting.

"I heard a lot about the new bats but I tried not to think about it too much. I just didn't think it would be beneficial to let it get to my head. I just worked hard in the weight room trying to get as strong as I possibly could and we hit with wood bats all fall at C of C. After that, the aluminum feels pretty good."

Your favorite college home run, so far?

"Probably my first. Just to get the monkey off my back."

Is there a most memorable high school home run?

"The one I hit at North Augusta in the playoffs my senior year. I just remember it went a long way."

Favorite meal?

"Macaroni and cheese. I'm pretty simple."

Best three movies you've ever seen?

"I really don't watch movies that much. I like video games."

Which ones?

" 'Halo 3' and 'Call of Duty.' "

Favorite major league teams?

"The Yankees and the Phillies right now are my two favorite teams."

While at Wando, you originally committed to play at South Carolina. What happened there?

"I committed to them my sophomore year and was committed to them throughout my high school career, basically, until I de-committed in the fall of my senior year. It just didn't feel like that's where I wanted to be."

Are you pleased with the way things have gone at College of Charleston?

"I really am. I love Charleston and I love the setup we have at C of C. It's worked out well for me, it's worked out well for South Carolina and everybody involved."

Watching the Gamecocks win two College World Series in a row; any regrets on how that went down?

"I saw it happen and I really don't have any regrets. It's worked out well for me. I'm happy. And it's worked out well for them. There's no bad blood on my end."

Your dad was a very good hitter at South Carolina and is known as an excellent rotational swing teacher. How much of your success is his expertise and how much is your hard work and ability?

"My dad is definitely a hitting guru. I'd say he knows a lot about hitting. He's helped build my swing since I was a little kid. He doesn't really say too much to me anymore; he just lets me pound it out and work things out with my swing. But he gets a lot of credit and I work hard, too."

Any thoughts on what your home run output in 2011 might mean going into early projections for the 2012 major league draft?

"I don't even want to think about it much because I just want to keep my work ethic the same and keep my foot on the gas pedal. Right now, I'm trying to do whatever I can to help this Wilmington team and hopefully next year C of C can get back into the postseason. I will work hard and everything will take care of itself. If the opportunity comes and the right offer came, then I guess I would go."