Jays' prospect Fisk strives for consistency

Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Conor Fisk at the Bobby Mattick Training Center in Dunedin, Fla. Photo Credit: Anthony Amador

By Anthony Amador

Canadian Baseball Network

DUNEDIN, Fla -- Conor Fisk knew he had a special arm once he entered high school.

Born in Brown Deer, Wis., Fisk knew he wanted to play baseball, but didn’t know his arm would take him to where he is today.

“Growing up, you always want to be a shortstop, centre fielder, you want to be the star player,” Fisk said, with a smile. “Turned out I had a pretty decent arm and then I found out when I went to high school.

“I was like ‘Oh, I can do this maybe for a living one day.’ I really focused on pitching since I really wasn’t the best hitter.”

Fisk credits his dad for introducing him to the game at age four, and has strong memories.

“He grew up playing, and I remember as a little kid he played in an old men’s league. I used to go and watch him play and wanted to be like him, play baseball like him,” said Fisk. “I remember running around with my bat, Frank Thomas was my favourite player back then.

“I would watch and take bats with him, throw with him. He was pitching so I just grew up around the sport.”

Fisk finished the year with the class- A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays, recording a 3.84 earned-run average, in 152 1/3 innings pitched and 112 strikeouts to finish the year 8-11.

The right-hander knows if he wants to bring his game up to the next level he has to work on one thing that has been his biggest issue so far.

“Consistency. As you go up in baseball you have to be consistent at any time,” he said. “I was a starter last year and I kind of struggled up and down with being consistent.

“Having the ability to throw your stuff every pitch whenever you need to. Having the movement, and the confidence in yourself to be able to go out every fifth day to give the best that you got.”

Fisk has a big dream for anyone playing in the lower minors.

“Going to double-A and up is my goal this year.”