Timo Aracena an infielder for the Vipers has been a valuable contributor to the team in his first season in the CLPB. Aracena is a rising sophomore at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL and has been a force at the plate and on the base paths for the Vipers.
Aracena has driven in 16 runs, scored 21 runs, walked 20 times, leading the team and stolen 16 bases, second highest on the team.
Our Judith Altneu talked to Aracena about his season with the Vipers and learned about his switch hitting techniques.
What’s been working for you at the plate this summer? Like getting hits and walks.
“Just working on my timing, be decisive on what pitches I want to hit and look for early in the count. Late in the count I want to expand and try and poke it into the outfield. Drill work and mind games helps a lot.”
How do you like playing in the CLPB?
“I like it a lot especially since I’ve been playing every day. I was coming in as a freshman on my college team and I didn’t get that many reps till the end of the season. This league is very competitive, so I like it.”
How are the Vipers helping you for when you go back to school?
“I’ve been switch hitting for only like three years now and it was from the left side when I started switch hitting when I was 16. So, it’s just like the more reps I get the better [as] I learn from all these guys who’ve been hitting from the left side their whole life.”
What made you want to be a switch hitter at age 16?
“My sophomore [of high school] year I got hit in the eye with a baseball bat and I recovered. I came in righty and when there’s a righty pitcher from hitting right and if they throw a curveball, I can’t pick it up at all. So, I had to learn how to switch hit and luckily my first three swings in the cage [from the left side] were all to the back of the net.”
What side do you like to bat on more? And what percentage do you bat from the left vs right side?
“Lefty for sure. I’d say I hit lefty about 80% of the time and righties 20%, [but] whenever there’s a lefty [pitcher] I hit righty.”
What makes you such a stolen bases threat?
“For me it’s all about timing, seeing how quick the pitcher is to the plate, seeing what his timing methods are. [Also], getting a good first step for me is important and a good slide is always important to me as well. I think that’s been helping me a lot and the summer just working on my legs and getting faster.”
What’s been your favorite part of the summer here in the CLPB, now that the season is nearing its end?
“Probably getting interviewed. I’ve never been interviewed in my life before and I think it’s a really cool aspect of this league and I’ve always wanted to, so it’s a dream come true.”