CLEVELAND — Get to know more about Mike Clevinger as we go "Beyond the Dugout" with the Cleveland Indians pitcher.
3News' Dave Chudowsky: Mike, last year you had one of the best "Beyond the Dugout" answers I've ever heard. I asked you if you could have one wish from a genie what would it be. Right away you said more genies. I have to give you credit for that. It was my favorite. Are you up for the challenge to go beyond what you did last year?
Mike Clevinger: I'll try.
Chudowsky: All right let's try…. In baseball terms, who is your biggest competitor in the league and why?
Clevinger: It's gotta be Bauer. I mean, we’ve started that competitiveness since my first big league camp with the velo challenge, so it’s gotta be him.
Chudowsky: OK… on any team who's the one batter you hate to face?
Clevinger: l’d say Whit Merrifield is always gonna get a hit or get on base, one or the other. It’s either gonna be, you know, hard line drive off me or he's gonna work a walk and work the count. He always ends up putting a good strategy.
Chudowsky: What player in baseball history would you most like to have a conversation with?
Clevinger: Let's go, uh, Dock Ellis. That would be an interesting conversation.
Chudowsky: What is the best moment in your career so far?
Clevinger: Gotta be my rookie year going to the World Series. I mean, that was something that I wish I could even go back and soak in a little longer. They told me to try and smell the roses, and it was just so hard as a rookie, I was already, you know, felt like I was floored about this being in the big leagues and that experience is just looking back onto something I'll never forget.
Chudowsky: We won’t either. What’s the best part of being you?
Clevinger: Sounds like a very humble question.
Chudowsky: Hey, it's my job.
Clevinger: (laughs) I don't know. I guess the hair. We’ll go with that.
Chudowsky: Uh, yes! What’s the worst part?
Clevinger: I have some bad tattoos.
Chudowsky: Regrets on the tattoos?
Clevinger: No, no regrets. Specific timeline. Good memories, good or bad, they are still memories.
Chudowsky: Favorite tattoo that you have?
Clevinger: It’s gotta be my hand!
Chudowsky: You up for a little rapid fire?
Clevinger: Yeah!
Chudowsky: Here we go… spring or summer?
Clevinger: Summer.
Chudowsky: Winter or fall?
Clevinger: Fall.
Chudowsky: Early worm or night owl?
Clevinger: Night owl.
Chudowsky: Bagel or croissant?
Clevinger: Bagel.
Chudowsky: Coffee or tea?
Clevinger: Coffee.
Chudowsky: Wine or beer?
Clevinger: Wine.
Chudowsky: Bubble gum or sunflower seeds?
Clevinger: Sunflower seeds.
Chudowsky: Twitter or TikTok.
levinger: Twitter… Whoever answers TikTok isn't on the team…(laughs)
Chudowsky: On that note we're done!
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