Behind the Scenes With Andrew Papantonis

Behind The Scenes gives you an inside look into the lives of the nation’s top high school baseball players. We sat down with 2016 Area Code Games’ Most Outstanding Player, Andrew Papantonis, to talk everything from baseball to social media. Papantonis, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound shortstop from New Jersey, batted .400 with three RBIs in the 2016 AC Games.

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NAME: Andrew Papantonis

POSITION: Shortstop

HIGH SCHOOL: Delbarton School

HOMETOWN: Glen Gardner, N.J.

INSTAGRAM: @apaps1

TWITTER: @apaps_1

FAVORITE THING ABOUT BASEBALL: Getting up to bat or having a ground ball hit to you in a big spot with a lot of pressure

ONE ASPECT OF YOUR GAME YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ON: Getting more flexible

FAVORITE PLAYER: Bryce Harper

PREGAME RITUAL: Don’t really have one

FAVORITE BASEBALL MEMORY: Area Code Games 2016

FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST: Future

IF YOU WEREN’T A BASEBALL PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING: Playing football year round

WORDS TO LIVE BY: “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”

IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ANY THREE PEOPLE (ALIVE OR DEAD), WHO WOULD THEY BE: John F. Kennedy, my grandpa who passed away, and Larry Page

WHAT ARE SOME GOALS YOU HAVE SET FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SEASON: Win a state championship

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING TO PREPARE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SEASON: Lifting and getting in the cages whenever I can

FAVORITE PERSON TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Not sure—I laugh at too many things.

WORLD SERIES PREDICTION: Chicago Cubs

IF YOU WERE A GM AND COULD PICK ONE PLAYER TO START YOUR FRANCHISE WITH, WHO WOULD IT BE: Clayton Kershaw—you always need a good arm

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE EMOJI AND WHY: The grinning purple devil with the horns (it shows everyone that I mean business) 

FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURE SONG TO SING IN YOUR CAR: “Mr. Brightside”—The Killers

WALK UP SONG: “Really Got It”—Jerraeu

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE REFER TO “MAKE BASEBALL FUN AGAIN”: I love it—baseball is America’s pastime and I think it should be fun

IF YOU WERE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE MLB, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE TO THE LEAGUE: I would make everyone wear stirrups every game

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW: “Power”

FAVORITE PREGAME MEAL: Breakfast at any point in the day

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE INSTAGRAM AND SNAPCHAT FOLLOW

Favorite Instagram follow: Total Frat Move

Favorite Snapchat follow: my friend Winston, he never fails to make me laugh

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR “X FACTOR” IS: My athleticism

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ENTERTAINER: Denzel Washington

WHO HAS THE NASTIEST PITCH IN BASEBALL: Jake Arietta’s sinker

BEST LINEUP IN THE MLB: Toronto Blue Jays

For a ‘Behind the Scenes’ look at the nation’s best high school prospects, check out more stories on the Area Code Games tab on Baseball America.