Behind The Scenes With Mason Hickman

Mason Hickman

Behind The Scenes gives you an inside look into the lives of the nation’s top high school baseball players. In this week’s feature, we talk to Mason Hickman, a 6-foot-6 righthander from Hendersonville, Tenn. Hickman, who played for the Nationals in the 2016 Area Code Games, pitched three solid innings, striking out the first five batters he faced, while sitting at 88-90 mph. He is committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt.

NAME Mason Hickman

POSITION RHP

HIGH SCHOOL Pope John Paul II

HOMETOWN Hendersonville, Tenn.

INSTAGRAM @Masonhickman_

TWITTER @Hickmanmason

FAVORITE PLAYER IN THE MLB Adam Wainwright

FAVORITE BASEBALL MEMORY Winning the Junior Sunbelt National Tournament with Team Tennessee and also playing in the Area Code Games in beautiful California and meeting so many people from across the country

WORDS TO LIVE BY “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark” — Michaelangelo

PREGAME RITUAL Draw my initials in the dirt on the back of the mound and only give fist bumps with left hand

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING TO PREPARE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SEASON Training six days a week and continuing to lean up/strengthen the muscles in my legs so I can drive off the mound with more power

ONE ASPECT OF YOUR GAME YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ON Being able to be more explosive and powerful in my delivery to generate velocity

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

FAVORITE PERSON TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA Faux_Gruden

IF YOU WERE A GM AND COULD PICK ONE PLAYER TO START YOUR FRANCHISE WITH, WHO WOULD IT BE Jake Arrieta

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE EMOJI AND WHY The simple smile. It provides a classic, friendly vibe to any text message plus it can be used in numerous situations

FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST Azizi Gibson

FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURE SONG TO SING IN YOUR CAR Taylor Swift, “Wildest Dreams”

WALK UP SONG Jerreau, “Really Got It”

IF YOU WERE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE MLB, WHAT IS ONE CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE TO THE GAME Incorporate throwback jerseys more often

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SHOW “Sons of Anarchy”

ROLE MODELS OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL My parents and David Ray (trainer)

FAVORITE PREGAME MEAL Quiznos’ honey bacon club with no tomatoes on rosemary parmesan bread with lettuce and red onion. Proven to increase good luck and performance in any sporting event

MIKE TROUT OR BRYCE HARPER Bryce Harper’s hitting and Mike Trout’s overall tools