Baseball profile: Scott Kazmir—Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays

Baseball Digest, July, 2008 by Rick Sorci

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

FULL NAME: Scott Edward Kazmir

AGE, HT, WT.: 24.6-0.185

BORN: January 24, 1984 in Houston, Texas

HOME: Tampa, Florida

STATUS/FAMILY: Single

NICKNAME: Kaz

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: Relaxing I like to go out and do outdoor activities and have fun.

SPORTS HERO WHEN I WAS YOUNG: Being from Houston, it was Nolan Ryan.

PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED ME THE MOST/WHY? Baseball-wise, I'd say Billy Wagner. I got to meet him and talk with him after I got drafted (by the Mets in 2002). He told me everything to expect.

BEST ADVICE ANYONE EVER GAVE ME: After I signed and was at Shea Stadium, Mo Vaughn told me to relax, don't push things and just let things happen.

PLAYERS--PAST AND PRESENT--I'D PAY TO WATCH PLAY BASEBALL: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Roger Marls from the past. Today, I'd pay to watch Ken Griffey, Jr.

HOBBIES: I like to play golf and go fishing

TYPE OF CAR: Mercedes Benz SL55

FAVORITE MOVIE: Wedding Crashers FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie

FAVORITE FOOD: Mexican

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Entourage FAVORITE MUSIC: I like pretty much everything except Country.

FAVORITE BALLPARKS: Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium

FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: I like the Houston Rockets.

BEST TIME OF MY LIFE/WHY? I'd say high school. No worries, just have fun the whole time. I wish I could have stayed in high school.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The 2006 season when I got injured and missed half the year. I had soreness in the shoulder and they held me out in the second half of the season.

CHARACTERISTIC I ADMIRE MOST IN A PERSON: Passion

THE TRUE SIGN OF SUCCESS IS: When you feel like you've met your goals.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE A BASEBALL PLAYER NEEDS: Thick skin. This game will humble you.

PLAYER I LEARNED THE MOST FROM: Billy Wagner

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT BASEBALL IT WOULD BE: I'd have the OH eliminated and let the pitcher hit. It's a completely different game. And, I love to hit.

IF NOT A BASEBALL PLAYER I WOULD HAVE BEEN: I would want to be somewhere, involved in some way with baseball. I just love the game.

BEHIND MY BACK THEY SAY: They say I'm funny.

TOUGHEST BATTER I'VE FACED: Gary Sheffield. He's very intimidating.

LIFE AFTER BASEBALL: It's going to be very relaxing with a lot of days on the golf course.

I'M MOST PROUD OF: Having a supportive family like I do. When I was younger, they took me to all those tournaments to help me develop, and it paid off.

MY MOST EMBARRASSING BASEBALL EXPERIENCE: In 2005, I was pitching in Oakland and I lost a contact lens on the mound. I didn't know what to do. The umpire came out and asked me if I could pitch without it. I told him I was seeing three batters and didn't think the batter wanted me to pitch without it. After a long delay, they brought me another lens from the clubhouse.

MY MOST MEMORABLE GAME: It was my third start in the major leagues, and it was also my first start in Fenway Park. I was pitching against Pedro Martinez and ended up winning the game. It was awesome.