22-year-old ace Danny Hultzen of the Seattle Mariners grew up in Carderock Springs, fewer than two miles from Whitman. Hultzen picked up a baseball at a very young age. His skills shone throughout his childhood, whether it was with with his B-CC travel team, the Hurricanes, or outside of his Bethesda home.

Hultzen played baseball at the University of Virginia where he stood out, which made him the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft. Hultzen recently started out pitching at the AA level for the Jackson Generals and made his way up to the AAA level Tacoma Rainiers, Seattle’s affiliate. By 2013 it is very possible Hultzen will officially become a Seattle Mariner and pitch at the Major League level.

The Black & White: What teams did you play on in the Bethesda area before you went to St. Albans?

Danny Hultzen: I played in BCC Baseball for a team called the BCC Hurricanes. We played a lot of games in the Bethesda area but also travelled to a lot of different places to play games. I still keep in touch with my friends from that team, even though it was a long time ago.

B&W: Did you have any influential BCC/Little League Coaches?
DH: I would say that all of my BCC/Little League coaches influenced me in some way. However, the most influential was my dad, who played catch with me pretty much every day and taught me how to play the game.

B&W: What was your favorite spot to hang out in Bethesda?
DH: When I was younger my favorite spot to hang out in Bethesda was definitely the movie theater in downtown Bethesda. My friends and I saw countless movies there and you could usually find us hanging around there.

B&W: What made you decide to go to UVA? What made you decide to go to college rather than straight into the majors ?
DH: UVA has an unbeatable combination of academic excellence and a great baseball program. Going to college was something that I had really wanted to do and was something I really did not want to miss out on. I wanted to grow not only as a baseball player, but also as a person, before I thought about professional baseball. My experiences in college have made me who I am today and I believe it was the right decision for me to go to college out of high school rather than straight into professional baseball.

B&W: What was the highlight of your college baseball experience?
DH: Definitely playing in the College World Series in Omaha.

B&W: What did it feel like when you signed your major league contract?
DH: It was a dream come true for me!

B&W: How did it feel to be called up from Jackson to Tacoma (AA to AAA) so quickly?
DH: It was definitely an honor to be called up to AAA. The Mariners had a lot of confidence in me to pitch at that level and even though I did not pitch well in AAA, it was still a lot of fun.

B&W: You come from the “Bethesda Bubble”. What’s it like dealing with players who come from such diverse backgrounds, other countries, not speaking English?
DH: It’s a very interesting experience. I have met a lot of guys from lots of different places and it has been cool to talk to them and hear about how they grew up and where they come from.

B&W: What’s it like to be a young, newly-signed player who’s major league bound playing with older guys who have been playing in the minors their whole career?
DH: It’s very different. Throughout my life I have played with and against guys that are roughly the same age as I am and its different playing against guys that have played the game for so long. I enjoy it because those older guys have a lot of useful advice to give to the younger players.

B&W: What’s the best part about living in the Seattle/Tacoma area? Do you live in Bethesda during the off-season?
DH: I would probably say the scenery. The northwest is a beautiful area and I find myself getting caught up in the scenery very often. I am everywhere in the off-season! I spend a lot of time in Bethesda and also spend time in Charlottesville and Florida.

B&W: Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you pitch?
DH: Just like any other pitcher, I have developed a certain routine that I do every time I go out there.

B&W: What ballpark would you most like to pitch in? Why?
DH: If I am lucky enough one day to pitch in the major leagues, it would be amazing to pitch in any big league ballpark! I would say it would be a dream come true to pitch at Camden Yards because I was an Oriole fan growing up.

B&W: Are you rooting for the Nats or Orioles in the playoffs? Redskins?
DH: All of them! The playoffs have been amazing to watch so far.

B&W: Do you think Stephen Strasburg should have kept pitching in the playoffs? Why or why not?
DH: I think it was a very difficult situation but I think the Nationals made the right call. His health is the priority and by shutting him down, they’re giving him the best shot to stay healthy and have a successful career. He’ll be ready to pitch next year and help the Nationals win the World Series.

B&W: What are your hobbies or interests other than baseball?
DH: I’m a pretty laid back guy so I just like to hang out with my friends and family when I’m not playing baseball.