Jeremy Plexico is a 1998 graduate of Chapin High School. After a stop at the University of South Carolina following his prep career, Plexico found a permanent home at Winthrop. Two All-American seasons for the Eagles led to him being taken in the 19th round by the Montreal Expos in the 2003 draft. Presently the left-handed pitcher is in Spring Training with the Washington Nationals, enjoy his story on the twists and turns of his career that have led him to where he is today.   DP-Please list any high school, college and pro statistics of importance, awards won: JP-I graduated from Chapin High School in 1998. I lettered two years in basketball and four years in baseball. Won the state baseball championship in 1996 and was runner up in 1998. Was named as an All-Region selection four times and was the Region Player of the Year as a senior. All-Area and All-State as a senior. Was named to North-South Team as a senior. Selected to Sports Report Mini Camp three times. Went to South Carolina on a baseball scholarship from 1999 though 2001. Transferred to Winthrop University and played there the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Was a two-time 3rd Team All-American as a senior. Named to All-Big South Conference as a senior. Named Big South Male Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior. Drafted in the 19th round by the Montreal Expos in the 2003 draft. Compiled a college record of 21-8 in two years at Winthrop.  Threw over 100 innings in both seasons at Winthrop. My first year in pro ball I played for the Vermont Expos in the New York Penn League. Led the team with 70 innings as a starter/reliever. Spent 2004 with the Savannah Sand Gnats in the South Atlantic League. Led the team in wins and appearances out of the bullpen as a middle reliever/set-up man with an 8-5 record.  Threw 82 innings, and had 49 appearances.  Academically was a member of the Beta Club and National Honors Society in High School. Graduated with around a 3.6 GPA in college.    DP-What are some of your nicknames? JP-I have had a few nicknames throughout my career.  When I played basketball in high school, my nickname was Jayhawk because I had pictures of Kansas Jayhawk center Raef Lefrentz all over my locker.  Scott McLeod, my high school baseball coach, always called me P$. That has evolved into Plex$, which is what a lot of my teammates call me today.   DP-What is your greatest high school thrill? JP-My greatest high school thrill is, without a doubt, winning the state championship in 1996. It was my sophomore year, and we beat a pretty good Bishop England High School team.    DP-What is your greatest thrill, or two, beyond high school? JP-My greatest thrill beyond high school would have to be pitching against LSU my senior year at Winthrop.  It is probably the best game that I have ever pitched.  We were beating them 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth with 2 outs. I walked the next batter, and then the following hitter, after fouling off 3 or 4 pitches, hit a low and away fastball over the right field fence. We ended up losing that game in a true heartbreaker, but I still say it was the best game that I have ever pitched. Another moment that I will never forget is hearing my name called out on Draft Day in 2003.  I ended up getting drafted in the 19th round by the Montreal Expos/Present day Washington Nationals.  I didn’t care where I got drafted though, I was just thrilled that someone was going to give me a chance.   DP-Who are the three toughest pitchers you faced in high school and the three toughest after high school? JP-The toughest hitter that I faced in high school would have to have been Drew Meyer, from Bishop England. I faced him my sophomore and senior year in the State Championship. Not only is he a great hitter but an extremely fast runner from the left side of the plate. He ended up having a great career at South Carolina, and getting drafted in the first round by the Texas Rangers. Another tough hitter that I faced was Reggie Taylor, from Newberry. I faced him when I was a freshman, and he was a senior. I can remember him hitting a homerun off of me the first time I faced him. I wasn’t used to giving up homeruns and it was a real eye opener to me. I can remember Coach McLeod watching me very closely after I gave up the bomb to see how I would react to it. It was a learning experience for sure. A tough hitter that I have faced in pro ball is Delmon Young, of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was the first overall pick in the 2003 draft out of high school. His brother Dimitri Young is a major league veteran, and is compiling a terrific career. Delmon is a great hitter because he can hit for average and power alike. He was the Minor League Hitter of the year last year, and could crack the Big Leagues this year. The hitter that has given me the most trouble in pro ball is a guy in the Orioles organization named Nick Markakis. He is a left-handed hitter that, for some reason, seems to have my number. I think I have only faced him like three or four times but he has two doubles against me. He could also see time in the “Bigs” this year for the Orioles.    DP-Do you have any good, but clean, locker room or road trip stories? JP-One of the funniest things that goes on at least a time or two every year, is giving the batboy a hard time. About anytime a new batboy comes to the locker room the players will all give him a hard time, joking around with him and stuff. Every now and then, we will get him good though. Someone will tell the batboy that he needs to run to the other locker room to find the “key” to the …

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  Billy Sylvester is entering his tenth professional season and his second as a member of the Washington Nationals organization. Sylvester attended the Hudgens Academy before playing two record-breaking seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College. He signed with the Atlanta Braves in 1997 as a free agent. The 6-5/220-pound right-hander is married to his high school sweetheart, Jodie and the couple reside in Turbeville, SC with their three-month old baby girl Sara Beth. DP-Please list any pro statistics of importance, awards won, led league or organization, honors, etc: BS-2000: Carolina League All-Star, 16 saves; 2001-Southern League All-Star, Double-A All Star, Futures Game participant, 23 saves; 2002- Southern League All-Star, Double-A All Star, 26 saves; 2003-18 saves; 2004- Texas League All-Star, 12 saves; Greenville Braves all-time saves leader (55) DP-Please list any major high school/college accolades? BS-High School: All-State junior and senior year; All-Region junior and senior year; Player of the Year SCISA in senior year; No-hitter in SCISA/Low Country Challenge; All-Region during sophomore year at Spartanburg Methodist College; Single-season record holder for wins and innings pitched in a season; Signed letter of intent with Clemson University DP-What are some of your nicknames? BS-B Sly, BSlizzy DP-What is your greatest high school thrill? BS-Playing for the state championship! DP-What is your greatest thrill, or two, beyond high school? BS-1) Beating Brevard to win Region X Tournament, 2) Signing first pro contract, 3) When I was put on the Braves 40-man roster and 4) Winning championship in Myrtle Beach and Frisco. DP-What was your toughest adjustment (in and out of baseball) after high school? BS-Just being away from home and learning to adjust without any supervision, it was harder to make the adjustment off the field than on, there is no one to push you but yourself and that was the hardest part; on the field, once I knew I belonged and was as good as the rest it was easy because it was just playing ball like I had done since I was a child. DP-What is the biggest crowd you’ve ever performed in front of and where? BS-30,000, not counting TV, at Turner Field in Atlanta and about 20,000 wild maniacs in the Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venenzuela. DP-Tell people out there what it feels like to sign a professional contract: BS-It was very special because since I’ve been playing baseball that was my goal and to accomplish it was a great feat. DP-As a successful closer for a number of years, take us through what allows you to recover quickly: BS-I believe the time I put in running, long tossing and doing flat ground work gets me prepared physically and mentally to perform on a daily basis. DP-Give us an idea of a typical day at the park (start to finish) in which you close a game out for a save: BS-I’ll get there about two hours before the team stretch so I can take my time getting my work in, I hate to be rushed. First, I’ll run poles or sprints then sit-ups, long toss and flat ground. Then I’ll come in and shower and put on my BP uniform and hangout until time for the team stretch. Then I go out for team stretch and BP, during BP I usually hit fungos or catch the infielders at 1B for the first two groups, during the third group I’ll go shag in the outfield. After BP I’ll go in and eat and play some cards until 30 minutes before game time, then I’ll take another shower and put my uniform on and go to the dugout for the national anthem. During the game I watch from the dugout until the third inning and then I go to the pen and hang out during the eighth. I start throwing with the outfielder between innings to get ready for the ninth. When I get the call, I’m fairly loose so I get the catcher down and throw as hard as I can for ten throws then I start working location and breaking balls. When I get into the game, my goal is to get the hitters out as fast as I can so I’ll be available the next night to do it again. After the game I’ll ice for 20 minutes and eat then I shower and leave. DP-You have knocked on the door of MLB and have faced many of the games greats. What keeps you enthusiastic and will not allow you to walk away from baseball? BS-My arm feels great and I’m getting hitters out and I’m making money playing a game I would play for free! DP-Who have you gotten out that has a shot of making the Hall of Fame? BS-Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera and Cal Ripken Jr. DP-Who has made the greatest impression on you as a baseball player and why? BS-Eddie Watt, he was my first pitching coach. He taught me how to go about my business, get my work done and not to worry about what other players are doing because I can only control one player and that’s myself. That information has been the best piece of advice I’ve gotten. He also treated everyone the same whether it was a non-drafted guy or a first round pick or the clubby or the GM, he treated everyone with respect. DP-You signed as a free agent out of a workout with some of your buddies, tell us that story: BS-I was going to summer school at Francis Marion University before I went to the Cape Cod League. My buddy, Jerry Waller, and I went to the field at the school to work out after classes. We worked out for about an hour when we were leaving and some guys started showing up. We found out it was a Braves tryout so we stayed. That was on Friday and on Wednesday I was playing Rookie Ball in Orlando, Florida. DP-What has been the biggest difference between professional baseball and the college ranks? BS-After going …

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