Prentice Redman sure likes to sleep. When I called his room at 1:15 PM Monday afternoon he had just woken up, while his best friend and fellow Norfolk Tide Esix Snead was still out cold. But snoozing isn’t Redman’s only hobby. He also loves to win.

Redman is currently a starting outfielder for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. He was called up to the big leagues last August for a cup of coffee, and his ultimate goal is obviously to get back to Shea. However, he still puts a lot of importance on how his current team fares.

“It’s very important to win, even in the minors,” Redman says, “It’s just not fun being on a losing team. It’s good when your team is playing well, and it also makes you play better yourself. We were struggling a lot this year, but now we’re playing a lot better and it’s a lot more fun.”

Not only does Prentice Redman want the Tides to win, he is also pulling for the team in Queens. Sure, if the Mets keep losing and continue to be plagued by injuries there is a better chance of Redman being called up. But he says it just isn’t worth it.

“I’d never root for the Mets to lose,” he says. “I want them to win, so if I get called up I can be in the middle of a playoff race. That would be a lot of fun, so I root for them to win every night.”

In order for Redman to get that call-up though, he will have to improve his game. In 15 games at the pro level last year he hit just .125, and in 46 games in 2004 with the Tides he is hitting only .248. Prentice Redman is very aware of the competition in the minors though, and is ready to outwork them all.

“I know it’s very hard work, it’s a daily battle. You’ve got good players in front of you [in the big leagues] and good players behind you [in lower level minor leagues]. They are all working really hard so it’s my job to outwork them all.” When asked how long he would keep trying the 24 year-old didn’t bat an eye. “Oh I’ll never give up. I gotta keep trying to get to my goal. That’s why I’m here.”

Redman says he is improving, and credits his personal successes to hitting instructor Al LeBoeuf. He is hoping that his improvements will result in many things. First, that he will be able to once again play against his brother, Pittsburgh Pirate Tike Redman. Second, that he will get to play on baseball’s biggest stage in New York City. But possibly most important, Prentice Redman wants to keep improving so that his ultimate team, the Mets, can once again win.

Photo by the Norfolk Tides.

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