Cardinals’ pitcher partners with Tiger baseball

The closing pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals wrapped up training with The University of Memphis baseball team Monday.

Jason Motte, who resides in Memphis with his wife Caitlin during his off-seasons, trained at Tiger facilities throughout his break.

"It was like I was part of the team. They just let me come and throw and do whatever I needed to do to get ready," Motte said.

Motte, the 2011 World Series closing pitcher for the champion Cardinals, left for Florida on Tuesday to begin spring training.

Motte's ties with the U of M began via Saint Benedict at Auburndale, a Cordova high school where his wife teaches. In 2010 Motte met Sam Moll and Blake Myers at St. Benedict, now sophomore pitchers for the Tigers.

"Blake Myers and Sam Moll were out there playing baseball their senior year and I went out there and started throwing there the first year, and then when I came back they were freshman in college," Motte said.

Once Moll and Myers began to play for The U of M in 2011, Motte started to train at the Tigers' facilities.

Moll describes Motte as having a constantly positive personality and down to earth demeanor.

"Having Motte at our practices was interesting to say the least," Moll said. "He always had an upbeat attitude at every second of the day. He isn't really around us at practice but in the locker room he jokes around with us. He talks to everyone and is fun to be around."

Patrick Bailey, senior pitcher for The U of M baseball team, said that Motte's World Series experience offered an interesting outlook for the players.

"I thought it was good to have his perspective, and he's a really humble, approachable guy," Bailey said.

The caliber of the talent on The U of M baseball team did not go unnoticed by Motte.

"Oh yeah, they have a really good team, " Motte said. "Watching some of those guys go out and hit and pitch, they have a really good ball club."

While Motte won't be back in Memphis for a few months, Moll pointed out that Motte did leave the team with some advice.

Motte will be unable to attend any of the Tigers games this season due to his own practice schedule, but he will check up on how their season is going he said.

"I'll be watching, probably get online and watch and see how those boys are doing," Motte said.

Motte joked that as long as the team will still have him, he plans on continuing to utilize The U of M facilities during the next off-season.

"I'd be a fool not to come up there and throw and get all of my stuff done," he said.