Oklahoma State University Athletics
Around The Horn With... Tim Arakawa
January 15, 2015 | Cowboy Baseball
Tim Arakawa is a Hawaii native who earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors a year ago in his first season with the Cowboys. A 5-foot-8 second baseman, Arakawa hit .265 with four home runs, 44 RBIs and 15 stolen bases to help OSU capture Big 12 and Regional championships.
• Do you have any baseball superstitions?
I try not to step on the baseline when I'm running out onto the field. And if I'm going well, I try to keep the same undershirt, jock strap or whatever; if I'm struggling I'll switch it up a little bit.
• Any significance to your jersey number?
My whole life I've either been number 1 or number 2 because I'm usually the smallest guy on the team. When I got here, (assistant coach Roland Fanning) was number 1, and he tried to switch me numbers. But I was number 1 at my junior college, and I was tired of it so I decided to go with number 2.
• Toughest pitcher you ever faced?
Trevor Gott. He was from Lexington, Kentucky, and I played against him in the Cal Ripken World Series when I was 12. It was a 46-foot mound, and he was throwing the ball really hard. I couldn't even see it -- I was just swinging when it left his hand. At that time, it was the fastest pitcher I'd even seen, and I just couldn't keep up. (Gott) was Kentucky's closer and the MVP of the Cape Cod League, and he got drafted last year.
• Best part of playing baseball at Oklahoma State?
Just the people. The people here are awesome, the coaching staff is great, my teammates are awesome. It's just a family. I came here, and people accepted me and brought me in. The amount of genuine care they showed for me, I couldn't have asked for anything better.
• What is your favorite baseball movie?
Bull Durham
• One word to describe Josh Holliday.
Consistent
• Which of your teammates is most likely to end up on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays?
Donnie Walton
• What actor would you pick to play you in a movie and why?
Mark Wahlberg. I feel like he's the same size as me; I don't think he's very big. And he's one of my favorite actors.
• Who is your celebrity crush?
Alana Blanchard
• What is the one talent you'd most like to have?
I want to be able to dunk a basketball.
• If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Tavarua, Fiji. There's good surf there, the weather is awesome, the water is crystal clear and I just feel like you'd have no stress and just relax.
• Who is your favorite athlete to watch in another sport?
Kelly Slater. Watching him charge those waves is unreal.
• One word to describe you.
Chill
• If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
Rob Dyrdek. He lives a really fun live at the Fantasy Factory.
• Who is the most played musician in your iPod?
Bob Marley or Hillsong
• If your house/apartment was on fire and you only had time to save one possession, what would it be and why?
My Bible
• What is a TV show you watch but are embarrassed to admit?
Revenge
• If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would they be? What would be served?
Jesus Christ, Bob Marley and my grandfather. We'd eat sushi.
• People would be surprised to know that I... never had my own room until I got to college.
• What are three things on your bucket list?
Learn how to snowboard. Go out of the country to surf. Win a national championship.
