Hello from Scottsdale, AZ! I’m Steven Edlefsen and I am excited to have been asked to give a little perspective on the Giants’ side of the Arizona Fall League. Hang with me, this is my first blogging experience. Ill try and keep it as interesting as possible. First off, and I think I speak for all of my teammates, I feel honored and blessed to be participating in this prestigious league. So many household names have participated in the AFL in it’s short history. Even though we are only two games into the season, I can tell you many of the players I have seen will be as well in the coming years. The reality that many of us are exhausted from a long season and ready for a break to hunt, fish, golf or just plain relax almost goes completely away. It is so refreshing to see new faces, and the talents they bring to the table. With all of the major league uniforms mixed in, it almost does feel like an all star game everyday.
I’ll start with a little background of myself. I am originally from Bloomington, MN (yes we play baseball up there.) I spent the majority of my collegiate career as a shortstop. I attended Barton County Community College in Kansas and played for the great Mike “Skip” Warren. I was drafted after my freshman season by the Boston Red Sox but did not sign. I had Tommy John Surgery my sophomore year and redshirted, then transferred to THE University of Nebraska. I spent my first season there in the infield before also adding pitching my junior year. The Giants then drafted me as a young and somewhat immature pitcher. The last 2 1/2 seasons has been a learning experience spending time at nearly every stop in the Giants system. I have learned a great deal during my short professional career, this last season being the most significant. I look at this fall season as an opportunity to improve and learn even more while playing against the best competition the minor leagues’ has to offer.
So far the league has been a breath of fresh air, a relaxed atmosphere with guys looking to show they are ready for the big leagues. I’m writing this the morning after an extra inning win for the Scorpions, and we now sit at 2-0. I got my first outing out of the way, snaking out a win, by throwing a scoreless 9th as we scored 2 in the 10th for a 3-1 victory.
In the coming weeks I will try to have some of the other Giants here, giving their perspective on their experiences as well. Send any questions you have for me or the other Giants and I will do my best to answer all of them.
Talk Soon,
Steven
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Giants in the AFL 
Nicely done. THE University of Nebraska will be proud of your writing skills, even if they aren’t proud of your flat-billed cap.
Keep throwing sinkers.
We’re sure glad to have you in OUR system! Are the Giants grooming you to be a starter or a reliever; and if the latter, how do you feel about being The Closer? We shall be following your outings with great interest, and hope to see you on the parent club when camp breaks in early April. Enjoy the ride!
Steven,
Thank you for taking the time to write to us, we love hearing a players perspective on our players and their experences.
My question is for Buster, as he did come up to SFG for a short time, and is a hitter.
It seems there have been a lot of players who have done well in AAA ball, but have not fared well once they reached the Giants. Can you tell us how much of a change you saw, and your thoughts on how to overcome it?
Thanks, Walt
Steven
not bad for your first journalistic effort. What are your goals for the fall league and what do you feel are your strong points and yes- weak. ? If it wasn’t for the fall league giving me insight to up and coming players of the future- it would be a long lonely winter. Brian Wilson was with the beach boys I believe last year and look what a little polish did for him. Good luck and hope to hear you more this fall. Tell all the giants minors we are all pulling for them and have a few guys hit the weights and cages a few extra times a week. We need some
somebody to step up and be a R.O.Y. !!!!
Thanks Jim and Ruth ( she’s a cards fan but we’ll forgive her because of her looks !!!!! )
Thanks for the updates Steven, and congrats on the great start for the scorpions !! I’m in southern california, so I’m really hoping to make it out there to catch a few games. I’m wondering what playing all season long in the minors and then coming out and playing fall ball does to your arm… Do you feel like that is the best way to build up endurance? Does that give you any time to recover? And after having the TJ Surgery have you changed anything in your mechanics? Good luck this year bud, we’re all behind ya !!
Katy
Thanks for the updates Steven, and congrats on the great start for the scorpions !! I’m in southern california, so I’m really hoping to make it out there to catch a few games. I’m wondering what playing all season long in the minors and then coming out and playing fall ball does to your arm… Do you feel like that is the best way to build up endurance? Does that give you any time to recover? And after having the TJ Surgery have you changed anything in your mechanics? Good luck this year bud, we’re all behind ya !!
Katy
Nice job for your first blog post! I look forward to reading more. Congrats on your first AFL win, too. Seems like you had a great 2009 season, keep up the good work and hope to see you in San Francisco this April!
–Lauren
Welcome to the blogosphere, Steven! Nicely written post there. Keep up the great work — with both this blog and pitching. Hopefully, we’ll see you up in the bigs soon!
–Mackenzie
Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to allow us into the life of the AFL. Hope to read more of these posts.
Go Scorps!!! ;=]
~~sfgyrosfan~~
Hey Steven,
Can you go into greater detail on the things you have learned during your short professional career. You write in your blog that you’ve come a long way and learned a lot during your short pro career. You don’t have to explain everything, but what are some of the most important things you have learned up to this point? Would you say it was more of a mental adjustment or physical? I appreciate the time and good luck with your blog.
-Mike
Steven,
Great job. Love to hear the updates from the youngsters. Here’s to seeing Posey, Crawford, and Neal on here in the coming weeks.
Hey Steve, this is Tom with the little grandkid Troy that hang out by the bullpen in San Jose. I just want you to know that not only are you a very talented pitcher but also a great team player!! You and the rest of the bunch that have came through San Jose have treated myself,Troy and all the fans here with so much respect you all need to be commended for that. It really makes me proud to be associated with the Giants. Troy will alway’s remember the good times you have given him and the fun he has there. It isn’t about whether you make it to the bigs it’s when. I can’t wait to see you there. Sorry I didn’t get to wish you luck when you moved up but our whole group that hang out there in the bullpen are pulling for you. Goodluck Steve and stay healthy Tom,Troy,And the bunch
Steve is there a website to check out all the games and stats for the fall league?
troyspapa-
This isn’t Steve, but the official website for the fall league is
http://www.mlbfallball.com
Hello, I want to say that this is a big day for Giants fans. Bengie signed today, Tim is going to be signed and Wilson is done too. This is huge, now I know that the Giants will still be lacking in the hitting area. But they have Improved with Huff and Derosa, and having Freddy Sanchez, and Pablo Sandoval there could be enough to pop in them bats, with the pitching they have to really make the other teams pay with losses. This could be the year with the Giants playing in a weak Division to maybe win their division and with some luck go a ways in the play-offs. Thanks lwalth
http://electricdemise.blogspot.com/