Q&A with Diamond 'Dog Carter Bins

FRESNO, Calif. - With the start of the 2019 Fresno State baseball season only days away, GoBulldogs.com sat down with junior catcher Carter Bins to touch on his time as a Bulldog and what he expects of himself and the team this season.

Bins, a Fairfield, Calif. native, has been a major contributor for the 'Dogs as a brick wall behind the plate and a power hitter at the plate. A 2016 graduate of Rodriguez High School in his hometown, Bins was a 35th-round selection of the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2016 MLB Draft after completing an outstanding high school baseball career and was honored with as a First Team All-League selection as a senior as well as being named a team captain. In addition, Bins was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and earned three letters in the sport.

Bins' success rolled right on to Bob Bennett Stadium after he made the decision to forgo the professional ranks and play ball at the collegiate level to help contribute to a winning team with hopes of bringing Fresno State another championship.

As a freshman, Bins appeared in 58 of the Bulldogs' 60 games in 2017. In Mountain West play, Bins was seen as a starter behind the plate in 29 games and played in all 30. As a hitter, Bins had a .291 average after knocking 52 hits, including nine doubles, one triple and six home runs. He knocked in 28 RBIs and crossed home plate 38 times. The freshman charted a .392 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging percentage. Bins had 12 multi-hit games, with a season-high three hits on three occasions in a four-game span in March. Defensively, the catcher was nearly perfect, only committing five errors all season long for a .988 fielding percentage.

Bins' efforts with the Diamond 'Dogs did not go unnoticed as he was nationally recognized as a 2017 Collegiate Newspaper Freshman All-American, becoming just the 13th Bulldog in program history to earn the honor. Bins was also crowned the 2017 Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year. The freshman excelled in the classroom as well, earning Academic All-Mountain West and Mountain West Scholar-Athlete titles.

Bins continued to be a staple in the Bulldog lineup as a sophomore appearing in 46 games with 44 starts, making 34 at catcher, seven as designated hitter and three in left field. He hit .301 on the season with 52 hits while tying for sixth in the Mountain West with 18 doubles. He also added seven home runs, came around to score 34 runs and was a part of a three-way tie atop the club's leaderboard with 39 RBIs.

Throughout the 2018 season, he worked up a .372 on-base percentage and a .562 slugging percentage which ranked 15th in the Mountain West. Bins remained steady behind the plate with a .991 fielding percentage and 270 putouts which lead the team and ranked ninth in the league.

Named a preseason All-Mountain West selection by College Baseball Daily and Perfect Game this spring, Bins was also named the sixth-best catcher and the 97th-best prospect in Division I by D1Baseball.com as the junior looks to be one of the top prospects in the Mountain West for the 2019 MLB Draft in June.

What skills has baseball taught you that you can use off the field?
Bins: "Baseball has taught me that there are going to be many ups and downs in life and you just have to find a way to trust the process and work through the lows in order to get to the highs. Every baseball player experiences failure because you really only succeed 3 out of 10 times and even then, that's considered excellent."

If you had to be attached to one teammate for 24 hours, who would it be and why?
Bins: "I would want to be attached to (sophomore outfielder) Miles Tomczak because he is such an interesting character. I just want to know what he does in his free time and I know that he will be able to make me laugh. Also, the things that he does will make me ask so many questions."

What is one thing that Coach Batesole says that you will always remember?
Bins: "As a freshman, he would always say 'beat it freshman."

What do you expect from yourself and your team on the diamond this season?
Bins: "I expect us to win the regular season championship and make a run in the Mountain West tournament. Having come up short and not making the tournament last year has put a chip on all of our shoulders."

Which of your past or present Fresno State teammates has been your biggest influence during your time as a Bulldog?
Bins: "Nick Warren has been my biggest influence since I was a freshman. He took me under his wing and taught me the ropes on how to succeed behind the plate. With him being gone this year, it has been weird not seeing him around."

How has being a student-athlete prepared you for success in the future?
Bins: "Being a student-athlete has taught me how to manage my time. With long hours at the field and homework assignments to complete, you have to figure out when and how you are going to get better at your sport, as well as succeed in the classroom."

Do you have any advice for young and aspiring baseball players?
Bins: "Some advice I would give them is to never think you are too good not to work hard. Always remember that there is someone out there working harder than you, and with that mindset, the sky is the limit to your success."

What is your favorite part about being a Bulldog?
Bins: "My favorite part about being a Bulldog is the rich history that Fresno State Athletics has as well as the support from the community. No matter where I am, I seem to find someone who either played a sport at Fresno State or attended as a student. It is cool to see all of the support I get from the alumni and community."

Quick Hitters:
Baseball Idol: Buster Posey
Favorite Warm-up song: Lose Yourself by Eminem
Pregame superstition or ritual: I always put my gear in the same spot of the dugout before every game

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.

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Q&A with Diamond 'Dog Carter Bins

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