Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Mason Bloom, New Trier baseball

Mason Bloom is a senior outfielder for the Trevians. The leadoff hitter is a three-year varsity player who will continue playing for Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut) next year.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

Before a lot of games, I like to eat one of those Chomps beef sticks. I like to get to the field early and stretch on my own and take a moment to get mentally prepared. I throw, I hit and field and then play the game.

2. Why is Trinity the right fit for you?

I really like the coaches and atmosphere there. I did an overnight visit and that was the only school that gave me the opportunity to do that. I got to figure out what it was like to be student there and got to go to classes. I felt I connected well with the guys and coaches. I am excited to get down there in the fall.

3. What would be your dream job?

Maybe like a lawyer. My grandpa was a tax lawyer. I don’t know what I’m going to study but maybe after, going to law school and figuring it out.

4. How have you grown as a ballplayer in three seasons on varsity?

I feel like I’ve really developed as a hitter. I’ve been able to become more consistent and produce more for the team. Just growing bigger and stronger and more accustomed to the game. Playing three years was crucial to that development, and the coaches and my teammates have been great and helped me be the player I am today.

5. What’s key to being a leadoff hitter?

Having good at-bats, working the count. For our team, we like to have the leadoff hitter be a tone-setter, really going out there and competing. Hopefully I get a hit or get on base, but if not, show the lineup we got this.

6. What is your earliest memory of baseball?

I would say when I was probably like 4 years old, playing on the Takiff Center field in Glencoe, doing coach pitch. I was on the opposing team from my cousin and we’d play each other every week because there were only two teams. I remember being really excited every Saturday to go out there.

7. What is your favorite thing to do off the field?

I like to spend a lot of time hanging out with friends and family. I like playing pickup basketball with friends, I like watching sports a lot; during football season I spend a lot of time that. Also, I’ll read occasionally; that’s another thing I like to do.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

Probably Dot’s (Homestyle) Pretzels — the original.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

When I was younger, all I wanted to do was play hockey, and I was a huge fan of the Blackhawks, but when my parents told me hockey was played over Thanksgiving and I could no longer visit my family in Atlanta, I decided to play baseball.

10. Approaching the playoffs, do you like where this team is?

I think right now we’re in a really good spot. This team is really closely bonded and we seem to be pulling it together and playing well. At the end of the day, you just need to get hot for the playoffs, and we’re trending in the right direction and in a really good spot to go on a run.

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