Michael Nascimento

Speakers: Bradley Mills and Michael Nascimento

Bradley Mills: After you clap, i'm good to go once you,

Bradley Mills: Okay, so my name is Bradley Mills with the student athlete oral history project at Wells College. Today's date is November 7 2023. I'm in the Zabriskie Hall at Wells College with Michael Nascimento. So this is an unrehearsed recorded interview. Thank you for joining us today.

Michael Nascimento: Thank you for having me.

Bradley Mills: I'd like to begin by getting to know more about your background. Can you start by telling us about yourself, your full name, date of birth and where you were born?

Michael Nascimento: My name is Michael Nascimento. My birthday is November 17 2003. And I was born in Manahawkin, New Jersey.

Bradley Mills: And do you have any history behind the name you're given?

Michael Nascimento: That is ever my parents knew that once I was born, if I was a boy, I was gonna be Michael. That's my dad's name. So I'm a junior.

Bradley Mills: So the place where you were born is at the same place you grew up living?

Michael Nascimento: kind of it's the town over just the hospital nearby.

Bradley Mills: So it's pretty similar as like. So you have you ever moved?

Michael Nascimento: lived in the town over from where I currently live? I live in Boston. I was born Manahawkin lived in Barnaget for the first five, six years of my life. Then first grade and first grade we moved to Waretown, New Jersey, where I've been living ever since.

Bradley Mills: And that move was it early on in your life or?

Michael Nascimento: First grade. It was, I think right after kindergarten, my parents told me we were going,

Bradley Mills: was it a? It's only in a town over but did you have any feelings about this?

Michael Nascimento: I remember being very against it. Even though I didn't 00:02:00realize how far we were moving. Like how little, not far we're moving. But I remember not wanting to leave my best friend at the time and thought we live, where we live this perfect, but I'm very happy we did

Bradley Mills: you say perfect. What was it like there that made it perfect?

Michael Nascimento: My best friend at the time lived really right next door who lived in apartments at the time and walk right out the door. And he was right there. I thought Park was right around the corner pools right around the corner. I thought it was everything a little kid would want I had.

Bradley Mills: Can you tell me a little bit about the people you've lived with growing up?

Michael Nascimento: lived with my mom, dad and brother. All in the same house?

Bradley Mills: Are you the first person in your family to go to college?

Michael Nascimento: They I think technically yes because my dad went to community college for about two years. But I am going to be the first person to get a four year degree

Bradley Mills: and does that mean anything to you?

Michael Nascimento: A little bit it makes makes me feel a little like, I guess proud like

Bradley Mills: Rewarding maybe?

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: And how has the experience meant for you being a first generation?

Michael Nascimento: It's been interesting because the only person that I could talk to about this was my cousin because she's the only person in my, like immediate family that went to college for four years. Like that's around my age. My parents didn't go for four years. My mom, my dad's sister didn't. And then on my mom's side they did but they went, we're not super close so I couldn't really asked for too much advice from them.

Bradley Mills: So this cousin, you said, Did you ask her?

Michael Nascimento: Yes.

Bradley Mills: For any advice or opinions or anything?

Michael Nascimento: I asked her what to expect going in. She said I was going to be very homesick, and that I need to stick through it. To try it. It was very tough at first and I did. But she also helped me pick my major because she went in, changed her major twice so she said she didn't want that for me. She wanted me to really think about what I was going to be and try to stick with it.

Bradley Mills: And I know you were definitely homesick when you first got here. So did you go to her for advice once you were already on campus or?

Michael Nascimento: I did I called her I think twice and she said that she's not going to let me leave she's going to make sure I stay here and I already spent too much money to go home this quickly.

Bradley Mills: And you obviously ended up staying so I'm guessing she played a good role in that. Alright, so we move on to the next set of questions. So, I'm going to ask you about early experiences with sports. When did you first start playing sports?

Michael Nascimento: I want to say maybe preschool kindergarten is when I first started playing,

Bradley Mills: Would you say about five years old.

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: Was it your decision, or your parents decision?

Michael Nascimento:I want us to it was I once it was mutual, because my dad was a big baseball fan and always had it on always playing backyard with me. And I think I just wanted to play for real and he coached me so. Yeah.

Bradley Mills: So the first sport he played with baseball.

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: And did you know about this sport before your first practice or game from stories from your dad or watching on TV?

Michael Nascimento: Yeah, I remember being little him always talking about the Yankees wearing Yankee shirts and hats, always had it on my grandfather's a big Yankees fan also. So going over to his house, it'd be baseball, pretty much my entire dad's side of families about baseball.

Bradley Mills: So do you remember any memories from maybe your first time or early on?

Michael Nascimento: I remember, my dad worked a lot during the day. So I didn't get to see him too often, except on weekends. And I remember, he volunteered to be my coach in t-ball and I thought that was the coolest thing ever because I didn't get to see him that often so getting to spend the weekend with him or that one night a week he was home from work. I thought it was the best thing in the world.

Bradley Mills: So it was really a bonding time for you and your father.

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: So to answer the question, Who or what got you into this sport? Would it be your father?

Michael Nascimento: Absolutely.

Bradley Mills: And your grandfather? Did he coach you at all?

Michael Nascimento: No, he did not. But he always wanted to come to games, games, a couple practices to help out. Whenever we were over his house, he always wanted to go out in the backyard.

Bradley Mills: Did you play any other sports?

Michael Nascimento: I did not, no.

Bradley Mills: Is there a reason why or just just

Michael Nascimento: I thought about playing other sports like I wanted to try hockey or basketball but, I just love playing baseball so much that was the only sport that I wanted to play.

Bradley Mills: So moving on to our time here coming to wells. How did you first hear about Wells College?

Michael Nascimento: First time I heard about wells college was a teammate of mine named Bradley Mills had committed to the school. I did not know where it was, like anything about it. I just remember seeing his posts about coming here and I thought that's different.

Bradley Mills: When did you decide that you wanted to play a college sport.

Michael Nascimento: I want to say it was the summer after my junior year. I remember my junior high school, I did not pitch well. And I remember my varsity coach at the time told me it was nothing more than a mop up, man. So I was like, 00:08:00alright, well, that's not that's just not true. So I remember that summer, I put in a lot of work, worked out a lot, worked on everything I could about pitching. And I remember going into my senior year, I was, the summer going into my senior year, I had done a lot of tournaments, a lot of the scouting trips like tournaments and showcases. And my coach, my travel coach at the time worked really hard with me to get going. And I want to say right around September is what I like really started to focus in on most

Bradley Mills: Now this comment that your coach made how did it make you feel? Did it make you hungry to get better? Or did it maybe make you lose hope?

Michael Nascimento: It at the time, I was disappointed because I thought there's a chance that I might be able to pitch a little more that season. And when he said that to me, I was like that it hurt a little bit. But then I'm sitting on the bench and thinking like this sucks. This is not going to happen next year. I'm going to be the guy next year. And I remember it at the time it hurt. But I remember thinking like this is what's going to be this is what's going to turn it around.

Bradley Mills: And was this the varsity coach your junior year?

Michael Nascimento: Yes, I remember he told our pitching coach, pitching coach came pulled me aside and told me what was up.

Bradley Mills: So senior year did you have the same coach?

Michael Nascimento: We did not we had a new coach, completely new coaching staff except for the assistant coach. And even then, before the season started he told me what he thought I was going to be and I was like that's not happening. And I remember I put in even more work I came in and I didn't really get my goal was to start opening day. I didn't get that. So I was still a little pissed off and then after that went on to win my first five starts. And I won my goal that entire season was to prove them wrong, while also putting us in a spot to win 00:10:00the division.

Bradley Mills: Did your coach ever come back to you later in the season, maybe after the season and tell you that he was wrong?

Michael Nascimento: He did. I saw him. Think I was I left for lunch to go into Wawa. And I saw him at Wawa and he comes up to me. Out of nowhere he grabbed him by the shoulders and he goes, man, boy, was I wrong about you? Like I know.

Bradley Mills: How did that make you feel?

Michael Nascimento: It was so fulfilling and like, it felt so good to finally like prove them wrong after a year of them doubting me.

Bradley Mills: When were you first recruited to come the wells?

Michael Nascimento: Want to say was probably late September beginning October. I was doing a bullpen and I got a text from you saying where I was in the recruiting process, and ended up talking to you a little bit and then skip text me and then came up for a visit.

Bradley Mills: How was that visit?

Michael Nascimento: It was very stressful, because it was still October. So I wasn't thinking too much about college and all of a sudden out of nowhere. I'm on a college campus for the first time seeing, seeing how college kids act and all that and thinking like this is only a couple months away. That was very stressful. But it was also exciting knowing like, I could be a college baseball player, like everything I've worked for for last six months is part of a very real possibility.

Michael Nascimento: And how did the visit go in the aspect of you and skip your relationship?

Michael Nascimento: Very good. It seemed like he was very excited that I was there. I really enjoyed talking to him. He seemed like he knew what he was talking about. He seemed, I don't know, he just seemed very excited and optimistic about the program, which made it he said like, we have a chance to 00:12:00turn it around. You can be big part of that. And I was very excited for that.

Bradley Mills: And did he mention a banner on the wall?

Michael Nascimento: He did recently have the opportunity to put a banner on the wall. It's something that every athlete looks forward to and it's something that you're gonna live with forever have that ring on your finger.

Bradley Mills: And at the end of this visit, I had a similar experience. How was the opportunity to hear a college coach tell you that you had a roster spot if you would like it?

Michael Nascimento: It was one of a kind. He brought me into the dugout at the end of my tour comes up to me. He goes I don't do this often. But I'd love for you to. I'd love to have a roster spot here at wells, and I thought that was awesome. He doesn't do it a lot. So

Bradley Mills: Was this your first visit you went on?

Michael Nascimento: It was not only my first it was the only visit I went on. I went to a camp at Rutgers Newark, they invited me on a tour of this did not go

Bradley Mills: Newark in New Jersey?

Michael Nascimento: Yes.

Bradley Mills: Did you have a connection with that coach? Or did you talk to any players coaches? Did you look much into that school?

Michael Nascimento: I did. My pitching coach for travel who was who really helped me get to where I am he went he was college teammates with the assistant coach at Rutgers Newark and put me in contact with him. And he invited me out to showcase after like 10 minutes of talking. So I went and just seeing like, where Rutgers Newark was and like all the way like all around it. I just I didn't think it was the best fit for me.

Bradley Mills: So basically, by the end of your decision, it was all wells.

Michael Nascimento: There is a there was always a couple other schools that I had interest in or had shown a little bit of interest. But Wells was the only school that I thought would be a real possibility.

Bradley Mills: Were you on the fence about anything coming to wells?

Michael Nascimento: Yes, there was a little bit come I think maybe about two weeks before moving. My friend was going to OCC, Ocean County Community College, to play baseball. And I remember thinking like, that wouldn't be a bad idea. I should like what if I just went there for two years and go to a bigger school than wells. If all goes well. I went home talk to my parents about it and they were completely against it. I slept on it for about two or three nights and I was like that's an awful idea. Because I've already I've gone to Wells I've already got my roster spot. I already know I already know you there so it was it worked out well.

Bradley Mills: Now you're one and a half years in. Do you regret that decision, or do you think you made the right decision?

Michael Nascimento: I made the right decision.

Bradley Mills: What did your family and friends think about when you, when you first started talking about Wells,

Michael Nascimento: My parents were all for it because they thought it was a perfect distance is still just not a quick drive, but it's still a five hour drive home. My friends, honestly, were a little confused, because they thought that I was gonna go to an NJAC school, something a little closer to home, a little bit bigger but, they were they were a little confused about that. In the end, they were all supportive of my decision.

Bradley Mills: Now, would you have gone to school without baseball?

Michael Nascimento: I honestly don't know. I don't think so. If I didn't play baseball, I want to say I probably would have ended up doing trade work.

Bradley Mills: Do you remember, did you call skip and let him know that you wanted to take the spot?

Michael Nascimento: I remember exactly where I was. I was my mom's friend was over. And I didn't even call him. I texted him. I remember. I texted him. I 00:16:00said, Hey Coach, I'm really excited. Something about, I'm really excited. I just want to let you know that I will, I would love to attend wells next year in play and, it wasn't even that long I just remember him saying that's awesome. I can't wait. And we didn't even have to call him last time. But next time I talked to him like voice to voice was when I moved in. And that night, I remember. It was like, it was almost a spur of the moment thing when I texted him because I was about to leave to go to my friend's house and I did it maybe 15-20 minutes before I went left. And I remember I got there. And I was just smiling. And

Bradley Mills: I think that's pretty similar to what I did kind of just spontaneous. Okay, I'm doing this. So do you remember meeting the team for the first time?

Michael Nascimento: I remember on my tour, I saw some people. The one person I specifically remember is Connor. CC, I remember I don't remember much of science. Joe Morgan gave me the tour. I remember, Connor was the only person I can still vividly remember, because how tall and skinny he was in the dining hall and he got pointed out that he was a Canadian. And then I don't remember anybody else for my tour, and then my move orientation. That orientation week for the freshmen I remember. First time we were all together as a team was Skip, brought us up to the A-A house on a field. We all sat there met each other, talk to each other and he gave us a little speech about being on the team and what he expects.

Bradley Mills: And that was this meeting at the A-A house was just freshmen

Michael Nascimento: Freshmen and our one transfer.

Bradley Mills: What about the one was the first time you met the rest of the guys, the returners.

Michael Nascimento: I want to say I met a little bit when you were moving in, I was helping you a little bit and I remember I met Cronk for the first time. I remember orientation that Legs and Joe Horn for the first time they were there. 00:18:00I don't remember meeting everybody as a team, for the first time, I was

Bradley Mills: Maybe just a first practice.

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: So what was that first practice like?

Michael Nascimento: I remember being very nervous, because I had never come to see the team play before so this is my first time seeing any of them play besides you. But I remember being very intimidated because like, you know, I'm just out of high school. And these kids are some of these. We have a 22 year old. And as these kids are so much older than me, they're much taller than me. I thought, like, I felt like a fish out of water. I felt so uncomfortable.

Bradley Mills: How long did it take you to maybe feel at home?

Michael Nascimento: Maybe second practice? Because I remember first practice, everybody's still getting to know you. And so talking to them. Because most people don't know what position you are at that point. So second practice once, once you start to get into a rhythm, and then you realize you're just playing baseball again. That's when everything starts to get real. That's that's where everything got real comfortable.

Bradley Mills: How is your relationship with the team changed over time?

Michael Nascimento: Definitely have gotten closer because last fall and last fall, I didn't really talk to too many people because of how homesick I was I kind of just stayed in my room kept to myself. When I was a little bit. But even like last spring I came by I started talking to him a little more I still kept to myself. But last spring is what I really started to talk to everybody and hang out with everybody.

Bradley Mills: It definitely takes that first spring season to kind of fully adjust because we can't get away from each other. Yeah, when dealing with it. We can't wait to leave. Yeah, because we're always doing overnights together and we're spending almost every day together. So now on the other side, how was your relationship with Skip changed over time?

Michael Nascimento: Ah He has, I feel like he's trust you trust me more. And he's helped me out a lot helped me get out of dodge, which he got to help me get 00:20:00out the mud, which I cannot be more thankful for. And just the opportunities he's given me. It's, I'd like to think we're close. But, you never know.

Bradley Mills: he obviously put a lot of trust on you in your first year making you closer. And we didn't use you as much as we had hoped for. But how was it given that specific role, your first season?

Michael Nascimento: it was coming into the season, I was hoping to be a starter. But I all at the end of that I just wanted to pitch innings that were important and meaningful. And I got just that I didn't pitch as many innings as I thought I would. But it was tough transitioning to a closer because I was a starter my entire life I'd come out of I'd come in come out in relief, maybe twice all of high school. And because it's just a completely different mindset. And we started to be a little more calm and relaxed and we give you adrenaline a little low. But coming out of the pen, it's you want to come out like a rocket. You want to have as much adrenaline going through you as you can. And you want to be dialed in very quickly. Yeah,

Bradley Mills: Do you remember your first pitch, first inning, first strikeout maybe?

Michael Nascimento: I remember my first inning. It was a blowout, I believe it was 10 to at the time the Clarks Summit. I remember my first batter I faced I throw a curveball, he chops it comes right to me. I remember getting not gonna like I have all the time in the world and I throw it as hard as I could down the line, I hit the kid right in the back of the head, and the ball bounced away once they that's not great. And then I think it was the next batter maybe two batters later, I had my first strikeout you put down to sign for a fastball. I thought you were putting down sign for a curveball, but no other people put down you put down a curveball or you're putting down the fastball threw it, It was 00:22:00two strikes I threw it as hard as I could and I hit you right in the shoulder.

Bradley Mills: And that guy obviously got first base off of that. That's a pretty memorable first strike out. The next set of questions asks about your experiences being a student athlete first, what does it mean? In your own words to be a student athlete

Michael Nascimento: It means that you have, it means a lot because like you have so, like so much responsibilities so much work to do it. It also shows like I have put in so much hard work before this moment like not even just working like school wise and baseball wise. All my hard work has gotten me here. It I don't know it just it feels so good to be where I'm at right now.

Bradley Mills: Now the term student athlete obviously put students first is that how you see it?

Michael Nascimento: I'm paying to go to school here that's how I think about it. Like I'm spending all my money here to go to to get my education. And I'm just playing baseball for I that's what I think about I'm playing baseball for free. So I try to really focus in on my schoolwork before I focus about focusing or think about baseball.

Bradley Mills: Have you noticed any differences from high school being a student athlete in high school versus here at Wells?

Michael Nascimento: I honestly want to say that this is a little bit easier. Just because you have more time in the day, like when you don't have class, you can get work done but and high school you got a class you got school from like 7:30 to 2:00 and then you got practice from 2:30 to 5:00. And it just doesn't give you a lot of time to do the things you want to do such as hanging out with 00:24:00friends or homework. Now you have practice ending at like seven o'clock, but you also had the whole day to do your work or hang out so makes it I think it's easier in college.

Bradley Mills: Have you had any challenges you've experienced being a student athlete?

Michael Nascimento: Last spring was tough with how much we travel and the schoolwork because, you didn't want I didn't want to do the work even though I know I had to. So that was tough trying to figure out like just saying to myself, I have to get this done I have to go to the library and just sit there for an hour and a half to get this done. When I when I know I don't want to and everybody's out there, everybody's hanging out. You know, you gotta you gotta get this done.

Bradley Mills: So your solutions to these challenges might be doing homework for an extra hour in the library or maybe skipping hanging out with your friends to get some assignments done. What are some positive aspects of being a student athlete?

Michael Nascimento: I think the biggest one was coming in to campus with already like a big friend group. Because I don't know how I would have made friends if I didn't come in with already like 35 guys that were already hanging out with each other and already were friendly with each other.

Bradley Mills: Your talking about the baseball team?

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: So easier, definitely easier to come to a school. I mean, we're such a small school here, but it's definitely easier to have a family here already. So do your family to your friends or family come to your games.

Michael Nascimento: Nobody came to the home games last year at Wells was a little too far of a drive but my parents came to the New York trip they were 00:26:00there for those games. Down in Myrtle my mom spent the week in Myrtle as her mini vacation and then in Abington that was only like an hour from little over an hour from home so my parents, my grandmother, and actually one of my friends was at the game to see that.

Bradley Mills: And your friends down in Myrtle came to right

Michael Nascimento: Yes, actually, I forgot about that. They were in Myrtle. They will my friend goes to Coastal so they went down for the weekend. Hung out with him. Got to hang out with them a little bit. That was that was fun.

Bradley Mills: Does it mean anything to you when your family comes to your games? Or your friends?

Michael Nascimento: Yeah. It shows, like it means a lot because they didn't have to come they they've got their own lives. They got their own stuff going on to for them to, especially coming down to Myrtle they came down and it was it's like a 10 hour drive. Maybe a little less from home, down to myrtle. And they were they went for a weekend they they probably drove longer than they were there. Just to see me for only like maybe a half hour which that was special

Bradley Mills: Did it. Maybe, what feelings did you have the first time they got to watch you pitch at this level?

Michael Nascimento: It was nice because they were We were obviously we played in high school together. And I was at the time the only one in my friend group to still be playing. So it made me feel good knowing like what we grew up doing together. I still get to do

Bradley Mills: And how does How do you think it makes your family and friends feel that they still need to watch you at this level.

Michael Nascimento: I know for my dad, he he really likes it because that's what he grew up with me doing. Ever since I was little he was playing baseball with me talking about baseball and now that he gets to see me at least for another four years. He's very happy about it.

Bradley Mills: Has your dad ever expressed his feelings towards maybe being a college athlete,

Michael Nascimento: He has I remember that night I committed I got he was very proud he gave me a hug and every time I see him when either he comes up just like the visit for the weekend. Or like when I come home he's always he always mentioned that he's so proud. And it means a lot to hear that.

Bradley Mills: So looking back on your experiences as an athlete, what does your sport mean to you?

Michael Nascimento: In it's pretty much part of my identity it's how I met pretty much all my friends what I grew up doing with my dad it's what I want my future career to be in, I just it's pretty much who I am at this point.

Bradley Mills: I think we have similar answers to that question. I know how much the game means to me. Pretty much everything in my life revolves around baseball similar to you. So now what has participating in baseball at Wells meant to you as a student athlete?

Michael Nascimento: it's it's awesome because you know true truth be told there's not too much to do here. But playing baseball that kind of helps fix that because every night especially in the spring every night you got something to do you got you got a family on campus that no matter like even if someone one teammate was doing something you know you always got somebody to hang out with or talk to do work with. You always got someone in class to be with it's it's amazing

Bradley Mills: looking back at where you started to where you are now, do you have any? How would you say you've grown as an athlete?

Michael Nascimento: I have, I want to say, as an athlete, I've gotten smarter. I've not just worked on, like, working, not just working out and I've also started the game, like studying everything I can about, like mindset and how like, studying plays, like what, like what to do, what not to do. And I also think I've become more mature. Just, I remember being little and throwing gloves, and all know that. And that is one of the biggest things I hate seeing is people throwing gloves like, it's the easiest way, easiest thing to do to mature is just not do that. Like just calm yourself down, take a breath, and just walk away. And I think that's something I've gotten really good at.

Bradley Mills: And earlier, you mentioned, a you want to be around the game, as long as you can your future career, does that have something to do with baseball?

Michael Nascimento: Ideally, I want to do front office work. Something I looked up a little bit in high school was baseball operations. Not not necessarily in charge, but they call it a baseball operations fellow you work underneath, like the general manager and the president of baseball operations, you kind of help assist with scouting data, you know, funnel all that into what you think play like what players you think they should target they stay away from and who you think like you kind of assist the GM in everything that he does,

Bradley Mills: kind of like what we see in the movie Moneyball.

Michael Nascimento: Yeah.

Bradley Mills: And your baseball reference and immaculate grid and probably help.

Michael Nascimento: It does

Bradley Mills: knowledge. So with that answer kind of answered this question, but what makes you keep going in your sport,

Michael Nascimento: That drive to work in baseball afterwards. And also I talked about my dad a lot, but he, I just want to make him proud. Because after all the time and money that he's spent on my equipment on driving me to, from practice to games, it I just want to be able to for him to see me play as much as he can at this point.

Bradley Mills: Do you think you've grown as a person through baseball?

Michael Nascimento: Yeah. The more mature thing, smarter helps, more friends, everything.

Bradley Mills: So as we conclude this interview, are there any topics you expected or hoped that we would cover but that we haven't addressed today?

Michael Nascimento: I don't think so.

Bradley Mills: Are there any topics in our conversation that you would like to revisit?

Michael Nascimento: No

Bradley Mills: Okay, thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

Michael Nascimento: Thank you

Transcribed by https://otter.ai