Saturday Spotlight: Kurt Suzuki

Saturday Spotlight is a weekly lightning round of questions delving into the personalities and stories of major leaguers.

Kurt Suzuki is not the most high-profile player on the A's, but you might start to hear a little more about him later this summer. Suzuki, who is batting .297, seems to be the team's most likely All-Star. He is a workhorse behind the plate (caught 141 games last year) and he's got some clutch pop with the bat. He's got 16 homers, including two game-winners.

On to the questions ...

What was it like growing up in Hawaii? Did you go surfing a lot?
It was neat. Everybody knows the beaches, nice weather. I did go to the beach a lot, whether it was camping or afternoon picnics, pretty much every weekend, when I didn't have school I'd go to the beach and go bodyboarding or surfing. If you have time, you go to the beach. That's what you did.

Are you a good surfer?
I'm not a good surfer, but I can surf.

Do you surf anymore or are you not allowed?
I'm not going to say I'm not allowed, but the time I go back home is not really the time to go surfing.

What was it like playing at Cal State Fullerton and in the College World Series?
The college experience was one of the most memorable things in my life. I've built relationships that will last forever. We had a special team in 2004. (The Titans won the national championship.) We were all close. Playing in the College World Series is what you shoot for. To be able to be successful there and win is pretty amazing.

What do you remember about your major league debut?
It was a tie score in about the 10th inning and I pinch hit against the Astros. I made an out. It seems like the ball finds you when you are new. I got a couple swinging bunts [to handle defensively] right off the bat.

What player do you enjoy watching the most in the big leagues?
There are a bunch of players I like watching, Torii Hunter, Carlos Pena with the Rays is awesome. Mark Teixeira. All those guys are not only great players, but they play the game the right way. They play hard, with intensity.

What is your best moment in the big leagues?
Walk-off home runs, both of them against the White Sox. Some guys go their whole career without getting one of those and I've been fortunate enogh to have two of them and be in that opportunity and get that adrenaline rush. That's amazing.

What is the best prank you've seen in baseball?
This is a bad one. Me and Travis Buck were in Midland and playing in Frisco. Kevin Mellilo, who is one of my best friends, he left us with a bill at dinner. So the next day we got there early and put some Icy Hot all over his sliding shorts and a little on his cap. He actually put it on and was doing an interview had to stop doing the interview and come into the clubhouse and get rubbing alcohol all over. It was pretty mean. I wouldn't do it again.