Arik Sikula was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 36th round of this year’s MLB player draft from Marshall University

After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 36th round of this year’s MLB player draft, Arik Sikula joined the Bluefield Blue Jays and helped the team become eastern division champions. That said, having only played in 18 games this season, Blue Jays fans are anxious to find out more about their newly-acquired right-handed relief pitcher. Fortunately, Sikula set down with JaysProspects to discuss some interesting information about himself that many may not have known.

Sikula was first asked whether he had a favourite team or player both growing up or presently. To this, the young 22-year old stated, “As a kid I always loved the Seattle Mariners. My favorite player was Ken Griffey Jr. He has such a smooth swing and made a lot of great defensive plays. Presently, I like James Shields. I really like how he throws and what he does off the field as well. He is a great pitcher and even a better person.”

While Sikula likes how Shields throws, the Blue Jays organization likes how he throws. Sikula has always been dominant on the mound. In his senior year of high school, not only did he post a .440 batting average with five homeruns, 38 RBI, and 27 stolen bases but he also finished the year with a 1.30ERA striking out 74 batters.

n 2009, Sikula appeared in 18 games, posting a 2-2 record and recording, stirking out 36 and walking only 17.

His dominance continued at Marshall University. In 2009, Sikula appeared in 18 games (38.1 innings), posting a 2-2 record and recording a very impressive walk-to-strikeout ration with 36 strikeouts and 17 walks.  In 2010, Sikula was moved from a long reliever role to a starter. In 17 games, (nine starts), he posted a 6-5 record with a 3.88 ERA. Discussing his level of play during those seasons,  Sikula stated, “My favorite moment on the mound was in 2009 playing in the Northwoods League for the Rochester Honkers. I was our closer and we were playing in the championship game. I came in during the 8th inning and pitched two innings, recording the save. The dog pile happened right on top of the mound, and I was on the bottom of it. It was an amazing feeling.”

Sikula had other amazing feelings in his first year with the Blue Jays organization, pitching in 18 games, and recording a 1-1 record with a 2.97 ERA. In fact, in 30.1 innings pitched, he allowed only two homeruns and had an impressive walk/strikeout ratio with only 9 walks but 35 strikeouts. When asked who could be attributed to his success, Arik replied: “I would have to give most of my accomplishments within my baseball career and life to one of my older brothers, A.J. He helped me establish a work ethic that has awarded me with plenty of opportunities. He always pushed me as a kid to be better than average and try to be better than him (I am still not as good as him in basically anything). If it weren’t for him setting a good example for me when I was younger, then I don’t believe I would be where I am.”

Speaking of his siblings, it should be made known that in addition to A.J, Arik has 4 other siblings – Alissa, Andrew, Ana and Drew. For this reason, JaysProspects was curious in recognizing what the family dynamic was like growing up and whether baseball was prominent within the whole family. Arik replied, “Growing up the youngest of six was a blessing for me. I was always challenged to compete amongst my brothers and their friends in all kinds of sports. We played plenty of different games from standard basketball to made up games, where we would have one (or more) person(s) on the trampoline and two others on opposite sides basically playing dodge ball. Baseball was played two different ways at our house. We either played with a small souvenir wooden bat with a plastic golf ball in our back yard or play with a tennis ball thrown against the garage door with duck tape as a strike zone (the tennis ball would be wet so it would leave a mark and we could tell if it was a ball or strike). These games were usually one on one. My brother AJ and I played them quite a bit. AJ is my only brother to play baseball past high school as he was awarded a baseball scholarship at Marshall University.”

While JaysProspects could think of many answers to this question, Arik was then asked what he would indicate his best skill was both on and off the mound. He indicated, “My best skill on the mound is my mind. I feel I am a very competitive person who is able to concentrate and focus when need be. When things aren’t going my way on the mound, I stay focused and know my job is to execute one pitch at a time. My best skill off the field is my exceptional athleticism in recreational sports. Whether it be darts, golf, pool, ping-pong, tennis, etc., I will be good at it. I do not like to lose in any of those games, and  I thoroughly enjoy the trash talking that goes along with each of those games as much as the games themselves.”

Now enjoying his off season, Sikula states that he will spend his time, “waiting tables, working out, and winning [his] fantasy football leagues in South Charleston, WV. [He] will start training with [his] agent on January 1st in southern California.”

Blue Jays fans cannot wait for the off season to be over so that Sikula can be seen again.

JaysProspects would like to thank Arik Sikula for his time and wish him a great off season and the best of luck in the future.