Matt Den Dekker: I’m living in Jupiter and I’ve been driving up in the mornings to Port St. Lucie to work out – there’s about 12 guys there right now. It’s been good to get back into it and getting busy. It’s me, Zack Lutz, Sean Ratliff, Eric Campbell – there’s about eight other pitchers there. We go out there around 10, throw, take some ground balls and flyballs and then take some BP and workout. It’s pretty light. It’s up to you if you want to be out there but it’s good to get out there early and get ready to go. They opened up the facility for guys at the end of January.

Michael Baron: Is Terry Collins at camp yet?

Matt Den Dekker: He’s been out there a few times to see us hit. But he’s not out there working with us.

Michael Baron: Were you surprised by the invite to Major League Spring Training?

Matt Den Dekker: I was hoping I would get invited. I’m definitely excited about it and looking forward to it. But if it didn’t happen, I wasn’t going to be upset about it. I’m excited to get the opportunity and I’ll try to make the most of it.

Michael Baron: You’ve talked a lot about cutting down on the strikeouts, but it’s easier said than done. When it comes to trying to succeed in that, what do you have to do as a player to accomplish that goal? Is it a maturity thing, or is it more of a philosophical adjustment?

Matt Den Dekker: It’s definitely a maturity thing, especially as you get more reps at the higher levels. It’s more about pitch recognition out of the hand. As I get more reps in the minor leagues this year, I believe it will gradually get better. I need to not chase pitches, and focus on swinging at more pitches in my hitting zone.In college, there are really good arms, but the quality of pitchers in Double-A are another story, and it’s important to get the reps and improve pitch recognition.

Michael Baron: What other areas in your game would you like to improve upon going forward?

Matt Den Dekker: I can do a little better with my base stealing. I’ve been working on speed and reaction drills this winter. I’d like to steal more bases – I think I’m the type of guy who could steal 40 bases over a full season. I’m going to try and get faster and stronger.

Michael Baron: I watched you last year – you seemed to have the attention of everyone in the dugout. You led by example both in the field and in the clubhouse. Is that an accurate assessment?

Matt Den Dekker: I’m not a very vocal person. I like to lead by example and play hard – it’s something I’ve done since I was a little kid; to play the game hard and the right way. I take pride in that.

Michael Baron: Are you the kind of player to call someone out if they’re not playing the game the right way?

Matt Den Dekker: Yeah, and I think most guys in our organization are like that. If you see someone not playing the right way, that’s not acceptable, and the coaches in our organization have let us know about that.

Michael Baron: I asked Darin Gorski this question the other day: Who has had the greatest impact on you in this organization so far?

Matt Den Dekker: (St. Lucie Manager) Pedro Lopez. I played for him in Savannah when I first signed and also in St. Lucie last year. He’s a great coach – he motivates you, he knows when to put the pedal to the metal and get the team going. I think he’s played a great role in the early part of my career.

Michael Baron: Last year, you got to play with Angel Pagan, Jason Bay, and Jose Reyes while they were rehabbing from injury. Did you use that opportunity to extract and learn from those guys?

Matt Den Dekker: They’re all great guys. When the big leaguers are there, they’re just as part of the team as anyone else. It’s good to see how they go about their preparation and good to play with guys who have been there. I think any guy who makes it to the major leagues – wherever they’re playing, they’re not going to take plays off and that’s a quality you have to have.

Michael Baron: A year from now, where do you see yourself, and what do you have to do to reach that goal?

Matt Den Dekker: It’s everyone’s goal to get called up and play in the major leagues. I think it’s putting myself in position to get a call up at the end of the year and getting the opportunity to win the centerfield job next season. That’s everyone’s goal – to get to the major leagues. I think I have things to work on and get more time in the minor leagues to get my game where it needs to be. It’s going to be big to cut down on those strikeouts and utilize my speed by hitting line drives and ground balls.