Matt Carpenter ’09 plays tonight in his first Major League Baseball All-Star Game in the midst of an impressive second full season with the St. Louis Cardinals. He’s the first TCU Horned Frog to be selected to play in the Mid-Summer Classic since Jeff Zimmerman in 1999 and the first position player since Jeff Newman in 1979. Carpenter spoke with The TCU Magazine last month for a “Where Are They Now” feature and again after he was selected.

Congratulations on making the National League All-Star team. Describe what it was like to find out.

It was really exciting to hear our manager Mike Matheny call my name. He announced all the guys individually in front of the whole team in the clubhouse after a game. It was the last day of voting, so it was a special moment. Really, it’s a dream come true.

[Editor’s note: At the All-Star Break, Carpenter was sixth in the National League in batting average (.321) and the NL leader in doubles (28) and runs (72). He’s also third in hits (115) and 10th in walks, as the Cardinals have the best record in MLB.]

You’re having a great season. What’s happened this season that’s made things go right for you?

This season you’ve played four positions – right field, first base, second base and third base. You’ve settled in now at second base. What was the process to get there?

Our manager Mike Matheny approached me at the end of last season and gave me some offseason “homework” to play second base. So I spent the offseason on that with the idea of winning the position and helping the ballclub. So at spring training, I showed up early and worked with our infield coach Jose Oquendo. I took a lot of ground balls, put in a lot of work and took the time it takes to learn what it takes to play a new position.

What was the most difficult part of that process?

The defensive side of it. But they had confidence that I could learn a position that was foreign to me. My goal was to get to the point in which everyone was confident in me there, not just to think I was adequate, but to be counted on to help us win games. So my approach was not merely to be okay but to be great. That’s the mindset I had, and I think it helped me to get where I felt like I needed to be.

You’ve been hitting lead off this season and doing it quite well. What was the adjustment there?

I’d never done it. I’d never hit in that spot in the order. But I thought that I could be successful if I kept up my level quality of hitting, my quality of at-bats. I basically stuck with my approach: Make the pitcher make good pitches, don’t make bad swings, put the ball in play.

So you think you’ve found a home at the top of the order?

I think I am fitting in well. I’m trying to have competitive at-bats, looking for a good pitch to hit, making him throw strikes, not being afraid to get walks.

You went through three years in the minors. How did that prepare you for the majors, and are you surprised at all at your success?

When I got drafted, it was my dream to be in the majors. But I sort of measure my goal from day to day and year to year. Every day, I want to get better than I was the day before. Even if it’s just one small way. Then, every season, I want to be able to say I improved from the beginning of the year. I played A ball after I was drafted. My goal was to be the best at the A ball level. Then, I moved to the next level and the goal changes to be the best at that level. So I have tried to hit a lot of stepping stones along the way. Then I get to the major leagues and I want to be a contributor. Then I want to be an everyday player. So it’s a day by day approach. Constant improving, and then you see how things play out.

What do you see your role with the Cardinals now?

My goal is to be the best at second base and help the team win every day. The accolades will fall into place.

The Cardinals are a brand name in the sport and St. Louis is such a huge baseball town. How have you enjoyed where you’re playing?

It’s great. I consider St. Louis to be a little like Fort Worth in that it’s a big city with a small-town feel. You’re not going to find a more passionate fan base than here. The support of the city and Redbird Nation is something you can really feel as a player. It’s fun to put on the uniform and do my best for the team and the city.

What did you take away from TCU and playing under Jim Schlossnagle to get ready for the pros?

A lot of life lessons. My experience at TCU was very positive. I did a lot of maturing from coming in as a 17- or 18-year-old kid to graduating as a 22-year-old man. I feel fortunate to be at TCU for those five years. It’s an elite college program and there’s a long list of people who had an impact on me as a person and as a baseball player. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have that experience at TCU.

On the Web:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog on Carpenter soaking in the All-Star experience
Fort Worth Star-Telegram feature on Carpenter’s TCU turnaround