Get to Know Q&A: Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia brings some fun to the game

The Journal Sentinel’s Todd Rosiak caught up with Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia to discuss his new hairstyle, his development as a player and who he thinks is the best shortstop in the major leagues. Arcia, 23, played his first full season in the majors in 2017, hitting .277 with 15 home runs and 53 runs batted in over 153 games. Signed as an amateur free agent in October of 2010, Arcia is playing on a one-year deal that’s paying him $559,600. Arcia spoke through Brewers translator Carlos Brizuela.

Q. You’ve got quite the hairstyle going on these days. How did you come up with it?

A. It was in Arizona. We took the barber out there and I was only going to get highlights, and this is what he finished with. I like how it came out. It looks good. I’ve seen a few other players do it, too. I might keep it for the whole season. We’ll see. Until I have to re-touch it again. We’ll figure that out then.

Q. What do your teammates think?

A. When I put it all up and it’s crazy, all they do is laugh. It’s a lot of fun.

Q. Hernán Pérez has a blonde streak in his hair, and he goes with a braid or a mini-man bun. Which is the better look?

A. I don’t want to say (laughs).

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Q. You definitely have some swagger and play with some flair. Are you one of those players who believes you play as you look?

A. Oh, well thank you (laughs). In the end, I like looking good and I like having a lot of fun. I try to do it for the fans, and hopefully they enjoy it while we’re out there.

Q. The scouting report on you before you came to the Brewers was you have a love for the game and it shows on the field. Is that something that’s always come naturally to you?

A. Always. It’s always been there. I’ve been playing like that since I was little. I always wanted to play really hard and have fun and just show everyone – my teammates, the other team and everyone watching – that I’m one of the best, and I’m having fun while I’m doing it.

Q. There’s a lot of pressure playing in the major leagues. Is it easy to forget sometimes that it’s actually a game and that it’s also supposed to be fun?

A. That’s something that I’m proud of – I always try to have fun, no matter what. Yeah, it is hard at times. There’s going to be times when you’re not doing as well and it’s hard to stay positive, but you have to. It’s a hard game and if you don’t you’re going to struggle even more. When you’re having a bad day you’ve just got to shake it off and try and come back the next day with the same fun and the same attitude as before.

Q. You’re something of a ringleader in a close-knit clubhouse, despite your youth and relative inexperience. That’s something that might not be the case elsewhere in baseball. Do you think it’s unusual?

A. Age doesn’t matter. We’re like a family and whether you’re young or old, we all try to have fun as a family. All around, from the American guys to the Latin guys, we’re just trying to be all together and have fun and play for each other. And I think you see it, from the home-run line after home runs to just having fun before and after the games. I think that makes it a lot easier, and whether you’re one of the young guys or one of the veterans, we’re sticking together as a family.

Q. What is the biggest lesson you learned last year – your first full season in the majors?

A. It’s a long season. It helped me grow a lot and I learned a lot. I think one of the biggest things I learned was being able to turn the page every day. You have a bad day one day, you have to come back the next day with a good attitude because it’s a long season and they’re long games. You’ve got to be able to do that.

Q. Has that lesson helped you in the early going this season? You’ve had some game-winning hits, but probably aren’t playing as well overall as you’d like.

A. For sure, it’s something that’s definitely helping me a lot. You can’t have a negative attitude when things are going bad. You’ve got to have a positive attitude and be able to come out here and have fun and learn from what you’re doing wrong, work hard to correct it and try to move on. It’s a long season so you can’t get down on yourself. But it’s definitely still a learning experience.

Q. Did you have a shortstop or two you idolized growing up in Anaco, Venezuela?

A. Rafael Furcal and Omar Vizquel.

Q. Who is the best shortstop in the game right now, in your opinion?

A. For me, (Francisco) Lindor. He has everything, but when it comes to playing he has a lot of fun. It helps him to stay loose and be an even better player.

Q. Is your goal to eventually be viewed as one of the best in the game like Lindor?

A. Yeah, if God wants it. Hopefully.

Q. You don’t have a lot of free time during the season, but what do you like to do when you’re away from the ballpark?

A. Just enjoy time with the family and relax. Right now I have my nephews here visiting so I’m just trying to spend as much time as I can with them, having fun.

Q. This has not been a nice spring, weather-wise. Does that affect how you feel about living in Milwaukee?

A. I like it, but I think when the cold weather leaves it’ll be a little better (laughs).

Q. Pérez said last season that he thinks you know it’s important to eventually begin speaking to the media in English. Is that true?

A. Yeah, I’m going to try to get there to be able to do the interviews by myself one day. I understand (it’s important) and it’s what we want to do (as Latin players) – we want to be able to do the interviews ourselves. Hopefully one day I can do it. I try to learn when I’m in here and around the guys. I listen to them talk every day when I’m around the other players. We’ve got to take advantage. Now that we’re here, we might as well try to learn the language.

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