Tag Archives: Kansas City Royals

Former JustBats.com Employee, Tommy Hottovy, Traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Texas Rangers

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The JustBats.com family is pleased to announce that friend and former employee, Tommy Hottovy, has been traded to the Texas Rangers. Hottovy, a left-handed specialist, had been with the Kansas City Royals during the 2012 season and split time between the big-league club and triple-A affiliate, Omaha Storm Chasers. In nine games with the Royals, Hottovy had a 2.89 ERA with 6 strikeouts in 9.1 innings. With the Storm Chasers, he had 7 saves in 41 games and a 2.52 ERA while striking out 61 in 50 innings.

Hottovy worked at JustBats.com during the off season from 2005 to 2010. He was the head of Special Projects and is responsible for the Sport Court development and spearheaded the JustBats.com Forum. Though he’s had a successful baseball career, Hottovy has not forgotten his roots and remains good friends with the people that he worked closely with at JustBats.com and stops by to say hello whenever he’s in Kansas City.

Hottovy is a native of Kansas City, MO and a graduate of Park Hill South High School, where he was valedictorian for the Class of 2000. The opportunity to play close to home was too much to pass up, so Hottovy signed to play for baseball powerhouse Wichita State University, where he received a full-ride scholarship for his athletic and academic prowess. During his senior season at Wichita State, Hottovy was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference after going 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA.

Hottovy was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He began his professional career as a starting pitcher with the Lowell Spinners in 2004. In 30.1 innings with Lowell he gave up three earned runs. In 2005, he was promoted to Class A+ Wilmington, where he had a 5.45 ERA and a 3-12 record in 23 starts.

He split the 2006 season between Wilmington and Portland, Maine, with a 10-10 record and a 3.15 ERA between the two teams. He spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Portland Seadogs, earning 5.61 and 5.00 ERAs respectively in each of the seasons. In 2009, he became a full time relief pitcher. He was sent back to A- Lowell for five games before returning to Portland. As a reliever from 2009-2011 with Lowell, Portland and the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox, he appeared in 76 games, giving up 63 runs in 136.1 innings.

Hottovy made his Major League debut with the Red Sox on June 3, 2011 against the Oakland Athletics, retiring the only man he faced.

Monday Meet And Greet: Taylor J

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Every Monday we’d like you to meet someone new around here at JustBats.com. Get to know us a little better! Meet Taylor! Taylor helps make JustBats.com look great and helps make sure it’s easy to use. Here is what makes Taylor tick.

1. How long have you worked here at JustBats.com?
2 weeks!
2. What is your favorite sport and team?
I really enjoy baseball, and to me, going to a Royals game is the perfect Friday night.
3. What’s your favorite thing so far about working at JustBats.com?
The overall culture and community. I think it’s really unique, I feel lucky to be apart of such a great place!
4. What kind of stuff do you like to do outside of work?
I’m a drummer, so outside of work I love to play my drums and create music. I also, oddly enough, love to research my area of work too. At home I’m usually working on a web or graphic design project that is similar to what I do here at JustBats.com. I watch way too much King of the Hill, too.
5. Tell us a little bit about what you do here at JustBats.com as UX Designer?
Among other things, I mainly help develop and maintain the user interface of the JustBats.com website.
6. Tell us what you did before you started at JustBats.com?
I was a student! In August I graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in Interactive Digital Media: Computer Science. This is my first job out of college!
7. Any words of advice for people going in to your line of work?
Learn how to learn. And do it quickly. The web development world is always ever-changing, keeping up is a challenging but fun task though!
9. What gets you laughing the hardest?
Parodies or really witty stand up comedy. SNL gets me rolling in laughter every time.
10. What are you looking forward to the most about working at JustBats.com?
The ability to always continue to learn, and in such a engaging environment. The office environment is one of continual learning and sharpening of skills. I also get to do what I really love doing, so that’s also ultra exciting!

Monday Meet And Greet: Jim L

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Every Monday we’d like you to meet someone new around here at JustBats.com. Get to know us a little better! Meet Jim! Jim makes sure we have the newest and hottest products to sell to all of our awesome customers! Here is what makes Jim tick.

1. How long have you worked here at JustBats.com?
A little over 6 years.
2. What is your favorite sport and team?
The Royals.  Although they have had a few down years (like since I was a kid ) they are still my team.
3. What’s your favorite thing about working at JustBats.com?
My favorite thing about working here:  They let me spend money.  They feed me.   And I get to be around bats and gloves all day.  How good can it get!
4. What kind of stuff do you like to do outside of work?
I play a bit of softball on occasion and we travel to scuba dive some.  As boring as it  sounds, I like to read.
5. Tell us a little bit about what you do here at JustBats.com in the Product Management Department?
I have a group of companies that I keep track of and buy product so we can be the number one provider of bats and gloves for the US market.  What I really like to do is pursue the “deal”.
6. How do you stay on top of what products are new and hot items?
You can be sure the vendors will let you know what is the newest and greatest thing on  the market, and you can bet it is one of their products.  A lot of it is statistical analysis and looking for trends.  Rule changes have been a big driver of what has been “hot” in the last couple of years.  We have a good group in our Marketing department to help project trends for us also.
7. Any words of advice for people going in to your line of work?
In real estate the mantra is Location, Location, Location.  For me it is Organization, Organization, Organization.
8. What’s your favorite memory of working at JustBats.com?
Winning Corporate Challenge and  having the All-Star Game in Kansas City in one summer is hard to beat, although wiffle ball games in the D/C before the shelving went in was pretty cool also.

Monday Meet And Greet: Kara K

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Every Monday we’d like you to meet someone new around here at JustBats.com. Get to know us a little better! Meet Kara! Kara works in the contact center and makes sure you get some awesome help when you have questions about our products! Here is what makes Kara tick.

1. How long have you worked here at JustBats.com?
A year and a half.
2. What are some of your responsibilities in the Contact Center?
Provide outstanding customer service to all of our customers!
3. What do you enjoy most about the Contact Center at JustBats.com?
The people I work with and the entertaining customers.
4. What’s your favorite memory since working at JustBats.com?
During traditions training last year we played a game of whiffle ball and I hit a home run! I was the only woman in the class so it was very satisfying!
5. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love to take pictures and scrapbook.
6. Any advice for people coming in to your line of work?
Have fun and listen to the customers.
7. What gets you laughing the hardest?
When Tommy dances to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” song!
8. What’s your favorite sport and team?
Baseball of course! The Royals are my favorite team. I feel very loyal to them (my son is named after George Brett), but they make it really difficult to support them sometimes!

Monday Meet And Greet: Derek H

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Every Monday we’d like you to meet someone new around here at JustBats.com. Get to know us a little better! Meet Derek! Derek is the Contact Center Coordinator and he makes sure you get awesome answers to your questions online! Here is what makes Derek tick.

1. How long have you worked here at JustBats.com?
I’ve been working at JustBats.Com since February, 2012
2. What are some of your responsibilities as Contact Center Coordinator?
I manage the customer service team that handles online customer communications. That includes the customer’s Q&A’s, our Live Chat feature, customer emails and product reviews. Most recently I’ve been working with the rest of the Contact Center Management Team revamping the training program for newly hired Customer Service Representatives.
3. What do you enjoy most about the Contact Center at JustBats.com?
Life in the Contact Center changes on a daily basis. That variety is what keeps things fresh and interesting. I also get to work with a great management team and CSRs.
4. What’s your favorite memory since working at JustBats.com?
In the office, I’d say completing the new hire training. It was a group effort that took a lot of time and it’s satisfying to finally be training new CSRs soon. Outside of the office, I’d say it was winning my heat in the 400M Corporate Challenge track meat. I chased down the leader on the home stretch and passed him just as we reached the finish line while all my teammates were there cheering me on.
5. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy Kansas City sports teams, the Kansas Jayhawks, fishing and camping, grilling, CrossFit and traveling to see friends and family.
6. Any advice for people coming in to your line of work?
Be truthful with yourself about your desire to help people. Our main goal in the Contact Center is to help customers and this can be challenging at times. If you aren’t a people person and not truly interested in helping the customer, than the Contact Center is probably not the ideal place for you.
7. What gets you laughing the hardest?
Nothing gets me laughing harder than hanging around with my buddies that I’ve known since 3rd grade. We’ve lived through each others ups and downs, know all the skeletons in the closet and exactly what to say to crack each other up.
8. What’s your favorite sport and team?
I love the Royals and Chiefs, but nothing gets my competitiveness fired up like the Kansas Jayhawks. Rock Chalk!

Monday Meet And Greet: Ryan U

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Every Monday we’d like you to meet someone new around here at JustBats.com. Get to know us a little better! Meet Ryan! Ryan works in the kitchen as the Assistant Chef and helps make sure all the employees here at JustBats.com have awesome food to eat, he also tends to get a laugh out pretty much everyone here at the company! Here is what makes Ryan tick.

1. How long have you worked here at JustBats.com? 
867 days (on this monday).
2. What are some of your responsibilities as a Chef here at JustBats.com?
As one of the chefs at JustBats.com I prepare meals for the employees daily and assist with writing new menu items and help maintain the kitchen.
3. What do you enjoy most about being a Chef at JustBats.com?
To start I love cooking so, being able to cook for my coworkers is great, especially at a company like JustBats.com. Also, seeing everyone smile as they come into the cafeteria, and talking with them about the meal that day, and what they enjoyed about it is a rewarding and awesome experience.
4. Is it difficult preparing food for so many people everyday?
The JustBats.com kitchen is second to none, with the equipment available to us it makes it relatively easy, however every meal has its own challenges.
5. What is your favorite meal you have made for JustBats.com?
Well, I have been called a BBQ Pitmaster, so I’m going to have to go with my pulled pork sandwiches.
6. What are some challenges you face in the kitchen?
One of the biggest challenges is creating a healthy meal that is still full in flavor and that everybody loves.
7. What’s your favorite memory since working at JustBats.com?
Spending time with my coworkers and going to sporting events and concerts are some of the best memories I’ve made along the way.
8. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s fishing and hunting, a mid-summer canoe trip or a hike through the woods. I also like foraging for wild nuts, berries, and morel mushrooms. If it’s a cold winter my friends and I enjoy competitive snow man building.
9. Any advice for people coming in to your line of work?
I would have to say learn from the chefs above you, you can learn classic techniques, different flavors that play off each other, and astonishing presentations. You have to be constantly learning and growing to become a truly great chef.
10. What gets you laughing the hardest?
My cousin Vinny… No, but really my cousin Vinny is one funny guy.
11. What’s your favorite sport and team?
I love any form of competitive snow man building as I said before but my favorite sports teams are the Royals, Chiefs, and Sporting KC.

Monday Meet And Greet: Austin H

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Every Monday we’d like you to meet someone new around here at JustBats.com. Get to know us a little better! Meet Austin! Austin works in the Customer Service Department and helps come up with the creative ways to make sure your experience with JustBats.com is a great one to remember! Here is what makes Austin tick.

1. How long have you worked here at JustBats.com?  
I have been here for just a little over 3 months now. My first day was 2/15/2012.
2. What are some of your responsibilities in the Customer Service department?
A lot of my responsibilities involve different projects and innovative ideas to try to improve the overall performance of our contact center. We are currently working on strategies to improve our new hire training all the way to processes improving our continuous training and quality assurance. Everything we do in the contact center revolves around making the customer experience the best that it can be. We want to make our customers experience with us an amazing experience. We also want our CSR’s to have fun and have a passion for what they do within the contact center.
3. What do you enjoy most about working here as a Contact Center Coordinator?  
There are almost way too many things to say that I enjoy most about working here as a Contact Center Coordinator. First off, I love the culture of the work environment here at JustBats.com and all of the perks that go along with being a part of JustBats.com. Aside from the culture and the great co-workers, I would also say that the customer interaction is a pleasant experience being involved in customer service. It is always great to get a call from a customer telling us how well they like the bat that they bought from JustBats.com or just to hear how their baseball or softball season is going.
4. Tell us some challenges you face daily as a Contact Center Coordinator and how you overcome them.
Working in the customer service department, our number one concern is the customer.  We always want the customer to have the best experience possible, so our customers take precedence over everything else that we do. Sometimes this makes it tough for us to work on special projects that take place behind the scenes. The only way to overcome this challenge is to have very stringent time management skills and make use of a personal calendar at all times to stay as organized as possible.
5. What do you love doing most outside of working at JustBats.com?
Outside of working at JustBats.com, I really enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also work part-time with the Kansas City Royals Grounds Crew and love going out to the ball park every night. If I am not at the ball park, I am an avid country music fan, so I really enjoy going to different country music concerts.
6. Any advice for people coming into your line of work?
The biggest piece of advice that I can give anyone before going into any line of work is to make sure that you have a passion for what you do. After graduating from the University of Missouri in 2009, it took me a few years to finally settle into something that I truly love. I am definitely a fan of baseball and would consider myself to be a people person. When combining two of the things I love the most, I would say that I have found a job that fits me perfectly.  I get to spend so much time talking baseball to customers across the country.
7. What’s your favorite thing so far about working at JustBats.com?
The culture and the people! When people ask me where I work, I almost feel like I need to quit bragging about how great this place is because of all the perks that we have as an employee at JustBats.com. I have held a couple of jobs in the past with professional sports teams and I must say that JustBats.com is definitely Major League quality.
8. Tell us what gets you laughing the hardest.
This is a tough one. I wouldn’t say there is anything in particular that gets me laughing a lot, but lately I’ve been watching the show “Impractical Jokers” on truTV and some of the public pranks that they pull are pretty funny.
9. What’s your favorite sport and team?
I wouldn’t feel right narrowing it down to only one team and only one sport, so I have to stay true to all of my hometown teams and college affiliations. My two favorite sports are baseball and football. My favorite sports teams are the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Missouri Tigers.
10. Give us your top three favorite movies.
My top three favorite movies in order are Rudy, 8 Seconds, and The Sandlot. From my selection, it may be obvious to see that I don’t watch a lot of movies. I may be one of the few people out there that can say I have never seen a Star Wars movie.

Opening Day At JustBats.com

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Here at JustBats.com we take Opening Day pretty serious, but in a really fun way. Today marks the opening day for The Kansas City Royals as they play the Angels away from home. Quite a few of us are sporting our KC Royals apparel and in honor of Opening Day our chef, Nathan, made us some delicious good old fashioned ballpark food. We had hamburgers, Cracker Jacks and frosted malts. It’s a great day to be at JustBats.com! Go Kansas City Royals!