Since graduating from Stanford in 2006, catcher John Hester has made a meteoric rise through the Arizona Diamondbacks system. That climb continued in a 2009 season that saw Hester enjoy a breakout offensive year in his Triple-A debut. Hester's performance in Reno last season earned him a call-up to the Major Leagues, where he had one of the most unforgettable debuts in the game's rich history.

In the third installment of our series, we talked with John about playing in Reno, homering in his first Big League at-bat and why he chose the "tools of ignorance."

Reno Aces: What were your emotions like when you stepped up to the plate for your first at-bat as a Diamondback?

John Hester: Before and during the at-bat, I was excited. I had worked my entire life to reach that moment, and I felt extremely confident and prepared stepping into the batter's box for the first time.

RA: You hit a home run in that first Major League at-bat. What's it like to do something that only about a hundred people in baseball history have ever done before?

JH: It's fun to be among the members of that group. Simply put, it's a great way to start one's career. Although it may not be the most prestigious group, it's an accomplishment that I will remember, and I just hope that it's the first of many more.

RA: You take a lot of pride your defense, but you also had a breakout season offensively this year. Would you rather go 4-for-4 at the plate or catch a no-hitter?

JH: I would definitely rather catch a no-hitter. Catcher's pride themselves on the performance of the pitching staff, and if a pitcher is able to throw a no-hitter, then that catcher feels partially responsible for that achievement even if it goes unnoticed by the media or fans. I think most catchers would respond similarly, even though going 4-for-4 would be a great day as well.

RA: You had the chance to play in a brand-new Aces Ballpark last season. What did you think of the park? Was there anything about Aces Ballpark that was different than what you'd seen before?

JH: I loved playing in Reno. I may be partial to the ballpark because I performed very well at home, but nevertheless, the stadium is first-class. The fans are supportive and into the game. Overall, the new ballpark is a great place to play, and I looked forward to going to the ballpark every day. But the fans are what separated Reno's ballpark from every other minor league stadium, and without them, last year would not have been nearly as special.

RA: What were your impressions of the Reno fans?

JH: The fans in Reno gave us a unique home field advantage. They were rowdy and energetic, but they also displayed a good understanding and knowledge of the game that is often lost in fans. They were great to play in front of because, as a player, you could feed off their energy and support. On the road, we would often play in front of larger crowds, but none of those could duplicate the intensity, energy and support of the fans in Reno.

RA: When you came to the plate last season, the speakers blared "Miss Murder" by AFI. Why did you choose that song?

JH: I have been a longtime AFI fan, and there's something about that song that gets me fired up. I love the intro because it's very simple, but very catchy. It's one of those songs that sounds better when it's played loudly, and in Reno, it was loud and got me ready to hit.

RA: Having attended Stanford, what would you be doing if you weren't a professional baseball player?

JH: That's a good question because I have no idea. Baseball has always been my first love, and I've told myself that I'm going to play for as long as they let me. Afterward, whenever that may be, I can see what my economics degree from Stanford can get me, but there is no profession outside of baseball that I could see myself doing.

RA: If they made a movie about your life, whom would you want to play you?

JH: Christian Bale has been a favorite actor of mine going back to "American Psycho," and although I can't say for sure if any of his roles parallel my life, I would pick him to play me over anyone else in Hollywood.

RA: What made you decide to become a catcher?

JH: I started catching when I was nine years old. I used to play first base, but one day the catcher of my team did not show up. I was thrown behind the plate, and it stuck. To this day, I like how a catcher is involved in nearly every play of the game, and I like having more responsibilities, such as calling a game or handling a pitching staff. It may be the most work on the field, but I love squatting behind the plate and getting dirty.

RA: What do you do to stay in shape in the off-season?

JH: I am a big believer in not taking a lot of time off after the season. I think the best way to stay in shape is to never get out of shape, so early in the off-season, I get back in the gym. I lift weights and do various agility and conditioning exercises, but most importantly, I assess the previous season and try to apply what I learned in terms of baseball fundamentals and mechanics. All other exercises, like lifting weights, are meaningless without the ability to perform on the field. So my overall focus is baseball-related workouts, such as hitting and defensive drills.

RA: What other sports are you interested in?

JH: I love football. I played football through high school, so outside of baseball, I have the most understanding of football as compared to other sports. It's obviously fun to watch and follow as a fan.

Next week we'll talk with Aces announcer Ryan Radtke, who will return to the broadcast booth in 2010. You can send in your questions for Ryan by:

1. Posting to the RenoAces.com message board
2. Becoming a friend of the Reno Aces on Facebook
3. Submitting questions on Twitter (be sure to either address them to @Aceball, or tag them with #aceball)
4. Sending an e-mail to brett@renoaces.com