Get to know your Green Bay Rockers

Position: OF/1B
Jersey Number: 9
Hometown: Chapin, Ill.
Instagram: @payton_mansfield34
Career Highlight: NJCAA All-American, MWAC Freshman of the Year, Gold Glove (OF), 1st team All Conference, 1st team All-Region, John Wood Community College career home run record and single season homerun record.

Has baseball always been your favorite sport?

No, baseball was not always my favorite sport. In high school it was very much a toss up between football and baseball. It always depended on what season I’m in at the time.

Who is your biggest supporter?

Aside from my parents, my greatest supporter is my beautiful girlfriend, Isabelle McCrumb. She’s at nearly every home game—whether I’m playing or not—and she even streams all the away games just to cheer me on. She’s not only my biggest fan but also my greatest source of encouragement.

What do you think is the most challenging part of your sport?

The most challenging thing about baseball is how mentally challenging it is. You can do everything right when you are hitting and still get out. Vice versa you can do everything wrong and get a hit.

What attracted you to your position?

I’m not sure if I was attracted to the outfield to begin with. I kind of got thrown out there the spring of my freshman year and started to fall in love with it from there.

What is the best advice you have received from a coach/parent/teammate?

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received was from an old teammate who would say this in tough times and good times, “Never forget it’s a child’s game and we’re just lucky enough to play it.” It really hits home when you are in a slump and your mind goes to result based rather than processed based.

What is your favorite baseball-related memory?

My favorite baseball memory has to go to my freshman year, with the baseball journey I had from high school to John Wood Community College wasn’t a straight path at all and I had some lows and highs through it. But being able to play with my brothers, some of my best friends to this day and have a great season for our head coach was just a memory I’m never going to forget.

Who is one professional player that you admire? Why?

I have always admired Mike trout and his head-down, grinder mentality. He doesn’t need to be flashy or show off. Everyone knows how good he is and he works his tail off to be the best.

What is your favorite way to celebrate a big win?

My favorite way to celebrate a big win or achievement is to go out to a restaurant with my girlfriend, talk about the game or anything that happened during our days and enjoy her company and be in the moment.

Favorite pre-game snack?

My favorite pre game snack is definitely some sort of protein bar and a pediltye.

Do you have a favorite quote, mantra or bible verse?

My favorite Bible verse at this moment is John 13:7.

Walk-up song?

My walk up song is “Milkshakes” because it keeps it fun and gets the crowd into a little bit.

What is your favorite thing about Green Bay?

My favorite thing about Green Bay is the small town feel to it. I run into a bunch of fans out and about. It is so cool to almost feel like a superstar when you have those encounters.

Fun fact about yourself?

A fun fact about myself is I originally went to a D3 out of high school to play football and baseball.

If you could play with any professional player (current or past) who would it be?

I would love to play with Barry Bonds.