FORT MYERS, Fla. — The skills of big league pitchers translate well into golf, or basketball. If they played football, they probably became quarterbacks. They excel at long, loose, jangly, coordinated motions, mimicking the deceptively smooth windup that produces a fastball.
When Twins rookie Louie Varland took the mound in Yankee Stadium on Sept. 7, 2022, he looked different from most pitchers facing the pressure of their major league debut in an intimidating setting. Stocky and intense, he looked more bulldog than greyhound, more wrestler than point guard.
"Yeah, I wrestled in high school," Varland said. "Builds character. And discipline. I cut a lot of weight, too, so it teaches you a lot."
