He’s one of many weapons the Toronto Blue Jays have in their starting rotation, and for the 25-year-old Marcus Stroman, there is an intense desire to win the World Series for Hogtown.
Stroman’s flashy smile has entranced the city, and he’s even penned an open love letter for the Player’s Tribune.
He’s a big player for the Jays Care Foundation, and has earned the moniker “Stroshow” from fans and friends alike. That’s why he worked hard to get back to the lineup after ACL surgery. It took him six months to get from the operating table to the pitching rubber, and he’s proud of that accomplishment.
“I’ve always had that work ethic and last year we put a premium on not speeding it up, but doing everything we could so I could come back 100 percent,” he shares. “We didn’t rush it, but we definitely attacked it over that span I was out.”
The New York-born ace has a list of items that keep him moving. He admits he doesn’t like being idle, so he pursues his entrepreneurial proclivities with his clothing company HDMH (Height Doesn’t Measure Heart, which is a homage to his 5-foot-8 frame).
Still, there’s more to Stroman than just baseball and business acumen. Chrome caught up with him to ask him what 10 things he can’t live without.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
“They all inspire me, keep me going, motivated. They put me where I need to be mentally when things might not be going my way.”
MUSIC
“Definitely rap, hip hop. My best friend, Mike Stud is a rapper who I listen to. And obviously Drake, who has been my favourite from the very beginning.”
WEIGHT LIFTING/TRAINING
“I drink BioSteel. That’s dope. Not in the weight room though. It’s pretty much straight up. A lot of kettle bells and core work.”
FASHION AND NEW ERA HATS
“It’s not necessarily one hat, but the hats I design for New Era. Those kind of go with me everywhere… I’m also very in tune with the fashion world. Some of my favourite designers are Daniel Patrick and
Jerry Lorenzo. I like clothes. I’m always on blogs. I’m always looking up where I can get these shirts, these shoes.”
NOSH GRANOLA
“It’s from this one spot in Durham, North Carolina when I went to Duke. It’s like my main go-to snack. They send it to me all the time.”
NIKE JORDANS
“Sneakers in general. I’m very big into the kick game. I try to wear a different pair of sneakers every day. It’s one of my true passions. I’m signed to Nike and Jordan, so kicks are at a premium and I love having them all.”
COMPETITION
“Playing baseball, but not only that, going out there and competing against an opponent, having that element of competition. That’s important.”
AUDI RS7
“I just got it this past year. It’s my baby. It goes with me everywhere.”
IPHONE 6S AND TWITTER
“I’m reading world news, looking up fashion blogs, seeing what’s going in the world. I stay very in tune with what’s going on in the world through Twitter and news outlets.”
ORBIT SWEET MINT GUM
“I’m always chewing. Constantly.”