Q&A: Noah Syndergaard on his elbow, being Thor and his ‘idol’ Bartolo
Anyone who considers themselves a New York Mets fan, had a pearl-clutching moment earlier this week when the team announced Noah Syndergaard left Wednesday’s game because his “elbow flared up.”
Tommy John surgery has claimed enough stars in recent years, that when baseball fans hear about elbow issues, they turn into the eye-popping emoji and start expecting the worst. That might be especially true for Mets fans, who have lost Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler to Tommy John in recent years.
Luckily for everyone involved, Syndergaard’s elbow got a clean bill of health, which means he’ll make his next start and in all likelihood return to what he’s been doing this season — striking people out and becoming one of the hottest new stars in MLB.
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He’s sixth in baseball with 110 strikeouts in 91 innings. His 2.08 ERA and eight wins have made him the Mets’ top pitcher this season. It’s all added to his larger-than-life superhero persona too. The 6-foot-6, 23-year-old is nicknamed Thor. Once look at him (and that hair), the reason should be obvious.
Now, he’s quickly becoming one of the “it” guys in baseball. He’s selling hair products and dressing up as Thor as he walks around NYC. And he’s an ambassador for the Delta Dugout program, for whom he just starred in a funny video called “Welcome to Syndergaarden,” where he hangs with kindergartners.
Syndergaard spent some time with The Stew recently to talk about a number of topics, including his elbow, becoming a star in the Big Apple, his hair, hanging with kids, the possibility of a pitchers’ home-run derby and his “idol” Bartolo Colon.
Question: So first things first, the elbow is good?
Answer: Yeah, elbow’s great. Just a little flare up. I do the best I can to get out there every five days and put my body in the best possible position to succeed and compete to the fullest of my ability. But some days you go out there and you don’t have your best stuff. I had a little pain in a little area and it ended up being my elbow. I told the trainers what happened and they wanted to go ahead and get a precautionary MRI. It came back with the ligament looking really strong and healthy.
It’s interesting to watch how these things play in real-time, especially on Twitter. These days if you mention pitcher and elbow in the same sentence a lot of people just assume ‘oh, he needs Tommy John surgery.’
Yeah, it’s pretty crazy stuff how people just automatically assume the worst.
How do you approach that, though, as a pitcher who is young and throws hard? Are you thinking it could happen at any given time or do have to keep that out of your mind?
There’s one thing I’ve learned: If it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen. I just try to prevent it as along as I possibly can. Nolan Ryan was able to pitch until he was 46 years old until his elbow finally blew out. If I can last that long, as much as he did, I’ll be forever grateful. As of right now, I wake up each and every day and try to put my body in the best possible position to succeed. Whether it’s on the strength and conditioning side, keeping my body strong, healthy, flexible and in shape, or on the dietary side, making sure I’m putting the right stuff in my body. I’m just trying to cover all aspects of the game so I can go out there and complete to the fullest of my ability.
So we’re talking today on behalf of Delta and the Delta Dugout program. You just did a video with them where you’re hanging with a bunch of kindergartners. I thought the video was great, you and all the little kids …
Yeah, the video was a lot of fun. To work with those kids, it really brought me back to the day. I wish I could still have recess now. Nap time. That sounds great.
I have a 5-year-old, so I know what they’re like. How does spending a couple hours with a bunch of 5-year-old compare to pitching a big-league game. I’m sure they both exhausting, probably in different ways.
That was a lot of fun and those kids were great. They’re a little bit of a handful, but those kids were really funny.
Seems like you’re doing more as a celebrity/ambassador this season. Has that been fun for you? I know it’s a different role than just going out there and pitching.
I think I do a good job in embracing the city. It’s the most fun city to play in in the world, and for the greatest fans. It’s really great to be able to partner with people like Delta, because they’re the official airline of the Mets and they get us where we need to be. And to partner with Axe is great. To surround myself with great companies is an awesome experience. I also did a partnership with SNY, making these skits around the city. I don’t know if you saw the one of my going around the city dressed up as Thor.
Everybody saw that. Is that natural to you, to get into that role where you’re kind of an actor. Having to play that part, is it easy or do you have to change your personality a little bit?
It is a little difficult at times. But my personality has changed so much since I was little kid, it’s shocked me. Growing up, I was one of the most shy, bashful kids you ever met.
Now it’s you pretty much have to play the part, right? I read a thing about how you’re keeping your hair long because you gotta be Thor. You can’t go and cut off your hair now, right?
Yeah, it’s really grown into something really large. It’s a great nickname to have. Fans seem to love it and I think it’s going to be here to stay for a while.
Do you wish you could cut your hair? Is it more comfortable for you to have short hair?
Personally, I think I look better with long hair. It does take a little bit more maintenance than having short hair, but it’s definitely worth it.
I think you have one of the best Twitter accounts in baseball. It’s funny and you play the Thor part well. What’s your approach to social media?
I just see Twitter and Instagram as great tools to be able to interact with your owns and show your personality. Fans, they see one side of you. They see you as Noah, the baseball player, that’s all they’re able to see.
Your Twitter is legitimately funny. Is that who you are away from the field? The funny guy?
Yeah, I’m definitely the funny guy.
Funnier than Bartolo though? I know you guys are buddies. Is he funny?
There’s a little bit of a language barrier, but to some extent there is some humor between us. He’s got his pranks he’s gotta pull with his foam roller that he carries around. He gives our massage therapist a heart attack when he slams it on the ground and makes the biggest noise you’ve ever heard. But he’s a great presence to have in the clubhouse.
What is your relationship with him. Is he like your way older cousin?
It’s almost like a father-son kind of relationship. Maybe. I just see him as an idol and a mentor. He’s 43 and still having the most fun you can have in a baseball game, and that’s something I hope I can say when I’m 43.
He’s like your Mr. Miyagi, maybe.
Yeah, let’s go with that.
On that note, this can apply to you or him: Pitchers’ home run derby, should it happen?
Oh, 100 percent it should happen.
Do you think you would do well?
I put on a few power clinics in batting practice in my day. You’ll just have to ask Jacob deGrom about that one.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
