“Why do you love baseball?” Though it’s a simple question, not exactly a curveball, it generated wildly different answers — from blunt to poetic, off-handed to carefully considered.
Some baseball players and coaches immediately knocked it out of the park, while others took a moment to think over their answers. A love of the game may be natural and intensely felt, but it can be hard to capture accurately in words. They've dedicated their lives to America’s national pastime. Here’s why.
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New York Mets pitching prospect Chasen Bradford during morning stretches at at the Mets spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Selected by the New York Mets in the 35th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Central Florida. (Gordon Donovan)
New York Mets Luis Guillorme (77) digs for 3rd base during a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets prospect Arnaldo Berrios has fun working with major leaguers at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Selected by the New York Mets in the 39th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Florida, Puerto Rico.(Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitching prospect Justin Dunn throws a bullpen at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets catching prospect Anthony Dimino is all smiles during batting practice at at the Mets spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitching prospect Robert Gsellman gets set to fire a pitch during a live bullpen at at the Mets Spring Training Complex in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Saturday, Feb 25, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitcher Tom Szapucki throws a bullpen session at the Mets spring training facility at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. Entered 2016 as the Mets' No. 16 prospect but moved up to No. 8 by Aug.1. Known for a hard curveball that some assume is a slider. Has hit 97 mph with his fastball. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitcher Merandy Gonzalez throws a bullpen session at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. Signed by the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2013, Gonzalez is ranked 18th top prospect in Mets system by MiLB Pipeline. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets prospect Patrick Mazeika catches a bullpen at the Mets spring training facility at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitcher Alberto Baldonado and Carlos Sanchez after a bullpen session at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets prospect Ali Sanchez during batting practice at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets Harol Gonzalez before workouts at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets minor league pitching coach Jonathan Hurst watches players at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Jonathan Hurst played in the big leagues with the Mets and Expos. Currently the pitching coach for Columbia Fireflies. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets 1B Dominic Smith (74) gets set in the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fl., Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Ranked No. 2 among Mets prospects (No. 63 overall) by MLB.com entering the 2017 season. Selected by the New York Mets in the first round (11th overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets prospect Gene Cone during workouts at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., March, Thursday 2, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitching prospect Alejandro Castro throws a bullpen at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Thursday March 2, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets coach Dick Scott enjoys a break during workouts at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo signs for fans after workouts at at the Mets spring ttraining complex in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitcher Seth Lugo heads out to back fields for drills at at the Mets spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Gordon Donovan)
New York Mets pitching prospect Nabil Crismatt poses for a photo at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Signed by the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 3, 2011. Ranked third in the Appalachian League in strikeouts and WHIP, fourth in batting average against, fifth in innings pitched and seventh in ERA in 2015. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitching prospect Jake Simon poses for a photo at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitcher David Roseboom (84) throws in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Thursday, March 2, 2017. (Gordon Donovan)
New York Mets pitching prospect Casey Delgado throws a bullpen at the New York Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
New York Mets pitching prospect Kyle Regnault after throwing a bullpen at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Fl., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo Sports)
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