On the Road with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

The South came as a shock to Tyler Higgins. The 26-year-old pitcher for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, a minor-league baseball team in the Double-A Southern League, had lived in Rosebush, Michigan, for most of his life and had endured long, snowy winters and deep freezes. So when he was drafted by the Miami Marlins and brought to Florida to play on their minor-league teams in 2011, the year-round sun and mild temperatures were a welcome surprise.

“You cannot beat the weather here,” Higgins says. Or the things those balmy temps allow him to do, such as head to the beach year-round with his black lab, Emma, or listen to live music and eat outdoors in January. Here’s a look at Higgins’ initial thoughts on being away from Michigan, plus insight into what it’s like to travel as a minor league baseball player today.

Were you always interested in baseball as a child?

I went to Detroit Tigers games all the time growing up, and I’ve been playing baseball since I was 4 or 5 years old. Baseball is what I’m good at. It’s truly all I’ve ever wanted to do.

You’re in your fourth season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Tell us about life in Florida.

Baseball has been Tyler’s favorite pastime since he was a young kid.

It’s been a completely eye-opening experience living here. Jacksonville is so different than back home—it’s hot and there’s a lot of rain. It can be 100 degrees and sunny, and five minutes later you can be in the middle of a rainstorm. Sometimes it gets so hot you go through two or three shirts in half a day. The restaurants are different, too—in a really good way. I’m a huge fan of the barbecue joints they have in Jacksonville.

You were drafted in 2011 by the Miami Marlins and had a stint with the Jupiter Hammerheads, their Class-A Advanced affiliate.

What was it like to play for the Hammerheads?

It was amazing. I got to play with some great players during that time. In 2012, for example, I played with guys like Jose Fernandez, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. [All of them became major league players.]

Do you have any rituals before games?

It’s not necessarily a ritual, but I’m probably the cleanest, most organized person in the clubhouse. I put my gear back the right way so that when I go through my daily warmup, it’s all right where I left it. I like to sit in the same spot in the bullpen every game when we’re home, and when we’re away I’ll try to sit in the same spot there, too. I also have the same jersey number, 35, every year and pretty much get the same locker. I’m weird about that stuff.

You’re on the road a lot with the team throughout the season. What helps you get through those long travel periods?

We get one day off every three weeks. We travel constantly, so more often than not, our time is spent on a bus going to another city, checking into hotels at 3, 4, 5 in the morning. We’re only in one place, at most, five days. I’ve learned to sleep just about anywhere, anytime. Guys will lay out right in the aisle of the bus. A friend of mine got me a Woollip, which is like a blow-up triangle-shaped pillow that you hug and it allows you to sleep upright. It’s perfect for when we’re traveling those 12- or 13-hour stretches.

What do you do to stay grounded when you’re not on the road?

Emma is the pitcher’s beach-loving black Labrador.

I absolutely love taking my dog down to the beach for early-morning walks. Emma gives me 30 minutes to dial myself into something other than baseball, which really helps me enjoy what I do and lock it in for nine innings every night.

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