Knights Spotlight: Tyler Danish

At age 22, Charlotte Knights RHP Tyler Danish has already experienced more than some players get the chance to during careers that are four times as long. In less than three professional seasons, he's worked his way from pitching in the rookie leagues at a 4,000 seat stadium in Great Falls, Montana to the sprawling 40,000+ capacity that comes with making the major leagues.

Those around the young righty continue to be impressed not only with his physical ability, but also with his willingness to get better every outing and ability to overcome adversity.
"He's learning how to pitch," veteran pitching coach Steve McCatty said of Danish. "That's the one thing about young guys, a lot of times they can get to the big leagues and they don't even know what they can do yet. Or what type of pitcher they are. But he's starting to learn how he should go about his business and what he's trying to do up there. He's making improvements. I've been impressed talking to him."
Such poise and maturity didn't develop overnight. It took heartbreak and physical pain for him to get to where he is now. Years removed from personal tragedy and on the cusp of a return to the majors, the six foot, 200-pound righty harnesses his experiences each time he steps onto the mound.
Within nine months between the winter of 2010 and the fall of 2011, he lost his father to cancer as well as three grandparents. Although he was just a high school student at the time, Danish had to mature and learn how to put things in perspective. It would be easy to fall off the right path after such hardship, but Tyler's mom was there to ensure his baseball journey would continue for years to come.
The 55^th selection in the 2013 MLB Draft, Danish reneged on his commitment to the University of Florida and signed with the Chicago White Sox just weeks after earning his diploma and completing a prolific senior season at Durant High School in Plant City, Florida. With his signing bonus, Danish bought his mother, Charlotte, a house. It was more than just a gift. It was more than just a way of saying thanks. It marked the closing of one chapter, and the beginning of another.
"I think when you lose a parent at such a young age, I think you have to grow up a lot faster than you expected," Danish said earlier this season. "I think growing up quickly has made me who I am. I'm very mature for my age, I think. You put things into a different perspective."
That perspective was once again put to the test this offseason, as Danish recovered from knee surgery that ended his 2016 campaign prematurely. Months after making his debut with the White Sox, he was under the knife and unsure about how long it would take to get back onto the field.
Rather than sulk, the Florida native chose to reset.
He would come back to Spring Training healthy, both mentally and physically. Now he's back in Charlotte, throwing behind top prospects Reynaldo López, Carson Fulmer, and Lucas Giolito in the Knights pitching rotation. And while those notable names each have had their successes, it was actually Danish who got off to the best start of all. Through the month of April, Danish had a 1-1 record and a 1.96 ERA.
A healthy knee allowed for mechanical tweaks that would give him an advantage over hitters. A strong mentality gave him the ability to make the most out of it. If being drafted closed a part of Danish's life, then perhaps last season's knee surgery finished another. Start by start, game by game, and pitch by pitch, the next act of the 22-year-olds life is just getting started.