Stroman talks post-career plans in revealing interview

For most players, there are still about two months left in baseball's offseason - nine more days until spring training opens, two more weeks until position players report, and one more month until exhibition games begins. But just like he proved last season, when he returned early from a torn ACL to pitch during the Toronto Blue Jays' playoff run, Marcus Stroman isn't like most players.

Nearly two years since making his debut, Stroman is preparing for what he hopes is his first full season in the majors. The way in which he's preparing, however, isn't for everyone. These days, the 5-foot-8 Blue Jays ace is moonlighting as a rapper, traveling cross country for media appearances, and building his HDMH (Height Doesn't Measure Heart) brand.

On Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports published a pair of stories on Stroman, who sat down for an interview last week to discuss his brand, post-career plans, and more. Here are the highlights:

Changing the game

Stroman's excitable presence on the mound and abundance of confidence has provided critics with ample bulletin-board fodder to take aim at his sometimes polarizing persona. If it were up to Stroman - who told Nightengale that Jose Bautista should have flipped his bat even further - players like him wouldn't be the exception.

Baseball is very conservative, but with the young wave of guys coming up, I feel like it's starting to change. It's a sport that slowly is starting to become more hip, more trendy, and more modern. It lacks behind the other sports in that sense, but I feel it changing. With the (Bryce) Harpers, (Mike) Trouts, (Carlos) Correas and (Javy) Baezes of the world, there's a core group of guys who can make baseball more appealing to the young kids, who can make baseball look fun. I feel that's what baseball lacks sometimes, that fun element.

Big plans after baseball

In what's become increasingly clear, Stroman is very much in control and aware of everything going on in his life. Earlier this month he starred in former Duke teammate Mike Stud's new rap video, and a week later he was featured as a vocalist on the remix. It's all part of the master plan, Stroman says.

I'm just getting started. I want to be the best in the game. I want to be the best off the field. I want to create a brand. I want to create a company. I have visions that are beyond baseball. I want to be multidimensional. I don't ever want to be known as just a baseball player. That's a reason why I got my education. I want to able to branch into brand marketing, branch into the business world, and branch into the fashion world. I want a lane in everything.

Channeling negative energy

Stroman's ambitious plans, however, would be futile if it weren't for his confidence. He spoke about using his critics as motivation, noting that before every start he reviews old prospect lists that didn't include his name.

I read everything, including all of the negative stuff. People say, 'Don't read the negative,' but I feel that it helps me. I love it, because it angers me, and that fuels me. That stuff is in the back of my mind when I'm in the weight room. That's the emotion that comes out when I'm yelling on the mound. If I didn't have all of the negative, maybe I wouldn't work this hard. Maybe I wouldn't want to prove so many people wrong. I know what they're saying: 'He’s a little guy. He won't last.' Don't categorize me just because I’m undersized. It angers me so much.