For Tucker Novotny, sports have always been a part of life.
Growing up in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Novotny was surrounded by Minnesota Twins fans. With relatives who were passionate about the team, becoming a Twins fan himself seemed almost inevitable. Long before he was taking the mound as a professional, Novotny was simply another Minnesota kid finding his way through the world of sports.
Baseball eventually became his path, but it wasn't the only sport that captured his attention.
Like many of his teammates, Novotny grew up as a multi-sport athlete. Basketball was one of the sports he spent time playing, but perhaps the most unexpected entry on his athletic résumé was bowling. Novotny was a three-time letter winner in the sport, adding another layer to the athletic background that would eventually lead him to a career on the mound.
Novotny's baseball career eventually brought him to the University of Minnesota, where he became a key part of the Golden Gophers' pitching staff.
His time in Minneapolis included one of the biggest individual honors of his collegiate career. In 2023, Novotny was named the recipient of the Dave Winfield Pitcher of the Year Award, recognizing him as Minnesota's top pitcher. The honor also earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Third Team.
His path from a multi-sport athlete in Cottage Grove to a standout pitcher at the Big Ten level ultimately led him into professional baseball.
But while his career has continued to progress, Novotny hasn't lost the fan side of himself.
Spend enough time around professional baseball, and it's easy to realize that players have opinions about more than just what happens between the lines.
For Novotny, that includes the uniforms.
During a conversation about some of the Lugnuts' theme nights, Novotny was asked which uniforms have stood out to him during his time with the team.
Two quickly rose to the top.
The first was Lansing's Christmas in July uniform, which took inspiration from the unmistakable look of an ugly Christmas sweater. The second was the team's Harry Potter-themed uniform.
Apparently, the wizardry wasn't limited to the jerseys.
Lansing wore the Harry Potter-inspired uniforms on August 8, and the Lugnuts came away with a win that night, giving Novotny another reason to keep the uniforms near the top of his list.
When asked what kind of theme he'd like to see in the future, Novotny didn't have to look far for an example. During his time with the Stockton Ports, he saw the team use a Halloween-themed uniform, something he'd like to see Lansing bring to the table at some point.
For a pitcher, the idea of facing some of baseball's biggest stars is an easy question to answer.
Shohei Ohtani would be an obvious choice.
Novotny, however, went in a different direction.
If given the opportunity to face one hitter in the major leagues, Novotny chose Juan Soto.
The reasoning wasn't simply about the challenge of facing one of the game's most accomplished hitters. It was Soto's approach and demeanor that stood out to Novotny.
As he put it, “most guys you want to think of where to throw the ball but with players like that it’s the opposite.”
It's an interesting way to describe the challenge of facing an elite hitter. Rather than simply worrying about executing a pitch, a pitcher has to account for the way a hitter can dictate the at-bat.
For Novotny, that's exactly what makes a matchup with someone like Soto appealing.
Every player has a favorite place to play on the road, and for Novotny, the answer isn't particularly far from Lansing.
When asked which opposing ballpark he enjoys most, Novotny pointed toward West Michigan.
The atmosphere is a big part of the appeal, but so is the setting itself. The combination of the environment surrounding the ballpark and the overall landscape of the venue has made it one of his favorite stops during his time in professional baseball.
And, naturally, a favorite road destination wouldn't be complete without a favorite place to eat.
For Novotny, that spot is The Great Deli in Midland, Michigan, home of the Great Lakes Loons.
It's another small detail that gives fans a glimpse into the life of a minor league player—traveling from ballpark to ballpark, finding favorite places along the way and building personal connections with the different stops throughout a season.
Novotny's journey to professional baseball may now revolve around the mound, but his story started much earlier and involved plenty more than baseball.
A Minnesota sports fan raised around the Twins, a multi-sport athlete who lettered three times in bowling, a Golden Gopher who earned one of the program's top pitching honors and now a professional pitcher, Novotny has taken a winding path to where he is today.
And while fans will ultimately know him for the pitches he throws, getting to know the person behind those pitches can make watching his journey that much more enjoyable.