Former football standout, Neal, embraces challenge of rising in Jays' ranks

Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect D.J. Neal excelled on both the diamond and on the gridiron at the University of South Carolina before he was selected in the 2017 MLB draft. Photo: Kellen Forrest

March 11, 2020

By Kellen Forrest

Canadian Baseball Network

DUNEDIN, Fla. - For D.J. Neal, the easy road has never been an option.

Committing to play both baseball and football at the University of South Carolina back in 2015, the centre-fielder knew he would eventually have to narrow his focus to just one sport, and he chose to lose the pads and pick up the glove and bat.

The 23-year-old admits that there is a part of him that misses football, but oddly enough, because sport came so naturally to him, it pushed him to pursue baseball instead.

“In football, I was always just so athletic, and I would do things on the field sometimes that would just make me think, ‘Wow, how did I just do that?’” said Neal, smiling. “With baseball, you have to think a little bit more, put more into it, and I like that better.”

While being too athletic for their own good is a problem most athletes would die to have, the athletic outfielder knows himself better than anyone, and understands overcoming obstacles is the only way for him to reach his full potential.

“The reason I love baseball so much is that there is more of a challenge,” Neal said, outside the locker room at the Englebert Complex. “I have always been a guy that runs headfirst into a challenge, and then usually excelled.”

Heading towards the start of his fourth year as a Toronto Blue Jays prospect, after being taken in the 26th round of the 2017 MLB draft, Neal reminisced on some of the challenges he faced at the beginning of his pro career.

“Being so quick and fast, I had to really focus on stuff like first-step movements, going backwards, going lateral, having good jumps on the ball,” said Neal. “Then just putting my swing together, using my upper body and lower body as one, it took some time.”

Neal hit .238 and had 16 stolen bases in 84 games with the class-A Lansing Lugnuts last year, and is already eyeing up his goals for the upcoming season.

“I definitely want to get some bags,” said Neal, with a laugh. “So I am going to work to get as many stolen bases as I can this year. I want to break some bags records.”

Asked if he would still choose baseball over football given the chance, Neal was confident this was the challenge he was meant to take on.

“All I can say is everything happens for a reason,” Neal said. “This is home for me now.”