Treehouse: Diamond Days, Yoga Nights, and Happily Ever After

Disclaimer: The above content is not sponsored by Alo Yoga in any way, shape, or form and does not constitute an informal or formal statement on the company's views. This content was captured in the Fashion District and is not affiliated with Alo Yoga.

Growing up in Agoura Hills, life was pretty straightforward. School, practice, repeat. You know the drill. My world was the diamond, the feel of the stitches under my fingertips, the crack of the bat. It was simple, and I liked it that way. I never figured my life would get complicated, let alone that I'd find the missing piece of my soul in, of all places, Encino.

But that's where I met her. And let me tell you, when I first pulled up to her family's place, I was blown away. I thought I knew big houses, but this was a whole other level—newer, grander, a whole different world. But it wasn't the house that got me. It was her. This beautiful Hispanic soul who walked into my life and cranked the color dial all the way up. She adds this incredible zest, this flavor to my everyday existence that I didn’t even know was missing. My life was black and white before, and she painted it in vibrant colors.

Now, I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most... flexible guy, mentally or physically. So when she first brought up yoga, I probably laughed. I'm going to be honest, I thought the whole thing was kind of goofy. The breathing, the poses—it just wasn't my scene. I made that pretty clear to her, maybe more than once. But for her? I’ll try anything. We ended up at an ALO event together this past week, and there I was, surrounded by more mindfulness than I’d seen in my entire life. I was trying to keep a straight face, trying to get into it, but mostly I was just watching her, seeing how happy she was.

And in that moment, something just clicked. It was crystal clear. Shortly after this photo was taken, I did something I'd been planning for a while. I asked her to marry me. And she said yes. We're engaged.

Look, I'm not a serious guy by nature. I joke around a lot. My job is literally playing a game. There aren't many things in this world I'm truly serious about—my career, sure, but that’s about it. This, though? This is different. This engagement, this commitment to her, is something I'm going to protect and preserve with everything I have. It's the most real thing in my life, and I'm going to guard it more fiercely than I've ever guarded home plate. This is our forever.

I’ll admit, when I first stepped onto a yoga mat, I felt like a complete fish out of water—seriously, it’s hard to imagine a baseball player trying to balance on one foot without feeling ridiculous. But as much as I like to joke around, I actually learned a few things that stuck with me.

First, breathing is everything. It sounds so basic, right? But the way yoga focuses on intentional breathing—slowing it down, syncing it with movement—has honestly helped me on the mound. When the pressure's on, when it’s a full count and the game’s on the line, I’ve started using those breathing techniques to stay calm and locked in.

Second, flexibility isn’t just about stretching muscles—it’s about mindset. Yoga’s all about finding where you're at that day and working with it, not against it. That’s helped me stop beating myself up over a bad at-bat or a tough game. Sometimes you just have to adjust, reset, and come back stronger.

And third? Balance. And I’m not just talking about holding a Warrior III pose without face-planting (though that was a challenge). I mean balance in life. Between being a competitor on the field and just being present off the field, yoga showed me how to slow down and appreciate the moments in between. Turns out, mindfulness might not be a total joke after all.