From Strikeouts to Sand Traps: Tyson Ross on Golf, Family, and Giving Back
Tyson Ross spent a decade in the big leagues chasing strikeouts. These days, the former All-Star pitcher and current Los Angeles Dodgers Special Assistant in Player Development is chasing something else entirely: the fairway.
"It's not how good my best shot is, but how bad my worst ones are that determines exactly the day on the course," says the Berkeley, California native, who picked up the game seriously after a career-altering surgery in 2017.
A Decorated Decade on the Mound
Before golf became his outlet, Ross built a formidable MLB career, headlined by a 2014 All-Star selection with the San Diego Padres.
- 2014 All-Star — 13–14 record, 2.81 ERA, 195 strikeouts across 195⅔ innings.
- 2015 league leader — 33 starts, a career-high 212 strikeouts, back-to-back Padres Pitcher of the Year.
- 10-year MLB career — 44–70 record, 4.04 ERA, 816 strikeouts, plus stops with the Rangers, Cardinals, and Tigers.
A 2016 thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which required rib removal, slowed his momentum on the mound — but it also opened the door to a new obsession.
Starting Over at Zero
Ross first golfed as a kid alongside his father, but stepped away around age 13 to focus on baseball. He didn't pick the clubs back up until he was rehabbing from surgery in 2017. "I decided to pick up golf figuring I needed to suck at something other than baseball right now," he says. "That's when I kind of fell in love with it. It was the camaraderie of getting out there with some friends, the constant challenge of trying to improve. It reminded me a lot of pitching, except I didn't have a lifetime of experience, and I was basically starting at zero."
The Mental Game, From Mound to Fairway
Ross sees a direct line between the mental discipline of pitching and the grind of golf. "The mental side of the game is something that I really enjoy," he says. "The ability to try and repeat your best effort over and over again. When you do something bad, how quickly can you bounce back from your mistake? Pitching and golf are really similar in those ways."
Asked whether it's easier to find the strike zone or the fairway, the answer comes quickly: "Strike zone. And a lot of times the batter helps bail me out and chase something. But getting off the tee is definitely the bane of my existence in golf right now."
Finding TRUE
A self-described sneakerhead who thinned out a serious Jordan collection over the years, Ross found his way to TRUE linkswear through a rocky start in golf footwear. "I looked ridiculous on the course shooting over 100 with these $200 sneakers on and they weren't very comfortable," he recalls. "Part of my journey in athletics and training, I found the value of natural footwear, whether it's wide toe boxes or zero drop. And I just came across TRUE back in the day, probably around 2020."
The brand's startup roots resonated with him. "I bought a couple pairs. And I was like, dude, these are amazing — the comfort, the style, the ability to wear on and off the course," he says. At 6'6" and 280 pounds, Ross has also found the brand's apparel a rare fit. "Golf apparel isn't made for people my size. But I found things that worked and it was just a perfect fit."
Loyal to My Soil
Off the course, Ross channels his energy into Loyal to My Soil, a nonprofit he founded during the pandemic that delivers free baseball and softball clinics to underserved Bay Area youth communities. "I grew up in Oakland, California, playing youth baseball in the community," he says. "I just wanted to give kids an opportunity, regardless of financial income or your parents, to get out and play the game, learn to love it, and build a community."
The organization hosts an annual golf tournament, set for November 3 at The Club at Ruby Hill in Pleasanton, California. Ross is also a founding member of The Players Alliance, formed in 2020 to grow diversity in baseball and support programs like his own.
Family, Four Rounds a Month
Between his Dodgers travel schedule and two young kids at home, Ross keeps his golf modest — but meaningful. "If I play four rounds a month, I'm in a pretty good spot," he says. His favorite memory came on a recent family trip to Oahu: "I played Ko Olina Golf Club with my dad and my six-year-old. Just the three of us, three generations hanging out in the cart. That was a good time."
On the Wish List
Ross's golf dreams are simple: more trips with old friends. A par-3 outing at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri is high on the list, along with a boys' weekend to St. George, Utah. "Right now, we all have young kids, and I'm traveling a bunch for work," he says, "but I don't need to go international — a weekend with the boys to get away and play some golf" would do just fine.
