DETROIT -- The first thing that stood out about Daniel Norris as he talked with reporters last Thursday on the Tigers' Winter Caravan was, of course, the beard. He grows it out every offseason, and it gets big enough to provide him with insulation against Michigan's typical January ice-box temperatures.
The beard will likely be gone, or at least trimmed, by Spring Training in a few weeks. The offseason shape Norris has put himself in, though, will stay. As he tries to stake his claim for a spot in the Tigers' rotation, or at least on the roster, his health is a major hurdle to clear.