Picture an underdog. You might think of someone undersized like Rudy, unknown and unproven like Rocky, or out of their element like the Jamaican bobsled team in Cool Runnings. Underdogs come in many forms, but they are all connected by one narrative: they have something they struggle to overcome, but enough heart to overcome it. They’re easy to identify with and even easier to root for. Everyone likes to see the little guy pull through.
What you wouldn’t picture when thinking of an underdog is a six-foot-seven, 282-pound unanimous Rookie of the Year who placed second in American League MVP voting while smashing 52 home runs to bring his team within one game of the World Series.