MLW Wiffle Ball

‘We're all in it together’: Jimmy Knorp’s goal to raise Type 1 diabetes awareness through Wiffle ball  

By: Matthew Byrne, MLW Writer

August 5th, 2022

 Jimmy Knorp remembers being rushed from a Christmas Party to the hospital — and the feeling of the medical staff inserting an intravenous line (IV) into his small 9-year-old body. He was sick, but didn't know the cause. 

"I was super sick going into that — didn't really know what was going on," Knorp said. "My parents seemed a little concerned, but being nine years old, I had no idea what to do. I just wanted to feel better." 

Knorp and his family soon learned he had developed Type 1 diabetes. Four years later, he felt unwell again and hustled to the hospital. Like the first visit, Knorp simply wanted it to be over. The medical staff positioned another IV. Excess ketones flowed through his bloodstream, accompanying high blood sugar levels. If left unchecked, they risked Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening complication. 

Knorp's eyes rested on the television in the hospital room. Then-Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer aspired for his 11th straight victory of the season against the Boston Red Sox. Knorp had tunnel vision — watching the Tigers, his favorite team, distracted him from his surroundings. 

"He got it," Knorp said. "Nine innings of baseball, three and a half hours to four hours — gave me a little bit of time to clear my mind of what was going on at the moment. Just focus on baseball, and what I love to watch." 

***

Knorp and baseball have always harmonized seamlessly. When he was seven or eight, Knorp and his friends pretended to be big leaguers while playing Wiffle ball. They imitated batting stances and dove into a backyard delight shared by multiple generations. 

"They'd stay the night at my house," Knorp said. "We'd wake up and play and then do it all over again the next day. That was just kind of how it worked. We really loved the game." 

That style of play never changed each summer — from before Knorp's diagnosis until his freshman year of high school. Wiffle ball served as an escape from constantly thinking about diabetes. 

"Having that chance and having those guys around me to make me forget things just means a lot to me," Knorp said. 

YouTube introduced the group to Major League Wiffle, one of the world's most popular Wiffle ball leagues, in 2017. One year later, they formed an independent team and competed against MLW players in tournaments.

"Our first tournament ever, we beat a team that had [veterans] Daniel Schultz or Ryan Kracht," Knorp said. "We're like, wow, we can hang with these guys. We're not that bad." 

Knorp eventually heard his name called on draft day in 2020, kicking off a phenomenal rookie year. He was named manager of the Downtown Diamondbacks in 2021 and, that same year, hoisted the prestigious MLW World Series trophy alongside teammates Jonah Heath, Ben Wilson, and Michael Schema. Celebrating the victory alongside Heath felt especially cherishable for Knorp because the pair of friends had known each other since elementary school. 

"Jonah Heath growing up in elementary school, he was supposed to be my little supervisor, like make sure your friends okay," Knorp said. "He was that guy for me. So it's super cool that he gets to come and experience this with me because it's been a big part of his life too." 

Jimmy Knorp (right) and Jonah Heath (left) hoisting trophies early in their baseball careers.

Knorp said his parents always gave him a hard time tearing up the grass in their backyard. But after seeing his success and the beneficial impact of Wiffle ball changing his life, Knorp said they joked having a dead yard was worth it. 

Knorp's parents supported and helped him monitor his body at a young age. They were the ones falling asleep on uncomfortable hospital chairs. They were the ones pricking his finger. They were the ones giving him insulin shots every day — all until he was mature and old enough to do it himself. 

"It really means a lot, like what they've had to go through," Knorp said. It doesn't just affect my life; it affects my entire family." 

Knorp remembers the phone call he received from his dad when he was 15. He sat at home after school as his dad called him from the hospital, saying his sister, 18 at the time, was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Knorp was shocked — it is improbable to develop Type 1 diabetes at that age — Type 2 diabetes would have been much more common. 

"She came home [and] it was hard for her," Knorp said. "She couldn't eat a lot of stuff that she normally likes to eat. All of a sudden she goes from living a completely normal life to hey, you got to give yourself six insulin shots a day and start poking your finger eight to 10 times. So it's not an easy flip to switch."

Knorp stood right by her side, comforting her. He told her everything would work itself out, and she'd become more accustomed to developing a daily routine in six months to a year. Knorp said that's how the process works. The two molded into each other's emotional anchor. 

"There's going to be those days that are harder than others," Knorp said. "But knowing that you have somebody else to lean on and talk to you about it is absolutely huge. I don't want to say I'm grateful that she got diagnosed with diabetes, obviously, but it does help having somebody I'm close to who can help me out."

***

After the 2022 MLW Draft, Knorp's inner circle of those he could confide in grew without him even realizing it. Following the first series of the new season, rookie Trey Flood approached Knorp and explained if Knorp ever saw him pulling fruit snacks out of his bag and shoveling them down, or reaching for his insulin pump, it's because he has Type 1 diabetes.

“No problem,” Knorp told Flood. “But also, don't be surprised if your manager does the same thing.”

Flood said Knorp's answer surprised him — he knew of only one other person in his high school that had Type 1 diabetes. Discovering he and his manager share the same diagnosis made the rookie's transition into the league much smoother. And it also boosted the duo's connection. 

"When you're coming into the league, and you don't know much about it, you see these guys as like many celebrities in a way," Flood said. "But when I found that out, you realize that they're still just people. They have their own problems just like us, so it definitely helped." 

Trey Flood taking the mound against the Mallards.

Earlier in the week, before the two told each other, MLW released news that struck close to home. The Diamondbacks and Coastal Cobras would compete in a Mini MLB Series supporting SlamT1D — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "broaden awareness, educate and advocate on behalf of T1Ders and their families." 

SlamT1D owns three miniature replica MLB fields built for backyard Wiffle ball in northern Vermont — Little Field of Dreams, Little Fenway, and Little Wrigley. For years, they've hosted the charitable Vermont Summer Classic tournament at the complex. One week before the Classic, the two MLW teams will travel to Vermont and play one game on each field — encouraging fans to donate to SlamT1D. 

"I built a Wiffle ball field in my backyard, and I remember looking up Wiffle ball fields to try to get a kind of blueprint of what I wanted to do in my backyard, and the first one that came up was the mini Fenway," Flood said. "In just a couple of days we'll be playing there." 

Knorp never realized the platform he'd possess when joining MLW. He's turned into one of the most prominent faces in the league, along with his trademarked long hair that resembles former big league pitcher Tim Lincecum. Knorp said he now wants to use his following to help spread the word about diabetes.  

"So hopefully, for fellow diabetics out there, I can kind of help spread the message and the love that we're all in it together," Knorp said. "And for people who don't know about diabetes, this is a great opportunity to hear about this charity, SlamT1D. This is something super special to me."

Nine years ago, Knorp sat in a hospital bed watching the Tigers face off against the Red Sox — helping clear his mind. This weekend, he'll play on the Red Sox's home field, albeit a mini replica, proudly representing Type 1 diabetes.

By:  Matthew Byrne, MLW Writer