In early May 2015, Noah Syndergaard was pitching for the Las Vegas 51s, a minor-league baseball team named after Area 51. In late October of the same year, the man called "Thor" was starting in the World Series, helming the New York Mets to their only win of the championship (and doing it in very badass fashion). And while it was the superior pitching that got him there, it was all of the other factors that gave birth to the myth: the flowing, golden mane; the Norse god nickname; playing in New York for that other baseball team—the one that, after being bad for so long, was finally pretty damn good.

The 23-year-old is having another impressive year again this season, showing that he has staying power—so long as his body can withstand the stress of throwing triple-digit heat.* We caught up with Noah while he was promoting his—PLUG ALERT—Delta Dugout campaign (check out the video for a "Syndergaarden" class below), which gives fans a chance to fly to spring training to play catch with players like Syndergaard. "I don't know why anyone would want to do that," he says, like a man not quite accustomed to just how big he's gotten.

GQ: You rode into spring training on a horse with Yoenis Céspedes. How did that come about?

Noah Syndergaard: I was really baffled by how everyone was making a huge deal about how he would drive a different car into spring training each day. I just figured there were other things to be worried about. I was like, let's make a joke about it and ride horses in. And I found out he had two horses himself. I came to him the next day, and he was all about the idea.

You looked like a natural on that thing.

It was not that easy. I do have an equine background, because my dad is a horse trainer. But I might have been on a horse three times before that in my life.

You've had a whirlwind year. What has changed most about your life in the last 12 months?

[It’s] kind of hard to comprehend, just ’cause [in] 2014 I was really struggling in Triple-A in Las Vegas, kinda doubting if I would ever be a big-league pitcher, and a really good one at that. But the past year has been a lot of growing, a lot of ups and downs. I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity and where I am right now.

Was there ever a point along the way where you thought that this wasn't going to pan out for you?

Normally I like to maintain a positive attitude and just kind of take a deep breath and step back from things. [Pitching coach of the Las Vegas 51s] Frank Viola was a huge help, ’cause he really got me to understand that baseball's a game and I need to go out there and have fun with it.

You're known as somebody who doesn't really get intimidated, and someone who can be pretty intimidating on the mound. Is there anybody that you are a little wary of when he steps up to the plate?

Giancarlo Stanton. I mean, I don't really care if a guy hits the ball 500 feet off me. I just don't want him to hit one back at my face. The money maker.

And who's a guy you would not want to see charging the mound?

Yasiel Puig, probably. He looks like a linebacker out there.

“It was not that easy. I do have an equine background.”

I've read that you said you play angry or have a killer instinct. Is that something you've always had, or when did that switch sort of flip for you—when did you start throwing angry?

I wouldn't really call it throwing "angry." Because anger normally leads to tension, and I try to be as relaxed as possible. I used to grip the ball really hard when I first got called up, and Dan Warthen, our pitching coach, helped me loosen my grip a little bit and added a little extra whip to my arm motion and a little bit of velocity. I just want to go out there and strike a presence, and I want the hitter to know it's not going to be a comfortable at bat.

When did you notice the hair taking on a life of its own?

It's really grown quite a bit in the past year. I remember when I first got called up last year, it was nowhere near [Mets pitcher Jacob] deGrom's level, and now I think the length has surpassed his. It really started to take traction once the whole Thor persona started to come out, which I think is pretty cool.