The 2019 Major League Baseball Draft begins in exactly two weeks. News Channel 8’s Gabrielle Shirley is highlighting some of the local players who could be selected in the first three rounds.
Tyler Dyson is the first player on our list.
He is currently a pitcher at the University of Florida but he played high school baseball at Braden River High School in Bradenton.
Craig Page, the head coach of the Braden River Pirates, spent four seasons with Dyson. He remembers his character as much as he remembers his talent on the mound.
“In the beginning of the year, I will have all of the players over to my house to kind of come together before the season starts and go through that process and talk about the upcoming season,” Page said. “[Tyler] was the kind of kid who, when everybody left, he made sure before they left, he would make sure that everyone picked up all of their stuff and cleaned up their mess. He stayed after and asked my wife, ‘Is there anything I can do to help you guys clean up?’ and stuff like that. That is just kind of the kid Tyler is.”
Page recalls watching Dyson pitch in the College World Series in 2017. He threw six scoreless innings leading the Florida Gators to a national title.
“It was really special to watch,” said Page.
Finally, we asked Page about Dyson being selected in the draft this year.
“It is incredible. It could not happen to a better kid,” said Page.
You can watch Gabrielle’s full interview with Coach Page in the video above.