Tyler Lakin '21 Recruiting Profile

The best players in baseball are the ones that will do whatever it takes to play baseball., they are the players that Love baseball for the Game itself!

  I have been doing everything that I can to play the Game I love! I was born with an eye condition that caused me to need corrective lenses at a young age, so this did not make things easy. I joined the little league in my home town and started playing baseball at the age of 4. At the age of 8-9 I started learning how to pitch, I also started having back pain that was thought to be growing pains.

  My incoming freshman summer I joined the club high school team where I was at the top of my game. I was pulled up to pitch at the higher level when I ended up having a L5-S1 Disc Herniation with Spondylolisthesis from a bilateral spondylolysis (Fractured in several spots). I pushed myself to pitch another inning but was pulled out by coach. Unfortunately I faced having a spinal fusion of the L5-S1 months after my injury which was devastating to me. Would I ever play ball again? If I do how long will it be before I could?

  After Surgery Doctors told me it would be a year or longer before I could play ball again if ever…… I said I will do whatever it takes to play the Game I love again. This is just what I did 2 weeks after surgery I started walking, 6 weeks after surgery I was doing Soft toss, 3 months after surgery I was taking grounders, 6 months after surgery I was playing the Game I love again. Not only was I playing again I was Pitching. 1 year after my Surgery I was standing on that very same mound that I was taken off of, as the starting pitcher.

  As I am entering my Senior year I am now doing a strict weight and stretching program, I am working with my private pitching instructors Jon Huizinga and Sean Tracey who has helped me grow more knowledge of the game. My bullpens have been becoming increasingly better with me topping out around 80+ mph, my location is very consistent and I could not be happier with how I am progressing.

It’s the Love of the Game that allows me to Look up, Get up, and Never Give Up!