Gingerich ‘living in the moment’ of playing pro baseball
The step up to the professional level has been a tough one at the plate for Holmes County native Tyson Gingerich, who patrolled the infield for both Hiland High School and Malone University, but the leather has been as strong as ever as he continues to flash the glove defensively.
When baseball gets in your blood, it’s hard to wash it away.
When former Hiland baseball standout and Malone University All-American Tyson Gingerich put the wraps on his stellar career at Malone, like many collegiate players, he thought that would be the end of his baseball career as a player.
However, having that baseball blood coursing through his veins, he quickly became a coach at Malone.
Stunningly, one year after his playing days were over, a phone call got him back in the game at the professional level, and now Gingerich is enjoying the game he’s played his whole life all over again, on a much higher level.
Earlier this year Gingerich was elated to become a member of the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Frontier League professional baseball system, where he has been manning the shortstop position since joining the team.
“I’m having a blast,” Gingerich said. “It’s baseball all the time, and I feel blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to continue to play the game I love. Not too many people get this opportunity, and I’m just soaking it all in.”
The Frontier League consists of teams throughout East North Central and Mid-Atlantic United States and Central Canada. The league consists mostly of former collegiate standouts who went undrafted while each team is allowed to support up to three former Major League players. The Frontier League has sent numerous players on to play at the Major League level, and Tri-Valley plays out of Troy, New York. The team has sent players like current Major Leaguers Jose Altuve, George Springer, Ben Zobrist, Jeremy Pena, AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and J.D. Martinez to The Show.
It is a busy slate of games that will carry him through the season.
“It’s been a series of ups and downs, and I try not to dwell on anything, good or bad, because the games just keep coming at you and there’s always another game coming to prepare for,” Gingerich said.
After struggling early out of the gate, going just 4-of-26 to begin his career at Tri-City, Gingerich turned the corner and started to find his hitting stroke. However, he admits hitting at this level is a whole new ballgame.
“I’m still figuring out if the whole year off of baseball is a factor or if the players are just that much better at this level,” Gingerich said. “The players are definitely better. The pitchers throw harder, and the back end of the bullpen comes in and they’re throwing 96 (mph) at you, and you just don’t see that at the Div. II level, and it’s the guys throwing 96 and the ball is moving 5 inches when it gets really tricky.”
Gingerich said he has already faced several pitchers who are former big-league hurlers, and that is challenging.
“I’m always up for a good challenge,” Gingerich said. “It’s fun playing against guys at this high of a level.”
He said his time at Hiland and Malone and his coaches helped prepare him to be mentally tough enough to handle the transition.
While he continues to try to find his hitting stroke, one thing that didn’t change was his gold glove caliber talent in the field. Gingerich continues to flash the leather that fans at both Hiland and Malone are all too familiar with. He currently ranks among the top infield defenders in fielding percentage in the league, and he also continues to show off the blazing speed that helped him garner All-American honors.
“My defense is where it needs to be, and my glove has kept me in the lineup,” Gingerich said.
One aspect of the game at this level is the travel. With the ValleyCats playing six out of seven days a week, it is a nonstop game of bus rides and even plane rides to fields throughout Northeastern U.S. and into Canada.
“The bus rides can get a little extensive,” Gingerich said. “Most guys will sleep, but I’m not too good at that, so I spend rides talking to guys, listening to music or playing games on my phone to pass the time.”
While the Frontier League is known for sending guys on to the MLB, Gingerich said at 25 years old that he doesn’t have any expectations of getting the call to the Majors.
“I’m just enjoying my time playing while I can,” he said. “I don’t want to live in the past or the future. I just want to enjoy the present playing the game I love.”
For someone who has found great joy in the game, Gingerich said baseball has given him plenty of memories that someday he will look back at with fondness. However, one of the best parts of the game has been having his parents come to the games.
During his first few weeks with the ValleyCats, Gingerich was able to finish his master’s degree in business, and he said when his playing days are over, he’d love to return to this area.
However, right now he simply wants to bask in the joy of playing baseball.
“There’s nothing like it,” Gingerich said. “I’m not going to take any of this for granted.”