Campus Newcomer: Mounds View RHP Tyler Guerin
Up next on the Iowa Baseball campus newcomers series is a guy that, for a moment, had a chance of going in the MLB Draft. It didn’t quite work out that way and Mounds View right-handed pitcher Tyler Guerin will play for the Hawkeyes. The younger brother of Hawkeye 1B Blake Guerin, Tyler is rated as the #1 player in Minnesota and the #41 right-handed pitcher in the country by Perfect Game.
As a senior at Mounds View, Guerin was named East Metro Player of the Year and Prep Baseball Minnesota Player of the Year. On the mound, Tyler had a 3.03 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 69 strikeouts and a 3.13 SO/BB ratio. At the plate, he was just as impressive, batting .382, with a .495 on-base percentage, including 25 runs scored and 25 RBI’s. The Mustangs advanced all the way to the 4A State Championship game.
He spent the summer playing in the Northwoods League, with his brother Blake and future teammates Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue and Drew Deremer. Guerin has appeared in four games with two starts, posting a 3.60 ERA over 10.0 innings. He has allowed four earned runs on 11 hits, while he has 11 strikeouts to five walks. In his first start against Kenosha, Tyler tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, including six strikeouts to just two walks.
We caught up with the 6-foot-6, 205 pound right-hander to preview his upcoming freshman season at Iowa and more.
Q: When do you move to Iowa City and what is your excitement level like for that move in day?
GUERIN: I move down to Iowa on the 24th and I’ll stay at a house with my brother and a couple of the other guys that live there.
Q: What number do you plan to wear and why?
GUERIN: I don’t really care what number I wear, if I could choose then I’d choose either 19 or 13. 13 because I grew up wearing it and 19 because that’s what I wore all of high school.
Q: What did it mean to you to be named East Metro Player of the Year, an award that your brother Blake won just a couple of years ago?
GUERIN: I think it’s pretty cool that Blake and I both won it. I’m pretty sure that award stayed in our school for 4 years and all of the winners were from two families.
Q: You’ve spent the summer pitching for the Madison Mallards. How has that experience gone, going up against college baseball players? What have you learned about yourself as a pitcher?
GUERIN: I learned a lot playing with Madison. I had an amazing time with an awesome group of guys, but I also got to pick some of their brains on the pitching side of stuff. I got to experience way better hitters and just got to compete. I have learned that I have to trust my fastball more.
Q: I know you were looked at the recent MLB Draft by some teams. What was it like going through that process and what did you learn about the draft that could be helpful going forward?
GUERIN: I had a fun, but a little bit stressful time going through the draft. It was a possibility, but also felt like I had a slim chance up until the few days leading up to it, then stuff started to pick up and got exciting. I’ve learned a lot about organizations and how the development is through the minors.
Q: What pitches do you have in your arsenal (speeds)?
GUERIN: I currently throw a 4-seam fb sitting low 90’s, 2-seam sitting low 90’s as well, slider that is 79-83, and a change-up that is 83-86.
Q: Looking back at your recruitment, what stood about the Iowa Baseball program that made them an easy choice over other schools?
GUERIN: The pitching development is the reason I chose Iowa. Obviously I have heard many good stories from Blake too, but the pitching development is the main reason I chose Iowa.
Q: Were there any other teams that you heavily considered during your recruitment?
GUERIN: I was commited to Purdue at one point and then scholarship issues made me decommit. There was mainly mid-majors looking at me, but I had no other offers at the time of my commitment.
Q: What is your relationship like with the coaching staff? Who do you talk with the most?
GUERIN: My relationship with them is great, I definitely talk to Marty the most. I have talked to Coach Kenny a couple times, one time in Lakeshore with Blake, Dermer, and Elliot. We all met him there.
Q: Outside of playing with Madison, what have you been doing since the end of the high school season to prepare for when you join the team this fall?
GUERIN: Lifting and eating a lot. You have seen Blake, but you haven’t seen me. I’m the opposite of him. I’m still tall, but i’m pretty skinny. If I want to get any better I’ll need to put on some weight.
Q: If someone asked you “what do you bring to the Iowa Baseball team?” How would you describe your game?
GUERIN: I think I can bring my bat and my arm to the team. I believe I could help offensively and defensively and I’m excited to see how the fall goes.
Q: What is your relationship like with the other incoming freshman? Current players?
GUERIN: I have met most of them, but there are a couple new guys I haven’t had the chance to talk to yet. I’m excited to meet the rest. I know some of the players and have a pretty good relationship with a few of them.
Q: What are your goals for your freshman season at Iowa? What areas of your game do you want to improve?
GUERIN: My goals for my freshman year is to be a player that the coaches can count on to contribute to the team. I want to improve my offspeed and my 4-seam fastball.
