STORY: 2019 SS/RHP Tyler Wade (Midland HS)

MIDLAND, TX. - A visit to Tennessee was an eye-opener in more ways than one for Tyler Wade.

“When we first got there my dad and I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was,” Wade reflected. “The atmosphere was perfect, everything was close to the school, I loved every part of it. I was like wow … I can be here.”

Things only improved upon meeting with the baseball staff.

“They kind of caught me off guard,” admitted Wade, who drew interest from Tennessee from a PBR showcase video. “I expected them to want me as a shortstop but when they started talking pitching I was pretty excited. If they had just wanted me as a shortstop that would have been fine, but when he said they want me to pitch, too, that just added to it.”

Two weeks after the visit, the Midland junior committed to the Southeast Conference school.

“The coaches genuinely wanted me,” said the 34th-ranked player in the state’s 2019 class.. “They put a lot of effort in me coming down there.”

As for the interest from Tennessee, there was a lot to like about the 5-11 165-pounder.

“They like that I can play anywhere in the field,” Wade explained. “My speed is another thing they like and I also have a decent glove and can hit the ball as well.

“They also like how shifty I am as a pitcher. I have a lot of movement on the ball with good velo.”

It has been quite a ride from just a year prior.

“I started out pretty rough last year when I was only a sophomore on the varsity,” Wade admitted. “Jaxon Hallmark, who is now at Nebraska, taught me how to achieve more than you have. He helped me get in the weight room. I didn’t have the work ethic needed back then, I was just there. But our coach put me with him because he knew he’d push me. Now I’m pushing others.”

Improvement on the mound has also taken place.

“My confidence since last year has gotten a lot better,” Wade pointed out. “I’ve added a couple miles per hour to my velo. My control is decent, but I feel it could be way better.”

There is more Wade hopes to add before reaching college.

“As a pitcher I need to gain more velo,’ Wade said. “I throw it hard but need to throw it harder and have better control. As a shortstop, footwork is probably where I need to step it up the most for the next level.”

The hope is those improvements could help Wade, a switch-hitter, make an early impact at Tennessee.

“They have a new coaching staff so there’s a bigger chance to start freshman year,” Wade explained. “They want to start new. I feel like, based on what has happened with their staff and then the interest they showed, there’s a good possibility I could start my freshman year. I just have to outwork everyone, be it at shortstop or wherever they need me.”

It is a culmination of reaching a life-long dream.

“A year ago I felt like recruiting was going slow and really didn’t know if anyone was interested,” Wade admitted. “But once they showed interest it went from there.

“This is something I’ve thought about since I was four,” Wade continued. “I’ve always wanted to be a professional athlete and this is a step toward it. I played basketball and football until my freshman year when I realized I like baseball better so I put all my eggs in one basket.”

The move has paid off for Wade, who also had visited Texas Tech and had interest from Sul Ross State.

“I didn’t realize I would have an offer this soon,” Wade said. “But I know how hard I’ve worked to get to this point, so anything was possible to achieve.”

A 3.1 student at Midland, Wade plans to major in kinesiology at Tennessee.

“I plan to go and watch a couple of their games and text with coach (Josh) Elander,” Wade said. “My dad and my coaches have pushed me to get where I am but I know I want to go farther than college.

“This doesn’t change anything. I’m not about to get complacent. I’m just one step closer to where I want to be and that’s the pros.”