CARY, N.C. - In the ever-evolving realm of baseball, the emergence of young talent across the country brings a wave of excitement. For Tyler Early, a 12-year-old outfielder and left-handed pitcher, that wave is becoming a tidal force. His rapid growth through the ranks fascinates fans and scouts alike, making him one of the more familiar faces and brightest young stars to compete as a member of USA Baseball.
Early’s USA Baseball debut, which occurred in 2023 with the 12U National Team for both the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup Qualifier and World Cup, was nothing short of amazing. Despite competing on the international stage at a young age, the two-way player quickly proved that he belonged.
At the World Cup Qualifier, Early started all nine games for the stars and stripes while batting .500 with six home runs and 13 RBIs. In his 6.2 innings on the mound, he finished second on the team with 11 strikeouts, which propelled the United States to a gold medal finish.
Early’s dominance continued in 2023 when the 12U National Team traveled to Tainan, Taiwan, where he and the team ultimately won another gold medal at the World Cup. Early took command of the tournament as he boasted a .381 batting average with 12 RBIs. He also collected a 2-0 record and 2.08 ERA on the mound, which was good enough to earn him Tournament MVP and All-World Outfielder honors.
“It was fun to win two gold medals with my team. It was really a great experience. I’m glad I was able to make the team. It made us compete even harder because we knew that every other team in the tournament didn’t want us to win. We were able to compete and show out for our country. I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to play the sport that I love and continue my dream.”
Early’s performances with the 12U National Team earned him the 2023 Richard W. “Dick” Case Award, which is an annual award that recognizes USA Baseball’s top player of the year while also honoring the memory of the organization’s founding Executive Director/CEO. The selection marked new territory for USA Baseball as it was the first time in organization history where two players were selected for the honor as Phillies’ Trea Turner was also tabbed player of the year with Early.
“It was an amazing experience. At first, I didn’t know whether or not I would be selected for the award because I felt like I could have played better in certain games. I think I can be hard on myself at times, and think that others might have seen something in my game that I might not be aware of. It was truly an honor to win the award though.”
Some may think that all of the attention and noise at such a young age would get in the way of Early’s growth in baseball, but he doesn’t let the heat get to him. To him, baseball serves as an opportunity to prove himself and silence any critics.
“I try to just play my brand of baseball. I know that I can’t play every position on the field at one time, but I can play the way I know how to play and do my job to help my team win. Every time that I step on the field I feel like baseball gives me an escape from all of the noise.”
Although Early has already won gold for the United States on two different occasions, he believes he still has more gas in the tank. The process to represent the stars and stripes again begins this week at the 13U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup where Early can potentially earn a spot on the 2025 13U/14U Athlete Development Program roster.
“It’s a beautiful thing to play for your country. Having the chance to go on the field and show out is special. That is what playing baseball is all about. So far, I have had the opportunity to compete against some of the best competition from across the country, so it would be a blessing to represent my country again.”
Early and the 13U South Stars opened up play at the NTIS Champions Cup on Thursday where his side cruised to a 12-4 win over the Northeast Stripes in the first round of pool play. Now, Early will shift his focus to the second round of pool play against the Southwest Stars where he has the chance to help lead the South Stars to a gold medal.
“I’m ready to go out there and compete. Every time I go out on the field, I’m looking to win and I know that this week will be a good test because there are a lot of really good players out here. I’m ready to go.”
