BASEBALL: MC’s Wulfert to play in prestigious Cape Cod League

By Christopher Hadorn
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Midland College infielder Tyler Wulfert is going to play in the nation's most famous collegiate wood bat summer league.

Wulfert will suit up for the Hyannis (Massachusetts) Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer, as he will join a circuit that has produced approximately 1,400 major league ballplayers.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Wulfert was a first team selection in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference this past season after hitting .389 with 20 home runs, 72 RBI, 70 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, a .475 on-base percentage and a .796 slugging percentage in 211 at-bats with the Chaps.

The native of Farmington, New Mexico, who still has three years of eligibility, has signed to continue his baseball career at Oklahoma State next fall.

Tyler Wulfert

"The coaches at Oklahoma State helped me out," Wulfert said. "They are the ones who hooked me up with this team. I'm pretty excited to go out there because it's one of the best leagues. I'm ready to go out there and have some fun and get some at-bats and just enjoy it."

Wulfert joins a Hyannis club that produced countless major leaguers, most notably Albert Belle, Robin Ventura, Jason Varitek, former RockHounds Sean Manaea and Eric Byrnes, Mitch Garver, Jackie Bradley Jr, Pat Burrell, Jeremy Burnitz, Rich Aurilia, Kyle Freeland, Austin Hays, Eric Hinske, Dakota Hudson, Matt Morris, JJ Putz, John Valentin, Brian Wilson and New York Mets manager Buck Showalter.

The Cape Cod League is known for its strong community support and quaint, picturesque ballparks in rural New England. The league was famously illustrated in the 2001 film Summer Catch, starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jessica Biel.

"I haven't seen the movie either, but I will probably watch it before I go," Wulfert said of Summer Catch. "I am just excited to go out there and play and have a lot of fun. I know there's a lot of history there. A lot of great players have played there. I'm just ready to go out there and show everyone what I've got."

Wulfert says he leaves Monday for Massachusetts and will be staying with a host family. The league starts play on June 12.

Wulfert is expecting to play both third base and outfield for Hyannis.

Wulfert played shortstop in his first season with MC before splitting time at both third base and shortstop this past season.

Chaps head coach Hector Rodriguez said Wulfert is such a good athlete that he can play anywhere on the field.

"He's really, really talented," Rodriguez said. "I know he's going to take advantage of that opportunity in the Cape. He's a levelheaded, hard-working kid. It doesn't matter what league he's going to play in, whether it be junior college, the Big 12, Cape Cod or professional baseball, he's going to attack it and give a great effort and be successful."

Follow Chris on Twitter: @chris_MRTsports