“Baseball, you could say basically raised me to be the person I am. It is literally everything.” – Tyler Adkison
He grew up in Southern California with two younger brothers and a huge desire to play baseball. Focusing on school and baseball from the age of 5 he eventually found himself playing for Hall of Fame Outfielder Tony Gwynn at San Diego State University.
With only one year of playing Division 1 baseball under his belt, a horrific injury during an intrasquad game set him back a year in the process of reaching his professional dreams. Ady, as he likes to put it, “doubled down” on business classes, rebuilt his body from losing 20+ pounds and focused on schoolwork despite a wired jaw and extreme fatigue from painkillers. He rose above it all. Tyler returned to his teammates to finish off an incredible collegiate career that included accolades as an Academic All-American and nominee for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award given to the best college baseball player in the nation.
He negotiated his own contract and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 32nd round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft. After hitting .300 in his rookie campaign he did what a lot of aspiring big leaguers would say was completely crazy. He retired. He stopped the train before it got rolling.
He decided it was more important to him to help athletes rather than be one. Tyler took his signing bonus and started a hedge fund management company with a friend and is on his way to making an impact on the lives of many young professional athletes and helping everyday people manage their finances.
You can connect with Tyler here:
Tyler shares with us in this episode:
- The tragic injury that knocked him down but not out
- Taking risks and reaping rewards
- Following one passion after another
- Choosing to help athletes rather than stay one
- And much, much more!
How we met:
I was allowed the opportunity to coach Tyler as a Senior at Mater Dei High School in Orange County, CA the Fall before he graduated. He was a member of the 2012 Oakland Athletics Scout Team that I managed between 2008-2013.
I remember I liked him from the first time I saw him go about his business. He was a quiet young player with a lot of determination to stand out in a pool of talented collegiate and professional prospects. He embodied what every coach wants out of his players.
He had the ability, the aptitude, and the attitude to make adjustments when needed and correct mechanical flaws quickly.
I especially liked his hustle and his willingness to ask for help. He seemed comfortable in uncomfortable situations. I was shocked to hear that not one college coach had him on their radar as he approached his senior year.
As you will hear in this episode that remained the case until the last minute of his Senior year summer when his life changed and his hard work paid off. Tyler is a great story and one I am proud to say I got to witness the beginning of.
He is a true example of how never giving up and doubling down on your strengths can catapult your life to exactly where you want to be.
Enjoy!
Love the Game. Live the Dream