Home Run Derby Is Major Highlight in Tyler Beck's Career

From playing at Progressive Field with the Shoremen, to being named Lorain County baseball player of the year, to an All-State status, and a scholarship to play at Ohio University where he will be heading this fall, Tyler Beck's baseball career has seen a lot of milestones.

They may pale in comparison to what he got to do on Tuesday night, when he got to don a Frontier League All-Star uniform and catch the home run derby at .

"No doubt," Beck said. "It was awesome and I was lucky to know people to get that opportunity. It was just incredible, to be able to talk to those guys and have fun. For most of them it was their first experience of an All-Star game, and for me to get the opportunity to catch on that field while fans were watching, was awesome."

While Beck wasn't part of the team, as it is a paid league and he is on college scholarship to play ball, the Lake Erie Crushers staff made him feel like he was part of the festivities.

 "They do a really good job of making you feel like you are a part of the team," Beck said. " I got to go out there and sign autographs just like they do, and it gives me an opportunity to know what it is like hopefully, if I get that far."

Windy City’s Devin Shepherd was the winner of the homerun derby, beating Gateway’s Logan Parker in the finals 1-0. He won a $1,000 check for his efforts, which included 20 monster shots in the first two rounds.

"It's a really big park and it’s a hard stadium to go out there and hit homeruns in," Beck said. " It was impressive to see those guys go out there, especially those who were taking their normal swing and putting them out on the line instead of lofting them over. It's something to work towards, especially after watching them."

Beck didn't catch for Shepherd, but was behind the plate for Parker.

"I was listening to what they were telling me, whether to bring the pitch up or bring it down a bit and told them I would put my glove where you want it and they will hit the spot," Beck said. "They are trying to get on a roll and get in a groove and get their pitches down so squatting there as The 2011 Shoreman graduate was asked by the Crushers to be back in uniform for the All-Star game on Wednesday, but was lacing up his shoes for something more important, a shot at a World Series Championship with the Northcoast Vipers, a team that includes many of Northeast Ohio's top high school players in Youngstown.

"I wanted to do the All-Star game so bad,  but we have a chance to go undefeated," Beck said. "I missed the first night to catch these players, but it’s a big tournament, one of the best in the state and right now we are hot. Its also a big thing as there are a lot of pro and college scouts there.”