ASU baseball sophomore Tyler Meyer may have established himself as one of the most lethal pitchers in the Pac-12, an achievement the pitcher credits to his Christian faith.
"I attribute all my success to him (God) and how he takes care of me and his blessing in my life," Meyer said. "My relationship with Christ is huge."
Even though he grew up in a religious household and attended Big Valley Christian School from kindergarten through high school, Meyer said his life changed in middle school. He had teachers who mentored him through the Bible and helped him turn another page in his faith.
"It just flipped a switch for me at that point and I became my own, not my parents' or my family's," Meyer said. "At that point, I knew that's what I wanted to pursue."
Growing up in Riverbank, California, Meyer played multiple sports. In high school, he played soccer, basketball, football and baseball, but baseball was always his passion.
Meyer became senior class president and valedictorian and was a two-time league MVP for his dominance on the mount and behind the plate.
"Being excellent in every aspect of my life is so important, just doing my absolute best in everything I'm presented with," Meyer said. "I'm throwing away what I've been given if I'm not doing my best in everything."
Despite his athletic and academic achievements, Meyer did not get many looks from college teams that attracted him. He wanted to go to a place where he could play right away.
Meyer found a spot at California State University, Stanislaus where he pitched and played in the outfield.
Meyer went 2-2 in six games for the Warriors in 2020 but did not play in 2021 after the season was canceled due to COVID-19. During that time, he focused on his pitching craft and joined the Duluth Huskies in Minnesota, part of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball team.
"COVID helped me in a lot of ways," Meyer said. "I became the pitcher that I was capable of becoming."
Meyer received a call from head coach Willie Bloomquist over the summer, who asked him if he wanted to be a part of a new era of Sun Devil baseball.
All Bloomquist saw was a video replay of Meyer's change-up and was sold on the pitcher's potential.
"Not a lot of guys have a refined change-up like he does," Bloomquist said.
But even Bloomquist didn't expect this type of hot start from Meyer.
"To have this success that he's had, I was hoping for that, but to be as good as he's been? I wasn't anticipating him to be this good," Bloomquist said.
Meyer's hot start as a Sun Devil has made him one of the most lethal pitchers in Pac-12 after holding No. 6 Oregon State to one run and four hits in seven innings while striking out nine Beavers.
So far, Meyer has posted a 4.10 ERA with 29 strikeouts through five starts. Allowing six runs through two innings versus San Francisco inflated his ERA, however, pitching coach Sam Peraza took the blame for overusing his starter.
In his four other starts, including No. 9 Oklahoma State, Meyer has a 2.12 ERA, allowing only five runs through 21.2 innings.
After ASU, Meyer hopes to pitch at the next level. Peraza said Meyer could be ASU's ace next year and will get his chance in the MLB.
"If he's able to solidify himself as a starter and a Friday guy at ASU, the sky's the limit for him," Peraza said. "He'll get an opportunity to pitch at the next level. 100%."
And if Meyer continues on this path, he'll no doubt get there. But no matter what happens, his faith won't falter.
"Apart from baseball, apart from academics, that's what gets me through the days. Just the fact that he's there and I know that he loves me and cares for me like no one on this Earth does, there's really no greater comfort," Meyer said.
Reach the reporter at dstipano@asu.edu and follow @dstipanovichh on Twitter.
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