Brad Tyler enters his third season with Kennesaw State baseball in 2025 after spending over 20 years as a professional scout. Tyler works with the outfielders and hitters while playing a role in the Owls' recruiting process.
In year two, Tyler compiled an above .300 average for three Owl hitters (Eidson, Hassan, Cole and Bouton). Three of those four also earned All-Atlantic Sun Conference awards. Tyler and the Owls offense helped secure a marquee win versus No. 10 and eventual ACC Atlantic Division Champion Clemson, 18-1. It also marked the Owls' highest-ranked win since Mar. 3, 2021 and the highest-ranked road win in KSU's DI history (since 2006). Five of the Owls typical starting nine slashed for a career high in batting average during the '23 campaign.
KSU baseball continues to ascend nationally as the 2024 off season provided several accolades for the program. D1Baseball ranked the Owls the 85th best program in the country, cracking the organizations "Top 100". Perfect Game also highlighted the Owls as they landed three players in the top 500 prospects incoming D-I prospects. PG ranked the Owls as the 44th best recruiting class in the nation, besting three in-state programs (Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Mercer) and marking the best class in CUSA.
In his first year with the team, Tyler mentored Spencer Hanson and Jamarie Brooks to all-ASUN postseason accolades. Hanson put together an impressive year as the designated hitter led the Owls in batting average (.369), home runs (15) and RBI (55). Brooks was an all-Freshman selection as the outfielder finished the year with a .300 batting average with nine extra-base hits.
Prior to Kennesaw State, Tyler spent the 2022 season as an Area Supervisor for the Miami Marlins. During his tenure, he signed 16th rounder Brett Roberts out of Florida State University and 20th rounder Jack Gowen from the University of Georgia.
Tyler also served 13 years as a scout for the Cleveland Indians from 2008-2021 and was responsible for signing first-rounder Clint Frazier with the 5th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. Tyler was also instrumental in several other signings that would eventually make it to the big leagues including Nolan Jones, Will Benson, James Karinchak, Aaron Civale and Tyler Holt.
Before working in professional baseball, Tyler served as the lead infield/hitting instructor for Roundtripper Baseball Academy from 2003-2006. In his time with Roundtripper, Tyler instructed three players who made it to the MLB including Tucker Barnhardt, Lance Lynn, and Drew Storen.
During his collegiate career, Tyler attended the University of Evansville from 1988-1990 where he was drafted in the 6th round by the Baltimore Orioles. He was a three-time Midwest League All-Conference selection. Tyler was also teammates with Andy Benes who was drafted #1 overall by the San Diego Padres in 1988.
After being drafted, Tyler went on to play six years with the Orioles reaching AAA in 1994. For the next seven years, he played for the Atlanta Braves, Oakland A's, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Dodgers, all in AAA. Tyler retired in 2002 after a 13-year career.
Tyler graduated from Indiana Wesleyan in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Management. He married the former Kimberly Edwards in 1998. The couple have two children, Morgan and Trace.
"To join such a great team of coaches and a program with a rich history of turning out winning seasons and Major league players is an opportunity I could not pass up," said Tyler. "I leave behind 28 years of professional baseball experience but to get back on the field again and impact the lives of young men is very exciting."
