Could Hough HS alum Tyler Baird go to the MLB?

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Tyler Baird is right where he thought he’d be when he wrote a letter to himself before high school.

In it, he said he wanted to throw 98 miles per hour, commit to a big-time Division 1 baseball program, and be getting ready for the MLB Draft.

“I hit 98 and I’m ready for the draft,” Baird said, “so it’s kind of one of those cool, surreal moments.”

Baird, a righthanded pitcher at Hough High School, has checked all three items off the list.

Now, he just has to make a choice.

The Major League Baseball Draft is this weekend, and many say Baird could go in the first five rounds. That could mean a signing bonus of over $400,000.

“MLB is the goal obviously so why not get a head start on it now,” he said.

The other option is to play for the SEC powerhouse Vanderbilt University. He’s already on campus; three years with the Commodores could improve his draft stock when he’s eligible again.

“They have a great professional track record for pitchers making the MLB,” Baird said, “and I’m looking to be the next.”

It’s clear that Baird was born for baseball.

“I have little shoes from when I was a baby and they’re baseball-seamed,” he said.

Baird just became a regular Cornelius teenager – except for that 98 mph fastball.

“I just want to be a normal kid, but then once I cross that line, it’s different,t and I’m a massive competitor,” Baird said. “I’m going to beat you, so best of luck.”

This hopeful future big league ace will have a little bit of pressure after the draft.

But he’s built for that.

“When the spotlight gets big. I mean that’s my favorite time of the day so that’s when I love to perform,” he said. “Whatever you are, whatever you do in life, you’ve got to be consistent. So if I just stay on my routine and keep being nice, keep being the person that I am, then I think I’ll achieve that.”

Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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