NEWS

By Don Leypoldt
 

He and his Massachusetts community pronounce it “HOR-an.”
 
A lot of others pronounce it “Ho-RAN.”
 
Danbury Westerner DH/OF Tyler Horan has been mashing in both pronunciations this summer.  We’ll use some poetic license.  Ho-RAN has been The Man.  As of press time, his 11 homers and .667 slugging percentage led the NECBL while his 34 RBI were tied for the lead.
 
The redshirt lefty freshman from Virginia Tech had a week to remember in late July.  In seven games from July 19th to July 26th, the Middleboro MA native belted four homers and drove in twelve.  Horan took some time out to talk with NECBL.com.
 
NECBL.com: You’re putting up some real nice power numbers but last year in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, you went 16 for 16 in stolen bases.  What were some things you learned to make you a more efficient base stealer?
 
Horan: I always had decent speed for base stealing but a lot of times there are certain pitches in pitch counts when you learn to steal on a curve ball or a ball in the dirt.  Some guys have a longer delivery and when you have a longer delivery your chances of making it to second base are a lot easier than it would be for someone who has a crisp one.  Last year’s coach was a big base stealer so whenever I’d get on, he gave me the steal sign a lot.
 
NECBL.com: What is it like to finally get back to New England? Did you want to come home this summer or did Danbury just happen to be the best baseball fit for you?

Horan: Our coach usually draws up the contract and puts us in the League where he thinks it’s the best fit.  But being closer to home is definitely better.  My parents are able to come to a lot more games and its good to see them.  They were only able to make it to one or two weekends in North Carolina last summer.
 
NECBL.com: During your redshirt season, what did you do to stay fresh?  Did you learn things about baseball because you were forced to take a year off?
 
Horan: We had a big junior and senior class the year I redshirted so I learned a lot from them.  I learned little tricks to notice different pitch counts, good times to steal a base like when no one is paying attention.  That kind of stuff really came together.  Then as part of my redshirt year, whenever the team traveled I would go to the batting cages a lot so I could get my work in.  I wasn’t just sitting around.
 
NECBL.com: What has been working for you this summer?  Did something finally click or is it a case of finally getting your reps in?  Or a little of both?
 
Horan: I think it might be a little bit of both.  The more pitches you see, obviously you’re going to get a little better over time.  I don’t know…it seems like I’ve been seeing the ball a little better.  I changed a little thing in my stance that one of my teammates found out was wrong, or could have used some adjusting.  Since then, I’ve been cutting back on strikeouts. It’s definitely bringing me back to school with a lot of confidence.
 
Tyler Horan’s Favorites:
 
Favorite athlete/ the poster you had on your bedroom wall when you were a kid: “For a while, it was Barry Sanders.   When we grew up, we had season tickets to the Patriots so I’d go to those all of the time.  Barry Sanders was awesome.  Through high school for baseball, my favorite guy was David Ortiz.  During my sophomore and junior year in high school, I only played the field a couple of times so I decided I was the big left-handed DH.  I always looked up to David Ortiz for that.  He was crushing the ball.”
 
Favorite Food: “I love steak tips.”
 
Favorite website: barstoolsports.com
 
Favorite move: Tommy Boy

Favorite artist/singer: “The one I listen to most of the time is probably Eminem.”