2015 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) freshman of the year and 2016 All- California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) first team selection, Tyler Place starts at shortstop for the Cal State San Marcos Cougars.  Place has been playing baseball his entire life and has high aspirations to continue his baseball career professionally, once he is finished writing history for the CSUSM baseball team.

How long have you been playing baseball?

I’ve been playing baseball since I could walk; I started with T-ball and have played ever since.  I played little league until I was eleven years old, and then played pony baseball for two years and went back to little league for junior ball.  In sixth grade my little league all-star team was three games away from playing for the state championship.

Where are you from and why did you choose CSUSM?

I’m from Fullerton California and I’ve lived there my entire life. I attended Fullerton High School where I played baseball for two years on varsity and played basketball for three on varsity as a point guard.  I talked to other schools baseball wise, but I wanted to get away and get the college experience. I saw the growth the program was going through and the campus I loved, so I gave it a shot.

Who is your favorite athlete non-baseball and baseball?

I would say Kobe Bryant because he is a competitor, although he’s not a baseball athlete I acknowledge what he does on and off the court.  My favorite baseball athlete would have to be Derek Jeter or Corey Seager because they play the game the right way and they play it with class.

What are your goals this season?

My goal is to do my best every game.  I mean it’s baseball so I will have some games where I’ll have four hits or games where I will have none.  I feel we should win every series, this conference is solid but I feel like every team we are going to play is beatable. And with a new coach I feel like we have a good shot.

How has the arrival of Coach Guiliano transformed this club and how good can this team be?

We are a lot better. We are more disciplined, more aggressive we have a whole new staff and there is a much different feel.  Guiliano is more aggressive and his philosophy, I feel is more at a college level compared to last year.  This team can be very good especially with Coach Guiliano, we have so much potential and I feel like next year we will be even better. It’s just going to take time with this system and this group to get it going but we are off to a great start.

What is your major and why did you choose it?

I’m a Kinesiology major and I want to be a sports physical therapist, if my baseball career doesn’t work out.  I want to stay involved with sports somehow, so I will go to athletic training first and from there go to PT school, but as of right now I’m playing it by ear.

Who is your role model?

I would say both my parents, they’re a huge part of what I do. They’re very supportive of me and both work their tails off, so I feel like they’re the biggest influence in my life.