CARY, NC – In the ever-evolving world of baseball, the emergence of young talent across the country creates a wave of excitement. For Tyler Early, a 12-year-old outfielder and left-handed pitcher, that wave is becoming a powerful force. His rapid rise through the ranks has captivated fans and talent scouts alike, making him one of the more recognizable faces and most promising young stars competing as a member of USA Baseball.

Early’s debut with USA Baseball, which he made with the U12 national team for both the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U12 Baseball World Championship qualifiers and the World Championship in 2023, was nothing short of incredible. Despite competing on the international stage at a young age, the two-way player quickly proved he belonged.

At the World Cup Qualifier, Early started all nine games for the Stars and Stripes, posting a .500 batting average with six home runs and 13 RBIs. In his 6.2 innings on the mound, he finished second on the team with 11 strikeouts, leading the U.S. to a gold medal.

Early’s dominance continued in 2023, when the 12U National Team traveled to Tainan, Taiwan, where he and the team eventually won another gold medal at the World Championship. Early took the tournament lead as he boasted a .381 batting average with 12 RBIs. He also amassed a 2-0 record and a 2.08 ERA on the mound, which was good enough to earn him Tournament MVP and All-World Outfielder honors.

“It was fun to win two gold medals with my team. It was really a great experience. I’m glad I made the team. It made us fight even harder because we knew all the other teams in the tournament didn’t want us to win. We were able to compete and represent our country. I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love and pursue my dream.”

Early’s performances with the 12U national team earned him the 2023 Richard W. “Dick” Case Award, an annual award that recognizes USA Baseball’s top player of the year while honoring the memory of the organization’s founding executive director/CEO. The selection was uncharted territory for USA Baseball, as it was the first time in the organization’s history that two players were selected for the honor, as Trea Turner of the Phillies was also named Player of the Year along with Early.

“It was an incredible experience. At first I didn’t know if I would be selected for the award because I felt like I could have played better in some games. I think I’m hard on myself sometimes and think that maybe others have noticed something in my game that I’m not aware of. Still, it was really an honor to win the award.”

Some may think that all the attention and noise at such a young age would hinder Early’s development in baseball, but he doesn’t let that get him down. For him, baseball is an opportunity to prove himself and silence all the critics.

“I just try to play my brand of baseball. I know I can’t play every position on the field at the same time, but I can play the way I know how and do my job to help my team win. Every time I step on the field, I feel like baseball gives me an escape from all the noise.”

Although Early has already won gold for the United States twice, he believes he still has more gas left in the tank. The process of representing the Stars and Stripes again begins this week at the 13U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup, where Early can potentially earn a spot on the 2025 13U/14U Athlete Development Program squad.

“It’s a wonderful thing to play for your country. To have the chance to step out on the field and show yourself is special. That’s what baseball is all about. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to compete against some of the best competitors from around the country, so it would be a blessing to represent my country again.”

Early and the 13U South Stars opened play at the NTIS Champions Cup on Thursday, where his team earned a commanding 12-4 victory over the Northeast Stripes in the first round of the group stage. Now Early will turn his attention to the second round of the group stage against the Southwest Stars, where he has a chance to lead the South Stars to a gold medal.

“I’m ready to go out there and compete. Every time I step on the field I want to win and I know this week is going to be a good test because there are a lot of really good players out here. I’m ready.”