OSU Outfielder Tyler Graham Joins Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

Salem-News.com Sports

KEIZER - Getting a chance to play close to home after wrapping up a successful college baseball career at Oregon State University has 22 year-old outfield prospect Tyler Graham excited.

After being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 19th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft and then being assigned to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Graham said in an interview recently that he feels lucky to start his professional career in Salem.

"This is a very exciting feeling to get the opportunity to play close to home," said Graham from his host-home in Salem. "It has been fun to play where the fans know you and to get to be in a comfortable atmosphere."

Excitement has been the rule for Graham of late. He made the catch that preserved the victory over the North Carolina Tarheels in Nebraska earlier this summer that gave the Beavers baseball team its first ever college world series championship and the first-ever major sport NCAA championship in school history.

Transferring that excitement to the Volcanoes has not been hard for Graham, but transferring his success on the field and at the plate has been a bit tougher adjustment for the young prospect.

"This is a different game here in pro ball," said Graham. "It has been a frustrating start to the season for me, but I'm very optimistic that things will even out. I'm making the adjustments I need to make.

It has been tough, college ball is different“ it was more emotional. Professional baseball is about the daily grind and being around and facing better players."

Graham said he has been working hard and learning a lot.

"It is a lot of hard work, but you have to keep working at it and keep making the adjustments," said Graham. "You have to be strong mentally to compete at this level."

Volcanoes Owner Jerry Walker is equally excited to have Graham on the team and looks forward to watching him progress to the next level.

"This is a great opportunity for our fans to come and see a kid who contributed in a big way to winning a College World Series championship," said Walker. "This is the kind of player and the kind of young person that is easy to get excited about because he is such a classy kid.

This is a kid who turned down a chance to make big money so that he could come back to school and have an opportunity to be part of something special at OSU. You can't ask for character like that and we feel fortunate to have Tyler join our family."

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