Opportunity Comes Knocking For Veteran Tyler Payne
With eight seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization behind him, catcher Tyler Payne wasn’t sure what was next. Unsigned heading into the 2023 season, Payne was working out, honing his craft in hopes of another opportunity. For a moment, he thought his professional baseball career might be over. His career
With eight seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization behind him, catcher Tyler Payne wasn’t sure what was next. Unsigned heading into the 2023 season, Payne was working out, honing his craft in hopes of another opportunity.
For a moment, he thought his professional baseball career might be over. His career spanned over 300 games at that point, including one game at the highest level.
On the final day of the 2021 season, Payne was promoted to the Cubs and made his MLB debut at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals. To date, that has been his only Major League appearance.
This June, the Los Angeles Angels came calling, signing the 30-year-old veteran to a minor league contract and assigning him to the Trash Pandas.
The oldest player on the Rocket City roster, Payne has provided a steady presence behind the plate and a leader in the clubhouse. Recently, Payne sat down to talk about playing at Toyota Field as a visitor in 2021, his MLB debut, adjusting to a veteran role on the Trash Pandas, and much more.
Q: You played in one Major League game for the Cubs. What did it mean to get that experience of reaching the show, even if it wasn’t as long of a stint as you wanted?
A: Still to this day, I get chills thinking about it. It was the greatest day ever to be able to play at Busch Stadium. To wear the Cubs uniform is an awesome experience and one I’ll never forget. To get that call is something you’ve always dreamed about as a little kid. For it to come to fruition is indescribable.
Q: How motivating is getting a taste of Major League life as you look to get back there?
A: Anybody can vouch and say that once you’re there, you want to stay there. The big leagues are where everybody wants to be. That’s what every guy that we play with and against wants to do now and I’m still trying to do that every day.
Q: You played for the Tennessee Smokies during the first series at Toyota Field and homered in the first game at this ballpark on May 11, 2021. What do you remember about that week?
A: I remember coming into the park and being really wowed by the surroundings and how nice the field was. Even as an opponent, I was excited to get out here and play. The last few innings of a game here in Rocket City were crazy.
Q: What were you doing when the Angels called and how did that moment feel?
A: It was a tough pill to swallow to move on from the Cubs. I thought that life was going to move on but there’s always the hope out there that someone would need a catcher, or someone like me. Getting a call from the Angels was truly a blessing. At the time, I was working out of a facility, getting swings, catching bullpens, and doing any kind of baseball activity I could.
Q: What was it like once you took the field for the Trash Pandas?
A: It’s a nice feeling when the crowd is rooting for you. With the facility being so nice and everything the players just welcomed me right in. I’m thankful to be here right now.
Q: As an older catcher, you have been working often with young catcher Edgar Quero. What is your first impression of playing with him?
A: It’s been fun. We go out and do our jobs well. We work with one another, talk about pitch calling, talk about throwing the ball to the bases and talking about our approaches at the plate. He’s a really good player with a very bright future.
Q: How would you describe your role on the current Rocket City team?
A: I’m always ready to do whatever the team needs me to do to help win a game. That’s what I’m here for. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing as long as how you’re playing. It’s a fun role.
Q: During the last homestand, you were behind the plate when the Trash Pandas gave up a Southern League record 29 runs. Then the next night you hit the walk-off single to beat Chattanooga. How did it feel to be the hero after the tough loss the day before?
A: That’s baseball. The walk-off hit was nice redemption after the other game. One of my favorite sayings of all-time is sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it rains. We happened to be on the tough end of the stick in one game, but we got it back the next night.
THIRD STRAIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT WALKOFF!!!!!!!!
— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) July 8, 2023
TYLER PAYNE SENDS US HOME IN THE 9TH!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/7NjzUZxJbd
Q: How do you keep a level head through those ups and downs?
A: It comes with experience. You mature over time. There are so many variables in this game that you need to understand. You need to be able to control the variables, which is just staying even keeled, not getting too high when things are going well or getting to low when things are going bad.
Q: If you weren’t playing baseball right now, what do you think you’d be doing?
A: I got my degree in chemistry out of college. I always wanted to go to pharmacy school. SO maybe pharmacy school. But my heart is always in baseball, so I’d probably be a baseball coach right now.