After being scouted by the Prospect Development Pipeline and getting a full ride athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas, senior Tyson Lewis was awarded the opportunity to go to San Diego to participate in the Area Code games; an invite only event that selects the best 200 players in the country play against each other in front of professional scouts.
Going into his junior year, Tyson Lewis made the switch from Yutan High School to Millard West for its baseball program. After transferring, Tyson Lewis was given the opportunity to play Class A baseball, earn State Runner Up at the championship against Lincoln East and get seen by more scouts. Following many conversations and being recruited by the PDP, Tyson Lewis was offered a spot at the Area Code games and a spot on the USA Baseball team.
“Getting to play for USA baseball was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Tyson Lewis said. “They have some incredible coaches that taught me a lot and got me seeing a lot more. After getting a spot on the national team, I was later offered a spot on an Area Code team.”
Out of the top 200 athletes in the country, Tyson Lewis was chosen to play for Area Codes. Senior Jackson Williams was another student from Millard West chosen to play in California. Williams was invited to tryouts in Lawrence, Kansas, after a White Sox scout saw him pitch against Millard South and Elkhorn South.
“Each day when we arrived at the fields we had a meeting of some sort, warmed up, and then got to play the games,” Williams said. “There were eight teams all 200 of us were divided into that were split up by regions of the US.”
Trying out for Area Code baseball is by invitation only. The invitations are sent to players based on recommendations from all 30 Major League teams. Going to play in California in an event like this contests how much of a future the boys will have, along with varsity baseball coach Steven Frey.
“Tyson is very talented in everything he does,” Frey said. “He is a great, all around athlete and he has a chance to play well beyond high school baseball. If Tyson stays on the path he is now and keeps developing, I expect to see him in a higher level and in the pro leagues.”
Being 17 and a senior in high school, Tyson Lewis is already expected to be in the first round draft of the MLB. There are many different rankings being shared but as of August 2023, Tyson Lewis was seen at the highest spot of 20th overall as a high school prospect. Putting him at about four million dollars. The draft won’t be held until July of 2024 so rankings aren’t being taken too seriously as they will continue to change.
“Tyson decided at a young age that he wanted to be a baseball player,” Tyson Lewis’s dad Peyton Lewis said. “Ever since he made that decision he has just been putting in a lot of hours trying to get better and I think it is starting to pay off for him. In terms of what he has accomplished, I think he had a pretty good summer but I know he isn’t satisfied yet and wants to keep getting better.”
After a great first year at Millard West, Tyson Lewis earned not only a spot on a Class A team but is being recognized nationally. With a .460 batting average and an on base percentage of .528, we expect to see Tyson Lewis on the big screens one day.
