Tyler Olfert has seen a lot of Western Canada while chasing his baseball dreams.
The Swift Current native has managed to play in all three western-most provinces during his journey to playing college baseball.
After moving to Alberta, where he suited up with the Calgary Bisons and Bucks programs in high school, the catcher/first baseman made the move to Vancouver Island University.
Now in his third season, Olfert has become a much bigger piece of the offensive charge for the Mariners, setting personal bests in most categories already, including hits (nine), runs scored (three), runs batted in (eight) and walks (10).
The team is also in the thick of the Canadian College Baseball Conference playoff push as well with just three weeks remaining, sitting with a 9-15 record, just two games back of a spot in the dance.
We recently caught up with the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Olfert to chat about the season so far and the opportunity to come back home to play for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Swift Current 57s for five games as an affiliate player in 2024.
1. Numbers aside, how are you feeling about your season so far?
We haven’t gotten off to the start we were wanting to, so it has been a little disappointing but we’re looking to turn that around in the second half and play up to expectations. I’ve enjoyed the first half and looking to build off the success I have had and improve where I need to be better.
2. Heading into the year, did you have any goals or expectations of yourself?
Not really anything too specific personally numbers wise, mostly just to stick to my approach and not worry about the outcomes, mainly just wanted to focus on filling my role as best I can to help the team win and contribute to the ultimate goal of winning a championship.
3. How are the vibes in the clubhouse heading into the final month of the season?
The vibes are good. Even though we haven’t gotten off to the start we wanted to we are still optimistic for the second half knowing we are a better team than what we have showed so far
4. What would it mean to you to win a CCBC championship?
It would be amazing to win a championship. We have a lot of seniors this year and it would be unreal to go out and win one for them in their last year. Along with just being an unreal experience, that’s the ultimate goal we are working towards and seeing it come together would be amazing.
5. How does a guy from Swift Current get into baseball in the first place?
I got into baseball pretty young, with not a lot of stuff to do in Swift you play a lot of sports as a kid, and seeing the (then) Indians play and going to those games as a kid made me want to keep playing baseball and made me realize how fun of a game it is. So it ended up being the one that I stuck with.
6. You played for the 57s in 2024. What did that mean to you to get to play in front of family and friends at that level?
Being a young guy with limited playing time, just being part of that group was an unreal experience I’ll never forget. Being able to be apart of the team you grew up watching, and competing with them it was amazing to play for them in front of friends and family.
7. Any advice for those young kids just starting out on their baseball journeys wanting to get to where you’re at now?
I would tell them to just keep grinding and working hard, all you can control is your effort level and it is a privilege to get to play this game, so to give it your all everytime you go out and play is an important piece I would give.
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