Big leagues always in the Cards
O’Neill’s ‘unique talent’ praised as friends, family flock to St. Louis for Maple Ridge slugger’s home debut
Dave Nielsen believed that Tyler O’Neill was a “unique talent” when he coached him in Ridge Meadows minor baseball more than a decade ago. He pledged then he would do whatever it took to be in attendance if O’Neill made it to the big leagues. Nielsen didn’t disappoint.
He and wife Lana were enjoying a vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, when word came that O’Neill, the hulking slugger from Maple Ridge, was called up last week by the St. Louis Cardinals. But they still wound up being part of the welcoming party of family and friends for the outfielder’s first home game with the Cards Friday at Busch Stadium.
Nielsen was one of O’Neill’s coaches in mosquito (ages 9-11), peewee (1213) and bantam (14-15), according to Terry O’Neill, the outfielder’s father.
“He always knew Ty was special and vowed that whenever and wherever Tyler got the call (to the majors), he would drop what he was doing and be there. He certainly lived up to his promise,” Terry said via text message Saturday morning before a Cards game against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals promoted Tyler, 22, from their Memphis Redbirds Triple-A affiliate Thursday and he made his major-league debut that afternoon against the Cubs at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, striking out against Jon Lester in a pinch-hitting effort.
St. Louis opened a three-game set Friday against the Reds at Busch Stadium and family and friends caught up with O’Neill there. He did not play, but Terry said “the whole day was an event.”
The O’Neill cheering contingent, which also included mom Marilyn, sister Ashley and girlfriend Stephanie Beck, got to watch batting practice from the field.
They took photos after with Tyler and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny came over to greet them.
“Mike Matheny is a class act. He didn’t have to do that,” Terry said.
“He has several thought processes going on in the pre-game. But he extended himself to us to wish Tyler good luck during this journey.
“To see Tyler wearing a Cardinals home jersey and taking BP thrown by Matheny definitely had our attention. He has reached that level now, but, as the adage goes, it’s difficult to make the bigs and even more difficult to stay there.
“We have no expectations. More importantly, neither does Tyler. It’s a matter of opportunity with variables like injuries affecting roster inclusion.
“It has been an epic experience already as it is for all families when their son or daughter plays their first game at the highest level in any sport.”
Terry also said Tyler told him the first at-bat against Lester “was a blur.” Terry added there were Cardinal fans in the first few rows at Wrigley Field who wished Tyler well and Cubs catcher Willson Contreras congratulated him on his debut upon coming up to the plate.
Terry was quick to praise Nielsen, as well as the likes of Doug Mathieson and Jamie Bodaly, who coached Tyler when he was with the B.C. Premier League powerhouse Langley Blaze and taught him to “push harder and expect more of yourself … they have been very important in his development.”
Terry is no stranger to high-end competition. He was a bodybuilder and earned Mr. Canada status in the 1970s. Much has been made of Tyler’s powerful build and the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder credits his dad with his weight-room regimen.
It’s readily apparent he’s passed along some other things as well.
“The sooner you can leave your last pop-up or strikeout behind you and be in attack mode, the more likely you will succeed. Tyler lives this mentally strong approach,” Terry said. “They say there are five tools in baseball (ability to hit for power, ability to hit for average, arm strength, fielding ability and running speed), but to me the most important tool is never on the list: Mental toughness.”
O’Neill was a third-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2013. He was traded to the Cardinals last summer. In 467 minor-league games, he has hit .271 with 107 homers and 357 runs batted in. Through 12 games with Memphis this season, he was hitting .388 with six homers and 18 RBIs.
He became the sixth Canadian currently on a major-league roster when he was promoted — and the third from B.C., following Ladner left-hander James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners and Victoria righthander Nick Pivetta of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He wasn’t in the Cardinals’ starting lineup Saturday, though he made out in a pinch-hit appearance.