Upper Perk alum Mayza balances school, big league duties to earn degree from Millersville
MILLERSVILLE, PA. >> From Fenway Park to Wrigley Field, Tim Mayza spent the summer of 2018 firing 94 mile per hour fastballs at Major League Baseball hitters while pitching in some of the most hallowed venues in sports. He flew on chartered flights and shared dugouts with All-Stars while facing future Hall of Famers.
This past Saturday, Mayza, a 2010 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School, walked across the stage in Pucillo Gymnasium and received a diploma from Millersville University.
Only an estimated 3.9 percent of Major League Baseball players have earned a bachelor’s degree. Mayza is now a part of that club after graduating in multidisciplinary studies with a concentration in sports business more than four years after he signed his first professional contract 60 credits short of that degree.
“I wanted to complete what I started,” said Mayza. “I went to Millersville for three years and put a lot of work into getting my degree. To come that far and not finish really wasn’t an option in my mind.”
Mayza is the first student from Upper Perkiomen to go on to play in the Major Leagues. During his time with the Tribe, Mayza was a three-time All-Pioneer Athletic Conference and All-Area selection. He tossed a no-hitter as a sophomore and posted a 5-4 record with a 2.73 earned-run average as a junior.
Now a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Mayza pitched for the Millersville Marauders from 2011 to 2013. The Blue Jays drafted him in the 12th round of the MLB Amateur Draft following a junior season in which he went 11-3 with a 1.55 ERA. Mayza spent the next four full seasons in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut on Aug. 15, 2017 against the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2018, Mayza became a fixture in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, making 37 appearances while posting a 2-0 record and 3.28 ERA over 35 2/3 innings pitched. He ranked among the team’s best in strikeouts per nine, and closed the season by not allowing a run in 18 consecutive appearances.
His finish to the 2018 season may have cemented Mayza’s spot in the 2019 bullpen. At 26 years old, a lengthy professional career for Mayza is a real possibility. Mayza, however, still has a plan for after baseball.
“Tim has always had two goals: play in the big leagues, and to work in education as an administrator,” said Millersville head baseball coach Jon Shehan. “I remember him talking to scouts about how serious he was regarding his education. He does an awesome job of focusing on the present, yet keeping an eye on his long term future. Baseball will not be there forever, and he knows it.”
“I wanted to use getting my degree and the course work as an outlet to take my mind away from the game at times, but I also wanted to make sure I was as prepared as I could be for life after baseball and set myself up for an occupation following my baseball career,” said Mayza.
Completing those 60 remaining credits was a challenge, though. Opportunities to return to campus were scarce as his season stretched from February to late September. Mayza received guidance from the Millersville faculty and relied on online classes.
“The most difficult part was putting a plan into action and creating a guideline of what classes to take and in what order to take them,” said Mayza. “The online classes made it easier to balance everything. During the offseason I could come from workouts and do class work or any assignments that needed to be completed. While I was in-season I would wake up in the mornings and complete the necessary course work for that day prior to going to do the field. Setting a schedule and sticking to it was key to being able to complete my classes during baseball.”
“It was challenging for him to manage the baseball season when it overlapped with the fall semester, but a few members of the faculty helped him to map out a way for him to graduate,” said Shehan. “The faculty were extremely supportive.”
Even with a plan, his career and his coursework often clashed. On the day of his Major League Baseball debut — the day his lifelong dream was fulfilled — Mayza still managed to complete an online exam.
Working ahead and managing his time was key. Rain delays and late nights at the park often cut into his routine of morning class work. But those long, minor league bus rides provided ideal quiet time for Mayza to write essays and study.
“I just figured that instead of sleeping or playing video games, why not work toward something,” he said.
Mayza made an impact at Millersville as a pitcher and continues to do so five years later.
“He sets a wonderful example for our guys currently in our program, for our guys who are in pro ball, for our guys who aspire to play professionally,” said Shehan. “He is successful for a reason. Our guys see him in the weight room with them at 5:30 a.m., they see him on TV, and they’ve heard him talk about his classes and internship. When a big leaguer takes his education seriously, it gives our current guys perspective and motivation.”
Mayza pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies — his childhood team. He was cheered by thousands at the iconic Rogers Centre in Toronto. He visited cities in one summer that most will never visit in a lifetime. And yes, he received a paycheck as a Major League Baseball player. Yet for Mayza, graduating from Millersville University was just as rewarding.
“The feeling of accomplishment you get when walking across that stage to receive your degree is something nobody will ever be able to take away from you,” said Mayza.
“Our goal is to have every single one of our guys graduate — professional players or not,” said Shehan. “Tim found a way, and we are really proud of him.”