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30 | August 10, 2017 | The lake forest leader sports LakeForestLeader.com Lake Bluff native drafted by Red Sox Esplin picked 221st overall Erin Redmond, Sports Editor Most freshmen in high school don’t know what they want to do next week, let alone for the rest of their lives. But Tyler Esplin did. As a freshman, the Lake Bluff native had major plans for his future — Major League Baseball plans, that is — and he was going to do whatever it took to get there. Esplin’s hard work, drive and determination paid off as he was picked in the seventh round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox. “[I was feeling] a thousand different emotions,” he said. “Leading up to it, I was nervous just watching everyone’s name go by and just waiting for yours is probably the worst thing to do, the worst experience. Hearing my name called was awesome. It was just a dream come true. I was with my mom and dad, sitting in the basement, watching the show and it was awesome.” Esplin’s road to getting drafted by the Red Sox was anything but ordinary. As a freshman, he was exposed to IMG Academy, a boarding school in Bradenton, Fla. which focuses on developing studentathletes through instruction from top coaches in a variety of sports. Instantly, he was asking his parents to send him there, but was met with a resounding “no way.” After a couple years of pleading with his parents, Lake Bluff native Tyler Esplin bats for the Gulf League Coast Red Sox, the Rookie League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Esplin was picked by Boston in the seventh round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. Photo submitted Danny and Kristen Esplin, Tyler finally convinced them to let him attend the school for his junior and senior years. And while it was one of the toughest decisions they’ve ever had to make, Danny said it was arguably the best one, too. “It was a really big decision. Kristen, my wife, and I talk about it all the time. I think it was one of the best decisions we ever made for him and we all made it as a family,” Danny said. “... Junior year, he showed the passion he always had and the commitment and he was advancing, I think, as a player. Sending him away was not the easiest, especially for Kris, but he definitely got our support from Day 1. It was an amazing opportunity for him and to his credit, he put the effort into that.” The sacrifice of being away from his family and going through a round-theclock schedule of baseball and schoolwork certainly paid off for the 6-foot- 3, 230-pound outfielder. Though he was drafted by Boston, he remains in Florida, playing for the organization’s Rookie League team, the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, in Fort Myers, Fla. As of press time, Tyler had played in 10 games for the GCL Red Sox, racking up 11 hits — including a home run — 10 runs and five RBI. But even with his early success, he said there is still room for improvement. “[The game is] a lot faster; there’s no room for error,” Tyler said. “They definitely treat you like you’re adult now. It was weird going from being a high school kid to two weeks later being an adult on the professional level. “Defensively, [I want to improve] just reading balls in the outfield and working on my speed, hitting baseballs and everything. Obviously I’m good enough to get to where I am, but there’s never room to stop.” Tyler has consistently excelled at the game since first picking up a bat as a 5-year-old. His talent comes as little surprise given Danny, too, excelled at the sport in his youth. The elder Esplin played for Lake Forest High School and earned the opportunity to play five years — he was redshirted one season due to injury — at Southern Illinois University. And though Danny loved baseball, he said he never pushed Tyler into it. Instead, his son naturally gravitated towards it. “He always, I felt, had a passion for baseball,” Danny said. “I was never a parent that pushed. He always asked ‘let’s go hit, let’s go throw. Can we do this? Can we do that?’ ... It was something that came natural to him. He loved it from Day 1; it was easy. I did what I think any other dad would do for his son who loved the sport [and] just made myself available, whether it was playing catch, throwing, hitting in the cage or whatever.” The Esplins have sacrificed a lot to help Tyler reach this point, but Danny said it was all worth it to see him realize his dreams. And for Tyler, the sky is the limit. He said he can’t wait to see just how far he can take this opportunity with the Red Sox. “[My teammates and I] all know we’re here for the same goal, so it’s pretty nice to be surrounded by people that have the same goal as you,” he said. “My goals and dream would be to continue to be moved up [until] I’m playing in the Major League.”
LakeForestLeader.com sports the lake forest leader | August 10, 2017 | 31 1st-and-3 Photo Submitted three stars of the week 1. Tyler Esplin (above) The Lake Bluff native was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Red Sox and was the 221st pick overall. He is currently playing with the organization’s Rookie League affiliate. 2. Melanie Walsh The Lake Forest High School coach retired after 22 years with the Scouts field hockey team. <strong>LF</strong>HS won the state title 10 times during her tenure. 3. Emma Patlovich The recent <strong>LF</strong>HS grad will continue her volleyball career at the University of New Hampshire. Field Hockey Lake Forest coach retires after 22 seasons Scouts won 10 state titles under Walsh’s direction Erin Redmond, Sports Editor When Lake Forest won the Illinois Field Hockey State Championship last season, it marked the end of an era. It was the last time Melanie Walsh would lead the Scouts to the title match. It was the last time she would stand on the sidelines as their head coach. Both she and her team knew that game would be their last together, because after 22 years at the helm, Walsh had decided to pass the torch. “I’m not really old enough to retire, but I’m 44 and I’ve spent the last 22 years coaching — that’s half my life,” the former Scouts coach said. “The main reason for stepping aside this year was my kids. ... The time commitment to the team was so heavy. When you’re trying to balance that with kids, it’s just too hard. I felt like my loyalities had to lie with my family. I have put my heart and my soul and half of my life into the Lake Forest field hockey program, so it was not an easy choice, very bittersweet. ... It was beyond exciting and emotional. It was all the feels.” And her squad gave her one dramatic send off. With less than five minutes remaining in the title game, Lake Forest trailed Listen Up “I have put my heart and soul and half of my life into the Lake Forest field hockey program, so it was not an easy choice, very bittersweet.” Melanie Walsh— Former Lake Forest High School field hockey coach on her decision to retire after 22 years. New Trier 1-0. Senior Gretta Kulby struck twice, giving the Scouts all they needed to win their first state title since 2013, sending the crowd into a frenzy. “For me, it was surreal,” recently graduated Kerry Lawler said. “Since I was on the team since sophomore year, that year — my sophomore year — we actually lost in state in the last five seconds to New Trier. It was really cool to end on top because we worked three years for that. I thought it was really cool for both [me and Walsh] and the whole team to come out with a win because everyone really wanted it so bad. I think since it was the last year, it really helped the Please see HOCKEY, 28 The Scouts won the Illinois Field Hockey State Championship last season, marking the 10th state title under Walsh’s tenure. tune in Girls Volleyball The Scouts look to build on their successful 2016 campaign, starting the season at home. • Aug. 22 hosts Wheeling, 6 p.m. Melanie Walsh (right) and her long-time assistant coach and best friend Julie Chantler Crouch show off their Scout pride. Walsh coached the field hockey team for 22 years. Photos submitted Index 27 - This Week In 27 - Athlete of the Week Fastbreak is compiled by Sports Editor Erin Redmond. Send any questions or comments to e.redmond@22ndcenturymedia.com
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