« Baseball 2017

Tyler Buffett

School
Oklahoma State
Position
Pitcher
Major
Business Management & Marketing

Classroom

Tyler Buffett excels in the classroom, where he carries a 3.144 grade-point average and is set to graduate in May 2017 with degrees in business administration with an option in management as well as marketing while also a minor in sports management.

A three-time Academic All-Big 12 performer, Buffett has also been named to the Oklahoma State Dean’s Honor Roll and is a four-time OSU Academic Achievement Award winner.

Character

A team leader on and off the field, Buffett exemplifies what coaches and teammates look for. Said OSU Head Coach Josh Holliday: “Tyler is incredibly unselfish—a team-first kid, who has grown inside the program mentality-wise to where he is tough enough to handle anything you offer him. The outlook he has is top-shelf. He leads by example, and he’s got tremendous work ethic on and off the field. He shows you that he’s a winner, and no matter what situation you put him in, he’s going to find a way to win. That’s an unbelievably valuable trait for a team to have members like that. When you set out on the recruiting process to find the kind of guy that’s going to help your program be excellent, this is the kind of kid you go look for.”

Buffett showed his dedication to college and the OSU program in 2016. He was a 7th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball Draft but chose to put off professional baseball and return for his senior season. That choice put him in rare company as he was one of only two players selected in the top 10 rounds of the 2016 draft — from a total of 316 players picked — not to sign.

Community

Buffett has volunteered his time and efforts for a number of organizations in his hometown of Albuquerque, where he is involved with children’s clubs and donates goods from his family’s business during the holidays, as well as Stillwater, where he is involved with Coaches vs. Cancer and the local food pantry. He also has volunteered time interacting with patients in children’s hospitals.

Competition

Buffett has been a valuable member of the OSU pitching staff for four seasons, serving the Cowboys as both a starter and reliever during his tenure.

Buffett had a breakout junior season for the Cowboys in 2016, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors and leading OSU to the College World Series for the first time since 1999. In an OSU-record 37 appearances, 31 of those in relief, the junior right-hander went 9-3 with nine saves and a 2.81 ERA, with the nine wins and nine saves marking career highs. A unanimous All-Big 12 First Team pick, he led the Big 12 in appearances and ranked second in saves while also being in the top 10 in wins, ERA and opponent batting average (.229).

Used as the Cowboys’ closer most of the season, Buffett moved to the starting rotation during the NCAA Tournament and was outstanding, going 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in four games, including three starts.

Buffett already ranks in the top 10 on OSU’s all-time list in appearances and was named a 2017 Preseason All-American by several outlets.