He’s lived by a motto throughout his baseball career. No matter the stopping point through his journey through the minor leagues, it hasn’t shifted.
Tyson Guerrero wants to throw strikes. And throw more strikes. And throw even more strikes.
“Can’t be scared to throw strikes,” Guerrero stated.
No fear has led the W.F. West High School alum to get as close as a professional baseball player can to the MLB.
When the Omaha Storm Chasers — the Triple-AAA affiliate for the Kansas City Royals — open the season on Friday night against the Iowa Cubs in an International League contest, Guerrero will toe the rubber for the opening day start, the first of his career.
After spending a portion of spring training with the Royals, he was reassigned to minor league camp. Shortly after spring, Omaha’s pitching coach Dane Johnson relayed the news.
First pitch was just after 5 p.m. local time, past the print edition deadline.
“To be told I’ll be the starter on opening day really made me happy,” Guerrero stated.
It won’t be the southpaw’s first experience in AAA.
He got a late-season callup to the Storm Chasers in August and started five games, but struggled with an 8.71 earned run average. Opponents hit .293 against him, the second-highest of his career with at least three starts.
Still, it didn’t deter his confidence.
“Getting used to the new rules and the hitters are different,” Guerrero said. “That being said, I'm glad I got the experience.”
From his first Player of the Week honors in High-A Quad Cities to having an ERA at 3.69 with Double-AA Northwest Arkansas over the course of 22 starts last summer, the steady improvement from Guerrero has been noticed by the Royals.
Now entering his fifth year of pro ball after graduating from Washington State, he’s had an in-season callup three times.
Could it happen again?
If Guerrero makes the Royals roster, he’d have to be added to the 40-man. When he was drafted in the 12th round, he wasn’t viewed as a potential top-30 team prospect.
Per MLB.com, he was rated as the 27th best prospect in the farm system near the end of the season. He begins 2025 up three spots to No. 24 in the system.
“I don’t feel pressure or I don’t get nervous and that’s why I’m good,” Guerrero said. “If it happens, it happens. The only thing I can control is myself. Let the rest (take) its course.”
Wins on the mound haven’t come easy, just eight in his minor league career, but the top priority has been the strikeouts.
Guerrero amassed 109 strikeouts for the Naturals last season, the most in a single season with the same team. He also walked just 43 batters. Mechanic improvements allowed him to cut down the walks over a couple-start stretch.
Yet the one thing he’s continually added is confidence.
“If you have that, you can do anything. If you don’t have that, you're in trouble,” Guerrero said.
This offseason was a busy one for Guerrero.
He got married to longtime girlfriend and current Rochester High School softball coach Joni Lancaster. He played catch with his dad in Chehalis and called it his “best” offseason in terms of training and preparation.
“I need to have a quick start,” Guerrero stated.
He made sure to give his new wife her flowers, too.
“A lot of people couldn't do it like she does. I wouldn’t be where I'm at in my career without her,” Guerrero said. “There’s times where I didn't think I’d be able to do it, the coach came out of her. I am where I am today because of her as well as other people.”
The journey to Kansas City started on Friday. From one of the best pitchers to come through W.F. West to be one stop away from The Show, Guerrero doesn’t take it for granted.
He got to spend time in spring training watching and observing the longtime big-leaguers like Salvador Perez, Michael Wacha and others.
Now, the top goal is to be alongside them.
“Hoping to be in the locker room with them someday,” Guerrero said. “My goal is to go out there, throw strikes, don’t walk (anybody). I’ll hopefully get a call-up.”
