Big League Dreams Guide Cranberry’s Cyphert

Ron Wilshire

Ron Wilshire

Published September 19, 2014 4:50 am
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2280-1-Orange-3CRANBERRY, Pa. (EYT) — It’s been a loaded summer for senior Cranberry High School southpaw Dylan Cyphert, but his sights are now set on off-season training, Cranberry’s first state championship, college, and quite possibly the Major League Baseball draft next June.

Cyphert has been attracting the attention of college & pro scouts since early in his junior year at Cranberry. This past Spring, he hurled the Berries to their first district title game as well as to their first appearance in the state playoff tournament and will carry 321 strikeouts from his first three seasons into 2015. The summer of 2014 was again spent pitching for the Evoshield Canes, a nationally ranked travel program based in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

“It was a great summer,” said Cyphert, who also faced some personal challenges on the summer circuit.  “I went to Emerson, Georgia, in July for the 17U WWBA (World Wood Bat Association) Championship where there were over 300 teams in the tournament. The night before I was scheduled to pitch, my grandfather passed away, so I had to go out on the mound the next day and perform at my fullest potential.  I flew home the next day to attend the viewing and funeral service; on Friday, I returned to Georgia for the championship game, which we ended up winning!”

Additionally, Cyphert was on the 2013 16U Cane’s team that also won that WWBA championship title in Atlanta, GA.  It wasn’t just by chance that Cyphert was selected both years by the Canes. He’s just that good on the national stage.

“Players have to try out in order to be a part of the Evoshield Cane program. After my sophomore year in high school, I was contacted by a Cane’s recruiting coordinator” Cyphert said. “They are the best at recruiting players from all over the country, and that’s why we’re ranked number one in the nation.  If it wasn’t for the exposure from being on this team, I wouldn’t have been able to do all these things, and I’m very grateful for that.”

The Evoshield Canes also has a 17U national team for north, south, central, and west, but only the best players are selected for the national team; Cyphert went directly to the national team.

Dylan added, “I rank it all great experience, starting in June with the Perfect Game National Showcase in Ft. Myers, FL.”

10479449_10152419067946387_689238219_nAt the Perfect Game National Showcase, each pitcher throws two innings, where Dylan’s fastball topped out at 92 mph in his first inning. More pro scout attention was evident after that showcase.

Cyphert’s second major event this summer was in the scorching 112 degree heat of Goodyear, Arizona, for the 17U Perfect Game World Series, where only 16 teams were invited to showcase their talents, a favorite for scouts.

“In Goodyear, I threw six or seven innings, and my pitch count was high, but it was really rough pitching in that kind of weather,” said Cyphert. “It was really hot, but I went up there and gave 110%. We made it to the championship game but didn’t come out on top. The Houston Banditos team we faced was pretty good, but I thought our team was better. We just weren’t hitting that well throughout the entire tournament.”

“I have an advisor, Joe Rosen, with Orpheus Sports Management in Massachusetts,” said Dylan.  “He represents several major leaguers, and I feel he’ll be a great help concerning my opportunities next year. It’s going to be a tough decision, but whatever happens, happens. I’ll be ready for it.”

Cyphert has verbally committed to the University of Pittsburgh after graduation, so, if he is drafted, he’ll face another decision.

“If I am drafted, the decision to turn pro would depend on what the team offers. In addition to signing bonuses, separate contracts for education are offered by teams and will cover college tuition.”

The senior lefty selected Pitt over Penn State because of the competition he would face in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) vs. the Big 10.

“I just felt it was the best fit for me,” said Dylan.  “It’s definitely a lot better conference, and I’ll be facing the best hitters in the country in the ACC rather than the Big Ten. The players in the ACC are more heavily scouted because it’s much better competition. Scouts are looking for players who have experience against the best players in the country. Players typically are drafted higher from the ACC than the Big Ten.”

Cyphert has already faced the best players in the country through summer showcase and tournament experiences and feels he matches up with the competition.

“I think I compete right with them. I have the pitching ability, and I like to compete. I don’t really like to compare myself with other pitchers and just do my best every time out. I’m really not worried about how others are doing and just focus on my game and what I have to do. This summer I definitely faced the best hitters in the country at the Perfect Game Showcases & tournaments, and I struck out many of them. I think I compete right with them.”

His dream was to always play professional baseball, but he wasn’t quite convinced he really had a shot until the summer of 2013, following his sophomore high school season. 

Dylan says, “When I started throwing in the 90’s last Summer and Fall and was working hard at it, that’s when I thought I might have a chance. I worked really hard after summer, and I was up to 91 or 92, and then I shut down and came back my Junior year and turned my fastball up to 94 mph. I have just been preparing myself for whatever opportunity I have.”

Dylan’s training consists of a program guided by a pitching coach with the Toronto Blue Jays organization that emphasizes weighted balls along with strength & agility training.

“It definitely helps build the rotator cuff muscles and over-all arm strength. It’s a great program, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the results are.”

Whether preparing for college or the MLB draft, Dylan is making strides towards weight gain, building up his arm and leg strength, and increasing velocity because, he adds “there’s always room for improvement.”  He doesn’t feel it will be too much of a problem balancing his senior year of high school and baseball.  Outside of two tournaments in October, culminating at the 18U WWBA Championship in Jupiter, FL, the 2014 baseball schedule is almost in the books until the spring high school season.

“I definitely need to focus on school more this year. I’m really looking forward to the spring.”

Dylan credits the support he has received from his family, including his Dad, who has taken off a lot of time at his job in order to get him to the tournament events.

“I really appreciate all the support from my friends and family.”

His high school team is also supportive, and he relishes his role with the team.

“My team is very supportive, and I know they look up to me as a leader,” explained Cyphert. “I like to put myself out there as a leader too; I don’t like to put anyone down. I try to get everybody around me better and support everyone, and that’s how we’re going to win the state championship.”

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