Playing professional baseball has taken former Defiance High School pitching standout Tyler Burgoon to Washington (2010), to Iowa (2011) and to California where he played for the High Desert Mavericks (Single-A Advanced) in 2012. The right-handed reliever finished off another solid campaign as he continues to work his way up the ladder in professional baseball.

A 2010, 10th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners out of the University of Michigan, Burgoon found himself in a set-up role for the Mavericks this season. The righty, who had been a back-end bullpen pitcher since being drafted by Seattle, made the adjustment from closing to pitching earlier in games, although the season didn't start out the way he had hoped.

"I struggled the first month of the season and mentally it was really difficult at times," admitted Burgoon. "Where we play is a hitter's park and it was hard to see what I thought were pop-ups become home runs. It took me some time to adjust, and it really just came down to me fighting through my struggles.

"I just began telling myself that I was going to attack hitters and let the chips fall where they may," continued Burgoon. "It was different being a set-up guy, but basically it's the same role, just earlier in the game. I knew every game I had to be ready to pitch from the sixth inning on if I was needed, and I eventually grew to really enjoy that role."

After seeing his ERA hover over 8.00 very early on, Burgoon settled into the season and put together a solid stat sheet. For 2012, the righty was 8-2 with an ERA of 3.25. In 53 appearances that scanned 622⁄3 inning pitched, Burgoon allowed 54 hits and 28 runs, 23 earned, while striking out 80 and walking 31.

The 5-9, 175-pounder, also helped his team make a run to the playoffs, where the Mavericks eventually fell to the Lancaster JetHawks in the California League South Division Finals.

"This season we had an amazing team," Burgoon said. "I've been on teams where everyone is out for themselves and it doesn't really feel like a team, but this year all the guys were about winning and that made it very enjoyable."

Burgoon also admitted that while the California League is really a hitter's league because of the small ballparks, it taught him a lot about the art of pitching.

"Playing in the California League was really a great experience for me. It really is a hitter's league, but on the flip side of that, if you're a pitcher, it teaches you how you should pitch," said Burgoon. "You have to keep the ball down and you really have to hit your spots. Playing in this league made me a more consistent pitcher."

Now that the season has come to a close, Burgoon finds himself back in Ann Arbor, Mich., at the University of Michigan taking classes toward earning his degree in Movement Science. He's taken some time off, but recently started hitting the weights again in preparation for a 2013 season he hopes takes him to Double A and beyond.

"It's great to be back in Ann Arbor taking classes again, but it has been very different since I haven't done it in two years," Burgoon said. "But, it's also time to start working out again and after starting to lift weights again, I'm pretty sore. Once I get back into the flow, it becomes all about getting into shape for next season. I'll still be resting my arm, I won't start throwing again until late December.

"My goal this year is to start the season at Double A (in Jackson, Tenn.) and then see what happens," concluded Burgoon. "I do have to say that the pitching in this organization right now is phenomenal, so I know I have a lot of work to do to reach my goal (of playing in the major leagues). One of the best things about his organization is that they put you in places where you can succeed and that only helps your confidence."