The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced five additions to the program for the 2022-2023 academic and athletic year.

Infielder Kyle Tyler (Alsip, Ill. / Andrean), third baseman Thomas Cooper (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood), RHP Adam Guazzo (Algonquin, Ill. / Huntley), RHP Kaleb Krier (Altoona, Iowa / Southeast Polk [Des Moines Area CC]) and catcher Will Radich (Lake Oswego, Ore. / IMC Academy) have signed to join head coach Brian Schmack’s team.

Tyler began his high school career at Eisenhower in Blue Island, Ill. before transferring to Andrean in Merrillville, Ind. He is a four-year varsity player and was ranked the No. 5 shortstop in Indiana by Prep Baseball Report and a Top 25 player in the state by PBR. Tyler is the first member of his family to sign to play Division-I baseball.

“I’ve always told myself that I’d play Division-I baseball to honor my father (Lamar Tyler), who passed away when I was 7 years old,” Tyler said. “Plenty of schools have reached out and contacted me, but Valparaiso just felt different. It felt right. Everyone at Valpo was so welcoming and genuine, so nothing felt forced. I chose Valpo because it gave me the opportunity to accomplish my dreams and pursue my degree, all while feeling comfortable. Valpo made me feel at home.”

In the classroom, Tyler is an honors student in advanced placement courses. He has achieved honor roll and high honor roll from kindergarten through 12^th grade.

“Kyle is a great athlete with raw tools that will need some coaching, and he’s getting some incredible coaching at Andrean,” Schmack said. “(Andrean head coach Dave Pishkur) said he’s among the most talented players he’s had at Andrean, which is obviously a great program. He has the tools to play shortstop at the next level, and he’s someone who has bought into our program’s vision and culture. He also has an ability to pitch with a strong arm and a fastball over 90 mph. We’re looking forward to using his talents in any way we can.”

Cooper, a third baseman from the Nashville area, burst onto the scene as a starter during his freshman year of high school before a hamstring injury and the COVID-19 pandemic limited his sophomore and junior seasons. A member of one of the top 10 travel teams in the country, Cooper helped his football team finish as the state runner-up.

“I chose Valpo because it felt like the perfect place to reach my full potential in academics as well as athletics,” Cooper said. “The coaching staff made me feel like a priority and they really invested their time with me on weekly phone calls during unprecedented times. I’ve always dreamed of playing D1 baseball and Valpo is a perfect opportunity to play at a high level. I’m excited to move to a new part of the country, meet new people and get to work.”

Cooper owns a 4.4 grade point average, ACT score of 30 and is a member of National Honor Society, younglife, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Echoes for Hope (helps the homeless).

“Thomas has played for a strong summer program and high school team,” Schmack said. “He’s a ‘baseball guy,’ and that’s what we’re looking for. He likes our vision for the program. He’s a physical kid who can hit in the middle of the order. He comes from a great family and is one of those high-intangible players. He’s a ‘yes sir, no sir’ kid, which is a bit old school and somewhat refreshing.”

Guazzo played for Pro Player travel team during his 17U season, posting a 1.91 ERA over 44 innings. He played in the WWBA world championships for Chicago Scouts Association. During his 16U summer, he threw 42 1/3 innings and compiled a 1.32 ERA while throwing a no-hitter at the 16U WWBA north championship.

“I chose Valpo because I wanted to go somewhere where I felt comfortable and knew it was a great fit,” Guazzo said. “I loved everything about the baseball program and the coaching staff. The location also played a role as Valpo is only two hours from home.”

Guazzo played basketball as a junior and was all-conference and all-area honorable mention. He is also a member of National Honor Society.

“Adam is a strike-thrower in the mid to upper 80s,” Schmack said. “He has the ability to throw four pitches for strikes, which makes his stuff better because he can throw it in any count. He works fast and uses his defense, all things that we stress. He has a starter type profile, which we were looking for. Once he gets into the weight room, he will see an uptick in velocity and strength. He fits well with our team.”

Krier was first team all-conference, first team all-district and second team all-state as a senior in high school. During his freshman year of junior college baseball, he earned second team all-conference honors.

“I chose Valpo because I really enjoyed the campus and facilities,” he said. “Valpo’s business school is also very good, and that was a nice draw because I am going to major in the business field. When I visited, I just felt comfortable and could see myself being there for the next two years.”

Krier plays his JUCO ball at DMACC, under the direction of head coach Nic Mishler, who spent five years as an assistant at Valpo.

“Kaleb has a track record of throwing strikes,” Schmack said. “He’s in the mid to upper 80s with a starter profile. He has an underdog story that we like. He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school. His mission has been to prove everyone wrong. Mish said he will fit well here and he’s a tough pitcher on the mound, which is perfect.”

Radich was a 2021 Preseason All-American and a Top 1000 Perfect Game prospect. He posted a .364 batting average as a junior.

“Choosing Valpo was an easy decision for me because I saw it as an opportunity to get a great education and play baseball at the same time,” Radich said. “Visiting the campus and the city of Valparaiso was a great experience and it felt like a place I could call home for the next four years. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Valpo family.”

Away from the diamond, Radich represented a philanthropy group his freshman and sophomore years of high school. In addition, he has umpired little league in his free time.

“Will is a catcher with a clean swing,” Schmack said. “He will work on adding some size in the weight room. He takes a lot of pride in the intangibles of catching like pitch calling and communicating with pitchers, which is somewhat rare for younger players. He played for a good summer team and is a high-character worker who will fit in perfectly here.”

This quintet will join the team next fall and debut during the 2023 season.

“We identified five players who fill needs for our program,” Schmack said. “They all fit the profile of what we’re looking for to keep the team rolling. We’re excited about this class as a whole. They are pumped to compete in the Missouri Valley Conference and continue to take us to the next level. I would like to thank our assistant coaches who have played a vital role in finding these players. I appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into this process.”