Tyler Evan Locklear Bio
Tyler Evan Locklear is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. Born on November 24, 2000, in Abingdon, Maryland, Locklear developed into one of college baseball most decorated players during his tenure with the VCU Rams before the Seattle Mariners selected him in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft. He made his major league debut with the Mariners in June 2024 before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in July 2025.
Early Life and Background
Locklear grew up in Abingdon, Maryland, located northeast of Baltimore. He attended Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, where he established himself as an exceptional high school player. During his senior year, Locklear earned All-State honors after hitting .500 at the plate. He was named a 2018 Under Armour All-American, recognizing him among the nation top high school prospects. Perfect Game ranked him as the ninth best prospect in Maryland entering his senior season in 2019.
Baseball ran in Locklear family. His father, Todd Locklear, played college baseball at St. Andrews College. His uncle, Jeff Locklear, pitched professionally in the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies minor league systems from 1991 to 1995, reaching as high as the High-A level. His cousin, Gavin Locklear, played wide receiver for the NC State Wolfpack football team and currently serves as a coach there. Locklear also carries heritage from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
Path to Professional Baseball
Locklear commitment to college baseball led him to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he joined the VCU Rams program. He redshirted during the 2020 season after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the campaign early, appearing in just 15 games while batting .259 with eight RBIs and 15 runs scored. This preserved four years of collegiate eligibility that served him well during his development.
His 2021 redshirt freshman season became a breakout campaign. Locklear helped the Rams achieve a 38-16 record, capturing both the Atlantic 10 regular season and conference tournament championships while earning the second seed in the NCAA Starkville Regional, their highest tournament seeding since 2001. He led the Atlantic 10 Conference in runs (69), RBIs (66), on-base percentage (.515), and walks (46). His 16 home runs set a VCU single-season freshman record and ranked second-most in program history. These achievements earned him Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors, along with multiple All-American recognitions from Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America, and the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Following his stellar 2021 season, Locklear played summer ball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He tied for the league lead in home runs and received the prestigious 10th Player Award, which recognizes excellence both on and off the field. Entering his redshirt sophomore year, he appeared on the 55-player preseason watchlist for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top amateur baseball player in the United States.
His 2022 campaign cemented his status as one of college baseball premier hitters. Locklear posted a .402 batting average with a .542 on-base percentage and .799 slugging percentage, adding 20 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 23 hit-by-pitch events. The Rams repeated as Atlantic 10 champions. He earned Virginia College Player of the Year honors and earned second-team All-American selections from multiple publications.
Tyler Evan Locklear Career
Seattle Mariners Organization (2022-2025)
The Seattle Mariners selected Locklear in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft with the 58th overall selection. He signed with the organization on July 23, 2022, receiving a $1.28 million signing bonus. Locklear made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Mariners before moving to Single-A Modesto Nuts, where he hit .282 with a .504 slugging percentage across 29 games.
The 2023 season presented early challenges when a hit-by-pitch broke a bone in his right hand on June 1 while playing for High-A Everett AquaSox. He returned to action in August after brief rehab appearances with the ACL Mariners. The organization promoted him to Double-A Arkansas Travelers on August 24. Across 85 games split between three affiliates, Locklear hit .288 with 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. He continued his development in the Arizona Fall League, earning a spot in the Fall Stars Game while playing for the Peoria Javelinas.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2025-Present)
On July 31, 2025, the Mariners traded Locklear along with outfielders Juan Burgos and Hunter Cranton to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for veteran infielder Eugenio Suarez. At the time of the trade, Locklear had spent the majority of the 2025 season with Triple-A Tacoma, where he was hitting .316 with 19 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases across 98 games.
Locklear appeared in 31 games with the Diamondbacks following the trade, batting .175 with three home runs and six RBIs. His first home run with Arizona came during this stretch. On October 3, 2025, the Diamondbacks announced that Locklear would require season-ending surgeries to repair a ligament tear in his elbow and a labrum injury in his shoulder.
Defensive Transition
Throughout his college career and early professional seasons, Locklear primarily played third base. During the 2023 season, he made the transition to first base as his full-time defensive position, a shift that aligned his defensive role with his future in the major leagues as a power-hitting corner infielder.
Notable MLB Moments
Locklear made his major league debut on June 9, 2024, against the Kansas City Royals. In his first at-bat, he recorded a double that drove in a run, with the ball leaving his bat at 100.1 mph and traveling 380 feet. He became the first Mariners player to record a go-ahead hit in the seventh inning or later during his debut since Mike Wilson in May 2011. Four days later, on June 13, Locklear hit his first major league home run, a solo shot against Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox.
Tyler Evan Locklear Career Statistics
Through the 2025 MLB season, Locklear has appeared in 47 major league games across his time with the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. He has recorded 14 extra-base hits including five home runs, driving in nine runs while compiling a .169 batting average.
Minor League Highlights
Locklear consistently performed at an elite level throughout his minor league career. His standout campaign came in 2025 with Triple-A Tacoma, where he hit .316 with 19 home runs and 82 RBIs in 98 games before his promotion to the majors. His 2023 season saw him combine for 13 home runs and 52 RBIs across three levels while maintaining a .288 average. In his debut professional season of 2022, he hit .282 in 29 games with Single-A Modesto.
| Level | Games | AVG | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple-A Tacoma (2024-2025) | 149 | .301 | 28 | 115 |
| Double-A Arkansas (2023-2024) | 85 | .288 | 13 | 52 |
| Single-A Modesto (2022) | 29 | .282 | 4 | 18 |
Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Locklear comes from a family with deep baseball roots spanning multiple generations. His father, Todd Locklear, played college baseball at St. Andrews College, establishing the athletic foundation in the family. His uncle Jeff Locklear pitched professionally for seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies organizations from 1991 to 1995, reaching as high as the High-A classification.
The athletic talent extends beyond baseball in the Locklear family. His cousin Gavin Locklear played wide receiver for the NC State Wolfpack football program and currently serves as a member of their coaching staff. Tyler Locklear also identifies as a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, one of the largest Native American tribes in the eastern United States.
Personal Life
Locklear has been married since 2025. He maintains connections to both his Maryland roots and his collegiate home in Virginia, maintaining relationships with the VCU baseball program where he established many of his career records and achievements. His rapid rise through the minor leagues and into Major League Baseball in just two years after being drafted demonstrated the offensive potential that made him one of the most highly decorated college hitters in VCU history.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented Locklear most productive professional campaign before his season-ending injuries. Opening the year with Triple-A Tacoma, he demonstrated the power-speed combination that scouts projected when the Mariners drafted him. His .316 batting average, 19 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases across 98 games positioned him among the top prospects in the Mariners system and made him an attractive trade target.
The trade to Arizona on July 31 brought new opportunities and challenges. Transitioning to the National League while learning a new organization mid-season requires significant adjustment for any player. Locklear appeared in 31 games with the Diamondbacks, working to establish himself in their lineup while the team evaluated his fit for the future.
The announcement of his elbow and shoulder surgeries in early October ended his season on a difficult note but addressed injuries that had been affecting his performance. The recovery timeline will determine when Locklear can return to full baseball activities. Given his age, talent level, and the Diamondbacks investment in acquiring him, the organization remains committed to his development as a key piece of their future at the first base position.