SMITHVILLE, Mo. — Kansas City Royals fans will see a familiar face in the Major League Baseball playoffs Thursday night: Eric Hosmer and the San Diego Padres play Game 3 of the NLDS against the LA Dodgers.
There’s another local connection in the Padres dugout - manager Jayce Tingler, whose hometown is Smithville, Missouri.
His journey to becoming a major league manager now has him and the Padres playing postseason baseball.
Jayce Tingler’s road to Padres pinstripes began in Smithville, about 20 miles north of Kansas City.
“He was probably the best athlete to ever come through Smithville High School,” said current baseball head coach Josh Speer.
Tingler is the Warriors all-time batting average leader, at .496. Matt Henshaw would know - he coached him all four years.
“He never struck out in high school swinging the bat,” he said.
That knowledge was passed on to Smithville’s rising baseball talent as a hitting coach.
“I was with him for two or three years, when I was younger, that man, just really connected with me," senior Brad Schram recalled.
Tingler took his talents to Columbia, playing college baseball at Mizzou.
“I would take, you know, nine Jayce Tingler's in our lineup, a guy that's you know a guy that can get on base and make things happen," current Tigers baseball head coach Steve Bieser said.,
Tingler worked his way through the Rangers front office before becoming a first-time manager this season. The Padres made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and won their first postseason series since 1998. His hometown proudly supports San Diego from afar.
“I went out and bought me some Padres gear to join the ride. You’ll see kids walking around the high school with Padres gear on and it’s pretty cool,” Josh Speer said.
It’s a moment for Tingler’s Tigers to celebrate too.
“We have to build off of his successes and I know he's passionate about the program, he's passionate about, you know, where he grew up, the area of the state,” Steve Bieser said.
Jayce Tingler, the pride of Smithville, Missouri.
“Whenever you are a teacher and coach of a 15, 16, 17-year-old, you never imagine them growing up and attaining the things that Jayce Tingler has,” Matt Henshaw said.
And his story is inspiring the next generation.
“He proves to everyone growing up in this area, that you can do whatever, as long as you put the effort in, start from the bottom and work your way up," Smithville senior Caleb Sanders said.
“You can go do big things when you’re from a small town like Smithville and it’s just inspiring,” Brad Schram said.
The Padres and Dodgers play Game 3 of the National League Division Series Thursday, and regardless of that series outcome, Jayce Tingler will receive strong consideration for NL Manager of the Year after San Diego’s percentage improved from .432 to .617 in one season.
In Smithville, they’re thrilled to see one of their own succeed in the show.
