Since the start of the season, Tri-City ValleyCats’ Carson McCusker has been on a tear. The hits just keep on coming game after game.

“Just not putting too much pressure on myself,” McCusker said. “You get here, you get worried about getting signed, getting out of here, and everything, but this year has been just about going out there and playing baseball.”

The 6’8” 250-pound outfielder, now in his third season with Tri-City, has been one of the top batters in Frontier League. For most of the year, McCusker has been the league leader in batting average, runs batted in and runs. 

“It’s been great,” he said. “We’ve been meshing I think pretty well and I think that helps you win games in the long term in season.”

McCusker grew up in Reno, Nevada with two goals in mind- go to college and play professional baseball.

He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 26th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft out for junior college. But McCusker instead chose to attend Oklahoma State -- manager Pete Incaviglia’s alma mater. 

“It was tough to leave that place,” McCusker said. “Had a blast, made a bunch of great friends, had a great relationship with the coaches well.”

After four seasons with the Cowboys, where he batted .292, McCusker went undrafted. But that Oklahoma State connection allowed him to link up with Incaviglia and the ValleyCats.

“I think our ball club is in a good spot as well,” McCusker said. “We’re starting to put it all together on the pitching and hitting sides.”

As McCusker put together his best season in independent baseball, it has caught the eyes of an MLB Club. In late June, he was signed by the Minnesota Twins, finally breaking into affiliate ball. 

“[I’m] not taking it for granted because you never know when your last game is going to be so just waking up every day being thankful to be able to play baseball still is what motivates me,” he said.