Ty Southisene: Do The Best You Can
The lights at Pelicans Ballpark cast a glow on Ty Southisene as he steps into the batter’s box, his 5-foot-9 frame alive with purpose. At 19, the Chicago Cubs’ 2024 fourth-round draft pick is a dynamic infielder for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, igniting the 2025 season with his quick bat and infectious energy.
From Henderson, Nevada, Ty hails from a family of four baseball-obsessed brothers, where the diamond was their playground. His last name, Southisene, meaning “do the best you can” in Thai, embodies the drive that propelled him from a Nevada backyard to professional ball.
Fueled by a $1 million signing bonus and a family legacy steeped in baseball, Ty’s journey to the Pelicans reflects the ethos of his name—a relentless pursuit of excellence.
In Henderson, the Southisene household was a crucible of competition and camaraderie, where Ty and his brothers—Tee, Tate, and Troy—lived for baseball. “My dad really just got me into baseball. Me, all my brothers, we kind of started young and we pretty much played baseball our whole lives, honestly,” Ty shared.
The Southisene parents, with roots in Thailand and Laos, bestowed the name Southisene, a Thai phrase urging them to strive for their best, have seen that message come to fruition. As Ty takes on opposing pitchers in Carolina League play, Tee just completed his freshman season at USC, white Tate and Troy each have pledged their allegiance to the Trojans. Tate is also a potential first round pick in the upcoming MLB Draft as the top high school prospect out of Nevada. Their father’s guidance turned backyard battles into a masterclass in grit, shaping Ty into a “baseball rat” who, as Northside Bound put it, “eats, lives, and breathes baseball 24 hours a day” and resists leaving the field after practice.
The Southisene name, rare and tied to Southeast Asian heritage, carries a cultural weight that Ty and his brothers embody on the diamond. While surnames often trace to occupations or places—like Smith or Hill—Southisene stands out as a directive, a call to action rooted in Thai tradition. This meaning resonates in Ty’s approach, evident at Basic High School, where he hit .495 with 24 RBIs, 11 doubles, three triples, and a 1.265 OPS in his senior year, earning Nevada Prep Player of the Year honors.
His showcase performances sparkled, going 6-for-12 with a double at the 2023 Area Code Games and shining for USA Baseball’s 18U team in 2022 and MLB’s 2023 Dream Series. “The top player in the state of Nevada for the 2024 Draft, Southisene has consistently performed well at showcase events,” wrote MLB.com, praising his hard contact and advanced plate approach.
Ty’s path to the Pelicans was a testament to doing his best, as his name demands. Committed to Tennessee, his dream school, he faced a pivotal choice when the Cubs drafted him 120th overall in 2024. “At first it was very exciting. Tennessee was awesome,” he said, noting he still connects with the coaches. But his lifelong dream of professional baseball made the opportunity with the Cubs a “no-brainer, honestly”, Ty said.
On draft night, while playing poker and blackjack with his brothers— though he noted the clubhouse favors dominoes—Ty got the call. “I was out fishing and the second day I was like, okay, let me actually watch the draft… when I finally got my name called, I was blessed and happy,” he recalled. The moment, shared with family, embodied the Southisene spirit of seizing opportunity.
After signing, Ty trained at the Cubs’ alternate site in Mesa, Arizona, for three months, preparing for his 2025 debut. Starting in the Arizona Complex League, he quickly earned a promotion to Myrtle Beach, where the transition felt seamless thanks to familiar faces like manager Yovanny Cuevas and teammates from the ACL. “Being able to play at Myrtle Beach, being able to play in front of all the fans out here is awesome. I’ve never been able to play in front of all these people and play in a stadium,” he said, relishing the packed crowds at Pelicans Ballpark. His biggest crowd? “I went to Mexico to play for Team USA…they packed that out and that was awesome…10,000,” he shared, a nod to his ability to thrive under pressure.
Ty’s game reflects the “do your best” ethos of his name. His hit tool (50/80, per Baseball America) relies on a quick, level swing that sprays line drives, as seen in his 6-for-12 Area Code Games performance. His speed (55/80) and fielding (55/80) dazzle on the infield, with soft hands and quick footwork. His plus baseball IQ and instincts enable all his tools to play up, as MLB.com has likened him to Nevada prep stars like Justin Crawford.
The Southisene brothers remain a tight unit, with Tee at Southern California and Tate and Troy rising as prospects. “I’m a USC fan too now,” Ty said, noting USC recruited him but he chose his own path. The family’s competitive bond, forged in card games and sandlot showdowns, drives Ty’s pursuit of excellence.
Under manager Yovanny Cuevas, the Pelicans offer a stage for Ty, ranked No. 29 in the Cubs’ system, to shine. From Henderson to Pelicans Ballpark, Ty Southisene lives his name’s meaning—do the best you can—one swing at a time, carrying his family’s baseball legacy forward.
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