Trey Teakell is music to the Whitecaps ears

COMSTOCK PARK - Trey Teakell remembers surfing YouTube videos when he became engrossed watching a musician jamming on an electric guitar.

At the time, the West Michigan Whitecaps pitcher was a promising baseball player, but there was something about how the man played which mesmerized Teakell. So he went out and purchased his own guitar and learned to play the instrument by watching more YouTube videos. While he's not exactly ready for prime time, Teakell said he has loved playing enough that, who knows? Maybe one day he'll be good enough to begin earning a living through music and not his pitching prowess.

"For hours every day I'd sit in front of the computer and play," said Teakell, who has been nothing less than sensational through his first dozen games with the Whitecaps. "To this day it's something I enjoy. I can play a lot of songs, but I still need work."

Teakell, 23, is completely self-taught through watching videos. He's never had a guitar lesson, but has taught himself how to read music and play by memory. Teakell is encouraged enough by his progress that he plans on putting additional time into playing in the off-season. If that progress continues, Teakell can only speculate where his talent may lead him.

"I think if I put more into it, I could be pretty good in like six months to two years," said Teakell, a former Texas Christian University star who once pitched 6 1/3 innings of relief in a 22-inning college regional game.

Teakell, a sociology major in college, has always been musically inclined. He's also a self-taught piano player who grew up with that instrument in his house. He admits to being able to play "three or four" songs on the piano. When he joined the Whitecaps, the brother of his host family, Max Rambo, helped him hone his piano skills. The two constantly talk jazz music, said Teakell, who lists musicians like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Ted Nugent among his favorites.

"I like the guitar more than singers," he said. "Anyone who can play the guitar."

While Teakell loves dabbling in music, that interest has to take a backseat to climbing his way through the Tiger chain. And so far, that trek has gone well.

"It definitely takes a backseat now," he said of music. "Pretty much everything does."

Baseball has been anything but an interference to his music. After becoming a ninth round draft pick out of TCU in June, Teakell had a 1.50 ERA in three games at Connecticut in his pro debut. He joined the Whitecaps last month and has worked as both a starter and reliever. In 12 games, including five starts, Teakell is 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 23 innings through Aug. 28. He has a tiny 0.84 WHIP.

Teakell, who isn't sure of his role within the Tigers organization going forward, said baseball is working out well enough that playing the guitar is a hobby and not a way to earn a living.

"It's as good of start as anyone could have imagined," he said. "I'm not saying I'm surprised, but it's gone well. Right now, at least, everything else is taking a backseat."