Lynch Brings Winning Experience to Pulaski

PULASKI, Virginia - In an organization as accustomed to winning as the Yankees, first baseman Tim Lynch should feel right at home. The first-year minor-leaguer was drafted in the ninth round of last month's amateur draft out of Southern Mississippi. Lynch, who led Conference USA in RBIs last season with 59, is perhaps the most team-driven player on Pulaski's roster this season.

     "I didn't even know that to be honest," he said when asked about his last season's stats. "I guess it's pretty cool. I think it's a big part of the guys who hit ahead of me and were always on base, so they had a lot to do with it."

     Individual statistics such as RBIs and home runs in general are not important to Lynch.

     "I'd say wins and losses," he said when asked which statistic he considers most important. "You could go 0-4 in a day and if you win who cares? It's not about if you get four hits and lose. That sucks. You know you just want to win."

     Lynch has done his fair share of winning; he led the Golden Eagles to their third title in school history in 2016 and their first since 2010. His college success was not his first triumph though. Lynch attended Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Garden, Florida, where he helped lead his team to the district championship before reaching the regional semifinals for the second time in school history.

     Lynch hopes to bring his experience in winning championships to Pulaski this season. The Yankees finished with the best regular-season record in the league in 2015 before losing to the Princeton Rays in the playoffs. The Pulaski franchise has won the championship three times in its existence with the latest coming in 2013.

     "Everyone's here to win an Appalachian [League] championship. That's why they put us here," Lynch said about his expectations for the 2016 season. "It's everyone's goal to get to the big leagues, but while you're here, you might as well try to win as many games as possible and make your trophy room or ring collection as big as possible."

     Lynch said he and his teammates have been having fun since the season started and he hopes he can bring the extra push needed to help Pulaski reach the championship once again.

     "I've been fortunate enough to be on some pretty good teams. I think that especially in an organization like the Yankees it's not so much just about learning how to play baseball, it's learning how to win."