Tyler Mark’s Coaching Journey Strengthens D-backs Pitching Pipeline
Tyler Mark has spent five seasons as a coach in the D-backs system.
SCOTTSDALE – Tyler Mark's pitching career came to an end after the 2020 season. Originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, he spent four seasons in the minors. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the minor league season in 2020, and Mark was released that May.
After his playing career ended, D-backs farm director Josh Barfield convinced Mark to get into coaching the following year.
"It's something that I've always wanted to do," said Mark. "Just playing and stuff, definitely helping out my Latin American teammates. Translating in just the memories and the day-to-day baseball activities and the road trips. So, coaching kind of brings that same taste, and I'm enjoying it."
Tyler Mark's Coaching Resume
Mark has spent five seasons as a coach in the D-backs system. He started with their Dominican Summer League affiliates, then came stateside with the Visalia Rawhide in 2023. After two seasons in Visalia, he was promoted to Hillsboro last season.
Of the six pitchers the D-backs sent to the Arizona Fall League, Mark has worked with all of them except Drey Jameson over the past three seasons.
- Kyle Amendt (2023; Visalia)
- Jacob Steinmetz (2024-25; Visalia and Hillsboro)
- Lorenzo Encarnacion (2023-2025; Visalia and Hillsboro)
- Yordin Chalas (2024-25; Visalia and Hillsboro)
- David Hagaman (2025; Hillsboro)
Having familiarity with most of those arms, many of which project to be future big league pitchers, should help out here in Arizona.
"Oh, definitely, just having that relationship. Most of the guys I've worked with in the past, the only one [I haven't] was Drey Jameson, who was always a little bit more ahead in development.
"But working with Chalas, Hagaman, Steinmetz, Kyle Amendt, just having that relationship. So, when they're here in the Fall League, it's kind of like a familiar face, a familiar voice, and the work has been good so far."
Mark grew up in a bilingual household. He spent every summer with his grandparents in Panama, where he learned to speak Spanish. His baseball journey gave him more opportunities to practice, both as a player then as a coach.
In the Arizona Fall League, he's served as the primary interpreter for Salt River. The players he's done that for include Luis Perales of the Boston Red Sox, Jansel Luis, and Yordin Chalas.
As a coach in the minors, some of the best moments are when your players get promoted to the next level or the big leagues. The latter is often highlighted on social media, especially if it's a top prospect in the organization.
"It's cool, they're closer to their dream. Sometimes I'll tell the guys you could be in Visalia, in Low-A, and find yourself close to the big leagues. Another example is Phillip Abner. I was working with him when he first got drafted in Visalia, and then being with him in Hillsboro this last season, and he made his big league debut. So, it's awesome to see. It's definitely pleasing for me."
Abner is the first player Mark coached who reached the big leagues, although many arms are soon to follow.
Mark Talks About the D-backs' Top Pitching Prospects
The D-backs had a lot of their top pitching prospects appear in a game with Hillsboro in 2025. Some of the notable names beyond their fall league contingent include Ashton Izzi, Hayden Durke, Philip Abner, and Daniel Eagen. Eagen was named the D-backs Under Review Pitching Prospect of the Year.
"Super competitor. Just, you know, getting his feet wet this first season he took off, which was good to see."
Hagaman and Izzi were the two starters they picked up at the deadline. Mark stated it's been awesome working with the former in five starts with Hillsboro and one so far in the Arizona Fall League. Izzi is a pitcher he's been familiar with from the opposing dugout.
"Izzi, during my time in Hillsboro, was awesome as well. Funny story too, we saw a little bit of Izzi when he was in Everett, and also last year [with Modesto] when I was in Visalia. So, kind of familiar with the ability he had and was really pleased to get him over here."
One of the most improved pitchers is Durke, who dominated Hillsboro with a 0.89 ERA and a 48% strikeout rate before getting promoted in May. He finished the year with Triple-A Reno and is on track for a midseason call-up in 2026.
"Durke's been awesome. My second year in Visalia, just got to get him. You know, still kind of a little bit raw with the strikes. The stuff was always there. And then Hillsboro, he just put it all together. Keeping it simple, attacking the zone, throwing his plus spin, and see where he ended up. So, it's been awesome to watch his development as well."
The plus spin Mark refers to is Durke's curveball and slider. The slider is a gyro shape, getting zero vertical (0.4") or horizontal (0.0") induced break. The curveball gets exceptional downward break, especially at its velocity, with -11.5" iVB and 1.5" glove-side break.
Paired up with a 96 MPH fastball with a mostly vertical shape (15.1" iVB, 4.9" arm-side), he is a north-south pitcher like Amendt.
