Tyrell Jenkins on Taking Over Grapeland Baseball, MLB Journey, and Coaching Through Adversity

On this episode of East Texas Sports Now, former Henderson Lion and former Major League Baseball pitcher Tyrell Jenkins joins the show as he begins a new chapter as the head baseball coach for the Grapeland Sandies.

Jenkins talks about how the opportunity at Grapeland came together, his conversations with Coach Wood, and why the small-town community felt like the right fit. He also discusses joining the football staff as the quarterbacks coach, getting to know the athletes, and preparing for the upcoming season in the East Texas heat.

The conversation also looks back at Jenkins’ playing career, from being a standout multi-sport athlete at Henderson High School to choosing professional baseball after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. Jenkins reflects on originally wanting to play quarterback at Baylor, the advice he received from Coach Art Briles, and why he ultimately decided to begin his professional baseball journey.

Jenkins also shares memories from his time in professional baseball, including being traded to the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers, making his MLB debut in Miami, and facing big-league hitters on the sport’s biggest stage. He explains how those experiences now shape the way he coaches and mentors high school athletes.

Looking ahead, Jenkins breaks down his vision for the Grapeland baseball program, including teaching the game the right way, keeping things simple, building relationships, and helping players handle adversity both on and off the field. He also explains why East Texas sports are different and why the passion, pride, and community support make coaching in this region so special.

Also in this episode, the show recaps the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament in College Station, including results from East Texas teams such as Lindale, Chapel Hill, Trinity, Jefferson, Daingerfield, Tyler High, Tyler Legacy, and West Rusk, which made a run all the way to the Division III championship game.

East Texas Sports Now, hosted by Kyle Owens, delivers fast-paced coverage of East Texas high school sports. Featuring game recaps, weekly matchups, player spotlights, and coach interviews across football, basketball, baseball, softball, and more. Stay locked in for scores, rankings, highlights, playoffs, and recruiting buzz with expert analysis and local sports talk for fans across the region.