Tayler Saucedo transformed himself in nine months.

He went from winless on the mound for Tahoma High’s baseball team as a junior during the 2010 season to 7-1 in his senior campaign, helping to lead the Bears to a South Puget Sound League North Division title, while also catching the attention of college coaches and professional scouts.

Saucedo started playing baseball before he could even read.

“Since I could pick up a bat or glove, I’ve been playing baseball,” he said.

When he was in Little League All Stars in middle school Saucedo decided he wanted to get serious about the sport.

But, it wasn’t until after his first year on Tahoma’s varsity squad that he really made a point of focusing on baseball.

“When I was coming into last season, I didn’t prepare myself at all,” he said. “First day of practice was the first time picking up a glove since the previous year. I had a bad season, I went 0-4, I had to better prepare myself.”

After high school ball ended a year ago, Saucedo filled every waking moment with baseball, pitching every single day in bull pens, playing summer ball, trying to make himself the kind of hurler who would be valuable to the Bears.

The 6-foot-4, 170 pounder was scared as a junior, he explained, so last summer he had to find his confidence.

When he struck out 17 batters during a summer ball game with his select team he knew he could go out on the mound and throw anything without worrying about getting hit too hard.

This year, Saucedo three five complete games in 11 starts, finishing 7-1. He allowed 47 hits, gave up 38 walks and struck out 79 batters. Opposing batters hit .200 against him and at the end of the season he had a 2.25 ERA.

“Not bad for a guy who never won a game for us junior year,” wrote Tahoma coach Russ Hayden in an email.

In reality, Tahoma’s pitching staff likely would have been incomplete without the fierce left hander, who, classmates described as a great pitcher but also a good person.

“He worked his butt off this year,” said classmate Sammii Jimenez. “He’s easily the most athletic guy at our school. He’s the first one to own up to his mistakes and never brags about his successes. He’s also one of the most caring people I know.”

Saucedo, however, gave credit to his teammates, explaining that the pitching staff had three college-bound throwers in himself, Chris Kerwood and Spencer Hobson, as well as a stout line up.

“I knew that we were going to be pretty good,” he said. “We can hit one through nine. As a team I don’t know what else we could’ve done this year because everybody stepped up and did their part.”

Saucedo could have bragged about himself at this point, but, instead he pointed out what sophomore Reed Johnson accomplished this year.

“He wasn’t supposed to make varsity, then he comes up and hits .602 and ends up getting us the SPSL championship,” Saucedo said. “Individually I feel that I accomplished all that I could accomplish. Everyone stepped up and did what they were supposed to do. Overall, I’m very satisfied with our season.”

Saucedo had interest from Division I programs but admitted his grades weren’t a part of his highlight reel, however, he will play for Tacoma Community College next year.

Ultimately, that could pay bigger dividends for his long term baseball aspirations.

“I chose Tacoma because of their record first of all,” Saucedo said. “They brought in a new coach and his record is pretty outstanding. He’s sent four to the pros and 32 to Division I. And I just connected instantly, as soon as I started talking with them, so I feel like they can get me where I need to go.”

Saucedo is a bit small for his height, he admitted, and knows he needs to put on some weight and muscle to play professionally.

“I need to get bigger and still develop and work on things I need to work on,” he said. “I hope to accomplish my dreams and goals and be able to say I accomplished those goals.”

But, he already was getting some interest this year from Major League Baseball teams, Saucedo noted.

The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals all spoke with him prior to the draft two weeks ago.

This came as a result of his efforts to transform himself, the more he pitched, the more he played in tournaments and showcases, the more the offers started rolling in “and that’s when things started getting serious.”

Where he stands now, TCC is the right place to go, and the next step in his transformation as a pitcher.

“This is better because I can get bigger and hopefully get drafted next year,” Saucedo said. “I’m knee deep in it now. Wherever it takes me is where it takes me.”