Baseball: Tukker Horner’s development as a leader

MANDAN, N.D. — The legion baseball regular season was filled with injury and illness for the Mandan Chiefs. But with postseason play starting, the Chiefs have had some key pieces return to the diamond, including catcher Tukker Horner.

Horner missed most of the regular season after breaking his hand at the end of the high school season. However, that hasn’t deterred the Mandan backstop from being with the team. As he eagerly awaited his return to the diamond, Horner has been at every practice and every game to be around the sport he loves.

“Getting hurt in the state tournament was not what I was going for at all,” he says. “Just kind of getting cleared is some of the best news I’ve ever heard. So, I was ready to go right away. I was ready to play. It was very important. I love baseball. So, just like anything I could do to be with the team. Just help people get better. Just help me get better. Like, when I’m ready, I’ll be ready to go.”

Horner says that this summer has aided in his development as a leader. His major-league commitment to the team has stood out to his teammates and coaches, with some thinking that Horner has a future in coaching.

“I actually had that conversation with him the other day,” Chiefs head coach Jake Kincaid says. “If he wants to get into coaching, let me know. He’s got a big, really bright future in something like that if he wants it. How many kids are in almost a season ending injury? A lot of kids would just say, ‘Hey, see you later when I get cleared.’ But he’s been here every day. He’s been as much a part of the team as anybody in the leadership and the hard work he’s shown. And the commitment is something that really means a lot to me, and I think it means a lot to our guys too.”

“It helped me develop,” Horner adds. “I got to see like the entire game. I got to see how people were. So, when I was back I knew like what I could do to help them. Like, on the field, I can go out there, talk to them, get them ready to go, just get out of their head. I always thought about coaching a little bit. I mean, I love the game, so just being around it, anything, I could just just to be there with the game and like improve and learn everything.”

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