Klein Collins baseball player represents in World Series

CLEVELAND, OH (KTRK) -- The second game of the World Series will be historic, regardless of who wins. While the Houston Astros didn't make it in, the Bayou City still has a lot to be proud of.

Tyler Naquin, outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, played at Klein Collins High School and Texas A&M.

Naquin's family is ready for game 2 of the World Series, braving the chilly 45 degree weather.

"We're bundled up and ready to go in," said Roanna Naquin.

The family spoke to us from the gates of Progressive Field.

"Imagine it's your son or brother out there," Ken Naquin said. "You live and die with every pitch. Watch him out there, and one mistake can cost the whole game."

"I'm still watching the same kid I played with in the yard with," Naquin's brother Zac said. "It's crazy to see him on that huge field."

The Cleveland Indians have some die-hard fans here in Texas. At Klein Collins High School where the field wasn't as big and the stakes not as high, Barbara Mattiza was Tyler's mentor in high school.

"He had a dream, he was going for his dream, and he's actually living his dream now," Mattiza said.

The outfielder graduated in 2009 and was a standout on the Tiger baseball team before playing for Texas A&M. His teachers remember his work ethic that led to All-American status and Big 12 player of the year.

"We're extremely proud of Tyler," Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress said. "He's reached the highest level of competition a baseball player can reach. He's someone who has worked hard for everything he's gotten and he deserves this success. We still see it in the off-season when he comes here to work out. He doesn't waste any days. Every day he wakes up with the goal of improving and becoming the best ballplayer he can be. He's always prepared when called upon and I think that's one of the things that probably caught the attention of the Indians' coaching staff this season. This is a really enjoyable ride for his former Aggie coaches, teammates and the 12th Man."

While he's known for his batting as a lefty, his fans at Klein Collins say don't underestimate his arm.

"He had a cannon of an arm," ag teacher Marty Resendez said. "Watching the commentators talk about not running the bases on him. Once he caught the ball he was more than likely going to be able to throw them out."

At just 25, he has already achieved impressive milestones at each level of play, making it to the state finals in high school, the College World Series as an Aggie and now the biggest stage in baseball in his rookie year for the Indians.