Minnesota Pitcher Tyler Hemmesch Returns to Nighthawks for 2026

University of Minnesota pitcher Tyler Hemmesch will return to the Upper Valley in 2026 after pitching in seven games for the Nighthawks last summer.

In those seven games and three starts, the right hander struck out over a batter an inning. He also finished two games. The 20-year-old will rejoin a pitching staff that struck out the fifth most batters in the NECBL in 2025.

“I think a little bit of it is, baseball is mostly the same depending on where you are, but the experiences are obviously a lot different depending on the area that you're going to play [in],” Hemmesch said. “For me, Upper Valley [and] the NECBL gave me a very good opportunity to go see a new part of the country that I don't foresee myself traveling to a lot when the opportunity doesn't put itself in front of me.”

A Minnesota native, Hemmesch has spent his first two collegiate seasons with the Golden Gophers. In 2025, he went 3-0, working to a solid 3.86 ERA across 16 games (three starts). He prevented runners at a reliable rate as well, posting a 1.439 WHIP and a stellar 6.9 hits per nine innings. He was also a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team.

In 39 career innings, the 6-foot-1 reliever holds a 3.69 ERA and has accumulated 29 punchouts. He hasn’t allowed a homerun in his collegiate career.

“The experience of going out and being in the Upper Valley in Vermont was awesome, especially for a Midwest kid,” Hemmesch said. “I don't really see a lot of the hills. I guess I see a lot of lakes and water, but not to this extent.”

The 2026 season will be Hemmesch’s fourth playing for a collegiate summer team. Prior to joining the Nighthawks last summer, Hemmesch spent two summers pitching for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer ball team in Minnesota five minutes from his home.

“I was able to live at home, I was able to hang out with my family, So for me, [playing for Upper Valley is] like get up out of your comfort zone a little bit, go see what's out there and kind of just go see if there's anything I really like or want to pursue on East Coast.”

Quechee Gorge was one of the locations in the Upper Valley that Hemmesch said that he looks forward to returning to. He’s also excited to reconnect with Nighthawks fans.

“I'm pretty talkative,” Hemmesch said. “So when we’re all just walking around, especially with the food and everything, I’m open to conversations and I love talking about baseball and whatever else there is. So I'm approachable I guess I would say. I'm assuming you get a little bit of that by the way baseball brings it out.”

Hemmesch emphasized many of the personal connections that he made during his first go around with the Nighthawks. That includes the bonds built with his teammates, many of which will be returning this season, as well as his host family and the regulars at the Maxfield Sports Complex.

“I think Upper Valley is sweet because the guy in the parking lot we met every day, Gary [Derosier] …,” Hemmesch said. “We drove in, he'd give us a hard time. The guys that would line up their lawn chairs in the front row and then go on about their day and then come back right before first pitch. That's really kind of truly the way baseball was brought up was the hometown fans, the people that live within the area that show up and watch day in and day out.” 

Hemmesch said the experience reminded him a lot of playing amateur baseball in Minnesota and seeing the same faces in the crowd every game.

“To go out somewhere away from home and kind of see that that’s how that area plays baseball, too, is kind of unique,” Hemmesch said. “As well as just a great fan base and all the people around obviously supported us. Hopefully this year we can do a little better than the first round exit.”