LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Former West Virginia State baseball player Tyler Payne (Hurricane, W.Va./Hurricane) signed a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. He will be sent to the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Angels, for his eighth season in professional baseball.

Payne, now 30 years old, was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut for the Cubs in the final game of the 2021 season as a pinch hitter and catcher. He earned two plate appearances to become the fifth Yellow Jacket to make "The Show." The others were Billy Williams (1969), Larry Carter (1992), Paul Fletcher (1993-1996), and Scott Patterson (2008).

Payne is coming off a solid season with the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. He hit .298/.335/.397 in 48 games played at the highest level in Minor League Baseball. He also posted a .997 fielding percentage from behind the dish while only allowing three passed balls and throwing out seven base stealers.

Payne batted .363 with 24 doubles, four home runs and 37 RBIs in his final season with the Yellow Jackets. He helped West Virginia State win back-to-back Mountain East Conference Tournament championships in his last two collegiate seasons. Coming out of Hurricane High School, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the State of West Virginia. 

Payne will have another opportunity to make "The Show" with the Los Angeles Angels organization this season. He would become the second WVSU baseball player to play more than one season in the big leagues. Paul Fletcher (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) made 11 big league appearances over three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics.  

A total of 19 Yellow Jackets have been drafted by MLB organizations. Longtime Head Baseball Coach Cal Bailey was the first when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1966 MLB Draft. Larry Carter was the highest draft pick when he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round (260th overall pick) of the 1986 MLB Draft. Billy Williams was the first to make "The Show" in 1969 for the Seattle Pilots at 37 years old. He also made the majors as a coach with the Cleveland Indians under Tribe skipper John McNamara.