WAREHAM, Mass. — A small-town Georgia kid is making his dreams come true in Wareham this summer. Vidalia native Ty Dalley is entering his second summer on Cape Cod, this time with the Wareham Gatemen.
After playing only four games with the Chatham Anglers last summer, Dalley knew he wanted to return to the Cape. In September, he got the news he’d be heading to Wareham.
“A combination between my agent and my head coach back at Mercer told me the news,” Dalley said. “He kind of hooked me up and got me in touch with Smyth. And it sounded like a great setup.”
During his time at Mercer, Dalley earned All-Conference honors in the Southern Conference in each of his three seasons. As a sophomore, he led the team in batting average (.316), OPS (1.081) and home runs (21). Even more impressive, he became one of just nine players in program history to drive in more than 70 runs, finishing with 71 RBI. In 2025, Dalley broke the school’s single-season home run record in May and wrapped up his final year at Mercer with a .280/.357/.592 slash line.
After an impressive collegiate career at Mercer, Dalley is hoping to impress scouts — and Major League Baseball — before heading to Clemson for his senior year.
“I had three really good years at Mercer,” Dalley said. “Coming into this summer, I was thinking either go to the draft or play at the highest level of college baseball that I possibly can — and that’s going to be Clemson. That decision came down to the coaching staff there.”
He said he’ll always be grateful for his time at Mercer, where he set the all-time home run mark.
Dalley explained that Clemson head coach Erik Bakich played a big role in his decision to transfer.
“His energy and the way he coaches is unmatched,” he said. “I really liked that and fell in love with that.”
A flight from Georgia to Boston and a train ride down to the Cape led Dalley to his host mom, Miss Susan — who also happens to be the Wareham Gatemen’s bus driver. He says the adjustment has been smooth.
“I love it up here,” Dalley said. “You get away a little bit and just focus on straight baseball, working out and just playing ball.”
He’s been swinging the bat well since his arrival. In three games, Dalley is slashing .273/.333/.455 with two doubles among his three hits, along with an RBI. Even with the switch from aluminum to wood bats, he’s finding his groove.
“I wouldn’t say it’s easy — it’s obviously different going from metal to wood,” he said. “I usually swing a 34 in metal. I swing a 33-and-a-half in wood. So I would say just doing that and trying to be on time for the fastball with the best pitchers up here, that’s kind of what you’ve got to do. But that makes the adjustment a little easier.”
Dalley started his first two games at first base for the Gatemen before moving back to the outfield, where he’s spent most of his college career.
“I grew up playing first base my whole life and then transitioned to the outfield,” he said. “I really like the challenge of becoming as good an outfielder as I can.”
He’s shown that he can handle it. Dalley made a highlight-reel diving catch in last night’s 9–2 loss against the Chatham Anglers.
“I knew it was a lefty, and he kind of sliced it, so it was going away from me,” Dalley said. “I got a really good jump, and I was hauling tail out there to try to lay out and catch it.”
Dalley has the opportunity to go pro in the upcoming MLB Draft, and his time on the Cape could give him the boost he needs.
“My dream is to play professional baseball,” he said. “If I get the chance to get my name called, and it’s a good situation, it’s gonna be fun to take that next step.”
