Growing up, twin brothers Austin and Tyler Jones did everything together, which included developing a love and passion for baseball at Summerville (S.C.) Little League. It was a time to hone their skills, learn life lessons that were carried off the field, like responsibility and what it meant to be a good teammate, and form bonds. The Summerville LL fields became a safe space for the brothers, giving them a sense of community beyond their family.
“Once we were able to start driving, Little League was somewhere we could go and connect with our friends and the extended family we created,” said Austin. “It was something that I look back on now, and I don’t think about how much I miss playing baseball. I miss the people that were there, the connections, the friendships that we still have that were formed and still have to this day. I live 15 minutes from the field in the off-season, so to go back and see how much it has grown and relive the memories, that’s what we looked forward to every season.”
As the twins progressed through the divisions of play, they realized that playing professional baseball was not in the cards. Luckily for them, the conversations they had with their chosen family and the decisions they made in their teenage years would keep them in the game, just not in a way they expected. Just shy of their 15th birthday, a friend of the brothers mentioned that they were short on umpires for the upcoming season.
“One of our buddies said, ‘Hey, we’ve got like six umpires for the league this season. If you guys are interested, why don’t you start?’ At the time, we were obsessed with baseball. We couldn’t get enough of it. So, we signed up and covered all four divisions of play,” said Austin.
Now behind home plate, Austin and Tyler took what they learned during their playing days and their knowledge of the Little League experience from the player perspective to maintain a player-first mentality.
“When we’re out there at the Little League level, it’s for the kids,” said Austin. “Their parents signed them up, sacrificed the time, the money, the equipment, and everything to ensure that their child enjoys playing Little League Baseball. When we go out there as umpires, we need to do everything possible to be the best umpires we can, but make sure the kids are having a great experience.”
That mindset stuck with them, and although they were new to umpiring, their love for their new perspective on the field only grew their love of the game.
“I immediately fell in love with it after calling my first game,” said Austin. “We were able to keep playing, too, so we had our playing time and then got more hours on the field. It was the dream.”
That dream grew beyond the Little League fields, and in July 2024, Austin made his Major League debut.
“Hearing that I was going to be making my Major League debut was surreal. It was a lifelong goal of mine to walk on a Major League field. I had three days before I knew I was going to debut, so I had a lot of time to process it with my friends and family. Tyler was able to be there for my debut as well, and I just couldn’t be more grateful.”
After watching his brother take the field for the first time, Tyler was not far behind as he got the nod for his first Major League game a year later.
“I was in Columbus, Ohio, and they said, ‘Hey, you’re going to St. Louis to make your debut tomorrow,’” said Tyler. “I couldn’t believe it. I remember scrambling, making a ton of phone calls, thinking about what it’s going to be like as soon as I step on the field. When I walked on the field for the first time, I remember looking around during the first inning, being on cloud nine, and then once I got my first call and the game was underway, I took a deep breath and realized that this was the same game that I had been calling my whole life.”
While the twins live out their dreams in the Major Leagues, they don’t forget about their Little League days. In fact, they are frequently reflecting on their early days and giving back to the league that served as the foundation for every success that followed. As an umpire, coach, mentor, or parent in the stands, both agree that it’s important for them and others to step up to the plate as volunteers.
“For me personally, going back to Somerville Little League is wild, I get goosebumps every time I go back, I really do,” said Tyler. “For years now, one thing we have focused on is going back and running an umpire clinic. It gives us a chance to ask local league umpires, both veterans and juniors, questions like ‘What are you noticing? What trends are you seeing? What are you hearing from coaches, parents, and even fellow umpires that the league needs to improve?’ Even if it’s just sitting in a classroom for an hour or two doing Q&A or showing videos of different situations, it gets people excited. It gets kids excited about umpiring.”
Above all, Tyler and Austin want one thing for all umpires who kickstart their careers today – support.
“When we were growing up, Somerville Little League leadership told us that they were going to support us no matter what,” said Tyler. “They said, ‘We’re going to do everything we can to train you, give you every tool you need to progress in this craft. The support coming from the league is huge and honestly not only keeps us motivated, but also those same junior umpires that want to be great, too.”
Support from their local league, family, and fellow umpires has allowed Tyler and Austin to reach a goal that so many individuals fail to reach, and having a brother by their side every step of the way makes the journey much sweeter.
“Having my brother by my side means everything. He’s always going to be there in my corner, no matter what happens. We can call each other after a bad night or a bad game, or even when one of us is riding a little too high. There is always someone to bring you back down to Earth,” said Austin. “There is a shared empathy there that’s hard to explain. People always ask what it’s like being a twin, or even being twin umpires, but we don’t really know anything different. What we do know is how special it is to lean on each other and build off of each other’s successes.”
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling, always having that person by your side and knowing that they are always going to be supportive of you,” said Tyler.
Back on the Major League fields for the 2026 season, it’s clear that Little League was not just a stepping stone on their path, but the foundation of careers that continue to inspire the next generation of umpires.
Looking to step up to the plate and be an umpire this season? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpire to learn more and find a league near you. Also, don’t forget to shop for all your umpire polos, caps, and accessories by visiting ShopLittleLeague.org.