Baseball is more than just a spring or summer time sport to Brunswick School junior Tyrus Ostrowski, it’s always year-long commitment.

Whether its competing on the Brunswick School varsity baseball team, or playing on one of his travel squads, or honing his swing inside the baseball cage in his backyard, Ostrowski usually has his baseball bat and glove with him.

And he wouldn’t want it any other way.

Ostrowski’s dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to the sport played significant roles in why his goal of playing baseball at the collegiate level will soon be realized. Recently, Ostrowski made a verbal commitment to attend Brown University, where he will play Ivy League baseball. Ostrowski announced his decision on social media on Nov. 6th, posting it on X.

The slick fielding, hard-throwing Ostrowski, a Brunswick Bruin, will soon be a Brown Bear.

“There is a little bit of a sigh of relief, because I don’t have to worry about where I’m going anymore, but it’s definitely exciting,” said Ostrowski, a Port Chester, N.Y., resident. “I love what I saw at Brown and pretty much fell in love with it right when I walked on campus. Now, instead of focusing on getting recruited, I can focus on developing and getting better. That’s the main goal right now.”

Brown’s baseball team is headed by coach Frank Holbrook and pitching coach Andrew McKeon is one of the assistant coaches. Ostrowski met both on his visits to the campus.

“The coaching staff is awesome, coach Holbrook, coach McKeon, all those guys just made me feel welcome right away,” Ostrowski noted. “Right when I stepped on campus it felt like home. It almost reminds me of Brunswick a little bit, that small town feel where everyone kind of knows everyone. That was another big factor in it.”

Recruited as both an outfielder and a pitcher by Brown made Ostrowski, a switch hitter, feel especially eager to attend the Ivy League school.

“The fact that they were willing to two-way me – I’ll hit and I’ll pitch there – that got me really excited to head up there,” Ostrowski noted. “The line that got me was when they said, ‘we’re ready to rebuild our program and we want you as the centerpiece.’ That was definitely something I loved to hear. They were willing to come after me and pretty much said, ‘we want you to be our guy,’ – that was a huge factor in it.”

Also drawing the interest of Harvard University and several other schools in the Northeast, Ostrowski knew Brown was the university for him when he first paid a visit to the school in Providence, Rhode Island.

“When I stepped on campus it was pretty much love at first site,” he said. “They have a new coaching staff this year, they brought in coach Holbrook this year, he was an assistant at Northeastern. He is ready to turn things around. I have a lot of trust in him that that they are ready to go. I’m hoping that I can be a big factor in that process.”

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Ostrowski made Brunswick’s varsity baseball team as a freshman and followed his first season with the Bruins with a stellar sophomore season. A switch hitter, he helped solidify the Bruins’ lineup from the top/middle of the order.

He also displayed an impressive glove as a centerfielder and was often called on to take over on the pitching mound in relief situations. Most of Tyrus’ relief appearances for Brunswick, which is coached by Connor Redahan, this past spring came in tense situations as a closer, often in the seventh inning.

“Being in the outfield, then pitching it’s two different mentalities,” Ostrowski explained. “When you’re hitting and, in the outfield, you can’t get too amped up, because you have to block everything out, especially at the plate. You have to relax and just see the ball. That’s the complete opposite to pitching where you can be amped up. With pitching, especially closing, there’s some sort of high pressure going on, which is what I love.”

“It’s definitely a change of pace,” Ostrowski said of closing out games on the mound. “You can show your emotion on the mound, that’s something you can’t do at the plate. It’s an exciting feeling, it’s kind of hard to describe, but I love it. Pretty much, he (coach Holbrook) said he can see me starting in center field and coming in and close at the end of the game, which is what I do for Brunswick.”

It certainly didn’t take long for Ostrowski to discover baseball.

“Baseball was my first love,” he said. “Right when I started walking, I was throwing the ball around. Then I started playing organized when I was three years old.”

Tyrus, named after Ty Cobb, his father Jason’s baseball idol, played tee-ball with the Port Chester Youth Baseball League, then took the field as an athlete in the Port Chester Youth Baseball League, based at the town’s Lyon Park. He began playing travel baseball as a 9-year-old with the Westchester Cardinals, then joined GRIT Baseball located in Spring Valley, N.Y.

GRIT has more than 30 teams with athletes hailing from Westchester, Rockland, Bergen and Dutchess Counties. More than 100 players that have been members on GRIT squads have committed to play the sport in college since 2021 and Ostrowski’s played with GRIT since he was about nine years old.

“I’ve been with the same group of guys for a while at GRIT and that’s a true family,” he said. “I’ve played on fall, spring, summer teams. Seeing them every year and seeing them all grow together was great.”

During the summer months, the baseball diamond is like a second home to Ostrowski.

“It’s pretty much non-stop,” said Ostrowski, who estimated that he’s played more than 50 games each summer. “By the time I get out of school, I probably have a week or two to get ready and then it’s off to the races. Every weekend or every week, we are off to another place. There was a month where we were down south the whole time, we didn’t get to stop home at all.”

This past July saw Ostrowski travel to Emerson, Georgia to showcase his skills at the Prep Baseball Future Games, which included the Top-25 high school players from each state. At the Prep Baseball Future Games, Ostrowski was joined by Brunswick teammates Jayden Montanez and Reid Glanville and the athletes received plenty of exposure, with more than 500 scouts in attendance.

“It was nice to have a good representation from Brunswick,” Ostrowski noted. “It was a family type of feel. I met most of the guys that were on that team before, so the camaraderie was nice. It was easier to stay more composed and let go and be able to play.”

Tyrus visited Brown in late October for a showcase camp, which is when he initially received the offer to attend the school.

“I took a tour of the campus while I was there and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “As soon as I stepped on to the campus, I enjoyed it.”

Athletics is a family affair in the Ostrowski household. Ty’s father Jason played baseball in the Navy and has competed in the Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League, the Men’s Senior Baseball League and the Men’s Adult Baseball League over the years. His mother Deanne was an outstanding softball player for the United States Naval Academy and his older sisters Brooklyn and Madison have each played Division I softball at Villanova University.

Brooklyn Ostrowski hit 26 home runs during her collegiate career at Villanova and served as the team’s captain in her final season. She is currently a member of Villanova’s coaching staff as a graduate manager. Madison Ostrowski will be entering her senior season on Villanova’s softball team in the spring of 2026 and has also had a solid career.

Seeing his sisters play collegiate softball and excel has been an added source of inspiration to Tyrus.

“It was almost a sense that I had some big shoes to fill,” he said. “Both of them showed that they can do it, why can’t I? It was definitely a huge motivator seeing them succeed. They are both great role models too. I was definitely lucky to have them by my side and being able to learn from them.”

Ostrowski credits his parents for instilling in him the work ethic, commitment and motivation to achieve his goals on the baseball diamond and in the classroom.

“A huge factor is not only that my parents were super athletic, they were in the Navy and both veterans,” he said. “Coming from a young age, that military discipline was instilled in me and my sisters. I recognized that if you want to get something done, you have to do the nitty gritty first and that translated over to life right away. I definitely think that was a big factor growing up.”

Indeed, Ostrowski hopes his baseball career extends beyond college.

“Baseball is my whole life, it’s what I work for,” Ostrowski noted. “Ever since I was little, it’s been my dream to play professional baseball. For that goal, I have to keep on putting my head down and working hard. If I fall short, at least I know I fell short doing my best. I’m just trying to get better every day.”

“In college, I’m looking forward to developing and making an impact as soon as I can,” continued Ostrowski, who plans on majoring in Civil Engineering at Brown. “The end goal is to play professional baseball. So, hopefully, when I do go there, I can keep on getting better and catching a few eyes and hopefully, make that dream come true someday. Also, while I’m there, getting a high-class education.”

During the winter, Ostrowski will be busy sharpening his baseball skills at VeloU – an elite baseball training program in Pleasantville, N.Y. He also trains at Just Hits, a baseball and softball training facility in New Jersey.

“The sacrifices my family has made for me – I’m truly in debt to them forever,” Ty said. “Every Monday I go to hit in New Jersey. They drive me out there Monday night, we’re not getting back until 11:30-12. That right there shows that my parents are willing to give a lot up for me. I’m truly blessed to have people like that in my life who are willing to do so much for me.”

As a youngster and to this day, Ostrowski spends a lot of time talking baseball with his parents and siblings, as they share their enjoyment of the America’s Favorite Pastime.

“Whether it’s hitting in the cage, or the summer when we’re flying from state to state, I have built a very strong bond with my dad,” he said. “I’m super grateful for the time I’ve spent with my dad. The knowledge  that he has, not only him, but my mom and my sisters as well. Just being there and having that support, while having such a tight family has definitely played a huge role.”

Tyrus’ dad, Jason, notices daily, the busy schedule his son keeps.

“He does his homework every night, gets in bed he is disciplined about understanding about getting a good night’s rest,” Jason Ostrowski said. “He’s up when the alarm goes off, he goes to school, does his thing, goes to VeloU every day he can, or he’s at Brunswick practicing. In the winter months, he’s also busy 9:45 p.m. every Monday. For six years, we’ve been driving to New Jersey.”

Faith is, indeed, a significant aspect in Ostrowski’s life.

“I’m a Christian and my freshman year, I had an event happen in my life – I had a bone chip in my elbow and the doctor said there’s a possibility I wouldn’t throw the same,” Tyrus recalled. “I had a minor procedure and I was pretty down in the dumps and I sat there and said ‘if it’s God will, then I will be back and be out there.’ That’s when I sat down and I gave my life to Christ. I pretty much bought in. The idea of having faith rather than fear. Being able to trust in the Lord that whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Whatever happens it’s the Lord’s plan.  I’m super grateful to Christ.”

At Brunswick, Tyrus listed math and science as his favorite subjects. He mentioned Honors Science Research as the class he likes the most. Though it’s difficult, he also enjoys taking AP Chemistry. Ostrowski played ice hockey prior to entering Brunswick’s Upper School and will be competing on the school’s basketball team this winter.

“I have gotten used to it being productive with the time that I have at Brunswick,” he said. “The amount of support you get from not only your coaches, but your teachers as well, is great.”

Ostrowski still has two spring seasons remaining on Brunswick’s varsity baseball team and he intends to help the squad achieve its ultimate goals.

“We were pretty young last year, we had a lot of sophomores,” he said. “We are going to have great pitching, great hitting again and the goal is the same – to win a championship. So, hopefully, the next two years I’m here we can do that back-to-back. I also want to continue to enjoy my time in high school and contribute to the team.”