Back in 2021, when co-owner Marcus Catalano and Mark Lynam shared a baseball field in Puerto Rico together, he didn’t know that would be the foundation of his plans for the 2025 season. But when Marcus reached out and told Lynam that there was a spot waiting for him on the Old Pueblo Tribe, Mark immediately jumped at the opportunity. 

Now after a +.300 season and a player of the game award for Lynam, he’s more ready than ever to get on the field for the 2026 season. But how did Mark Lynam’s journey wind him up here in Tucson, Arizona? We had the opportunity to talk with Mark as he made it back home to the Chicago area over the phone in our second edition of ‘Getting to Know The Tribe’. Once again, a huge thank you to Mark Lynam for taking the time out of his day to get this done, we truly appreciate your time!

Early Beginnings

Mark Lynam’s baseball story starts in the northern suburbs of Chicago, where the city skyline wasn’t far but the game was always closer. His dad introduced him to the sport when he was just a toddler, tossing a ball in the yard and setting the foundation for a lifelong obsession.

“Actually, my dad got me into it. We just like started messing around and playing, and then like, I think when I was 4 is my first T-ball game. And then after that, it was just all I wanted and cared about was baseball, baseball, baseball,” Lynam said.

From there, baseball became the central thread in his life. He started in Little League, then the local park district leagues, before moving into travel ball around fifth grade. Once he made that leap, there was no turning back. “I was in travel ball from like, I don’t know, 5th grade until all the way up until I was ready to go to college,” he said.

What keeps him so dedicated? That’s harder to explain. He admits he doesn’t always have the perfect answer, but he finds inspiration outside the diamond, too. Lynam compared his mindset to Brad Pitt’s character in the recent F1 racing film.

“The way he thinks, feels, approaches the sport—his overall mindset about racing—that’s exactly how I think, feel, and approach the game of baseball,” he explained. For Lynam, baseball isn’t just a game. It’s a way of thinking, a way of being.

Growing up near Chicago meant being surrounded by Cubs fans—family included. But Lynam carved his own lane there, too. “Huge White Sox fan. I am the only White Sox fan in my family, actually. Everybody else is all Cub fans,” he said with a grin. “Most of my friends and definitely all my family are all Cubby fans and it’s like me and two other friends that are Sox.” It was a badge of pride, a little taste of individuality that mirrored the way he approached the game: unapologetically his own way.

College Setback, New Path

After years of travel ball and high school competition, Lynam found his way into the college game. He first played at Morton Junior College on the South Side before earning a scholarship to Robert Morris. It felt like a dream in progress — the payoff for years of dedication.

But life doesn’t always follow a straight line.

“Unfortunately, a family tragic thing happened, and it actually caused me to drop out of school. I had to finish online. Honestly, I thought baseball was done after that,” Lynam recalled.

For a time, he thought his playing days were over. Then came a spark — an open tryout with the Chicago Dogs. The independent team gave him a chance, and suddenly, the path forward was back in motion.

What followed was a baseball odyssey that stretched across leagues and even countries. From the Chicago Dogs to Victoria, Canada; to Puerto Rico; to Dublin with the Leprechauns; and even into the Pecos League, Lynam chased the game wherever it took him.

“It’s been a grind. If you’re in the baseball world, you know how hard it is. There are so many obstacles. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter how good you do or what numbers you put up.”

But no matter the level or the league, his mindset remained the same.

“I picture everybody the same. I’m not scared of anybody. I don’t mean to sound cocky — I’m not a cocky guy — but I just go to my happy place and ball out,” he said.

Puerto Rico, in particular, left a lasting impression. It wasn’t just the competition, but the connections. It was there that he crossed paths with Marcus Catalano, who would later start the Old Pueblo Tribe. That meeting would shape the next step in his baseball story.

Finding a Home in the Desert

When Catalano first told Lynam about starting a new team in Arizona, he was skeptical.

“Usually first-year teams don’t take off that fast. The first year is always the roughest, the most unorganized,” Lynam admitted.

But after a couple of other opportunities fell through, Catalano gave him a call. “He’s like, ‘Dude, you got a spot on my team. You just let me know.’ And I trusted him. Everything he’s said he’d do, he’s done.”

Lynam joined the Old Pueblo Tribe late in their inaugural season, but he didn’t feel like an outsider. From day one, the clubhouse atmosphere stood out.

“They welcomed me with open arms. Normally you get one or two knuckleheads on a team that cause trouble. Not here. Everybody had each other’s back. Didn’t matter who made an error or messed up. Somebody always walked over like, ‘Yo man, don’t worry about it, let it go. We got your back.’ That was the coolest part.”

In many ways, it was the kind of culture he had been chasing across leagues and cities. A team where winning wasn’t just about numbers on the scoreboard, but about playing for each other.

A Player’s Mindset

At every level, through every stop, Lynam has carried the same approach to the game. It’s not about the opponent’s name or reputation, but about being fully present on the field.

“I just go to my happy place and ball out,” he said simply.

For him, the game isn’t just a career or a pastime — it’s who he is. From that first T-ball game at four years old, to travel ball weekends, to college diamonds and international leagues, the grind has been constant. And through it all, Lynam has kept pushing forward, carrying the same mindset Brad Pitt’s racing character had in that summer movie: a relentless, uncompromising approach to the sport he loves.

Growth, Goals, and Gratitude

Even after two decades in the sport, Lynam is still refining his game.

When asked what he focuses on improving at home, Mark shared, “I work on everything all offseason no matter what, but I do pay a little more attention to what my coaches think I need to get better at. When the season is over, I like to ask my coaches how they felt about my performance and what they think I need to work on. Then I focus a bit more on that specific area, but overall, I work on everything in the offseason to stay sharp for the next season.”

Improvement, for him, comes from studying the best. Sometimes it’s Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. Sometimes it’s old-school legends like Pete Rose and Ted Williams. Other times it’s the way Derek Jeter or Sammy Sosa talked about the game. “I just watch videos and everything I can and I just learn and just, just watch and rewind, watch and rewind and just try to copy that,” he said.

As for advice he’d give his younger self? “If that’s what you 100% want to give your all to, then do it. It doesn’t matter what anybody else says, does, thinks about you… It’s you versus everybody in the world and everything, and if that’s what you want to do, you got to take that on and you keep going and you don’t let the negativity put you down.”

And his ultimate dream remains as high as ever: “Hall of Fame is the goal,” he said without hesitation.

The MVP at Home

When asked about the biggest influence on his career outside of the Tribe, Lynam didn’t hesitate. His answer was as heartfelt as anything he said all day.

“Oh man, it’s got to be… man, honestly, my mom,” he said. “She’s, man, sacrificed so much for me to be where I am, so many ups and downs. She’s put her career in life on hold for a long time to make sure this is working out for me and I need everything I need. And to be wherever I’m at. She just, she always has sacrificed no matter what. So my really, my goal is to be that Hall of Famer for her, because everything she did to get me there, that would be worth it. So definitely my mom.”

Closing Thoughts

As our conversation wrapped up, it was clear that Mark Lynam isn’t just committed to baseball — he’s committed to living it with heart, gratitude, and perspective. “I was nervous, man. You made me feel comfortable just like my Tribe in Arizona,” he admitted, reflecting on the easy camaraderie we shared over the call.

For Lynam, the game is more than stats, home runs, or awards. It’s about family, fun, and giving everything your best, every single day. And as he looks toward a future that will very well include the Hall of Fame, he remains grounded, grateful, and focused.

“I cannot wait to have that interview with you,” Mark said when we asked him about his interview for his Hall of Fame day. “I’m putting it on the calendar right now.”

For fans, aspiring players, and anyone who loves the game, Lynam’s story is a reminder that passion, positivity, and the people who support you along the way are what make the journey worth it. And, if nothing else, it’s proof that sometimes the best stories happen when you just sit down, have a conversation, and let someone like Mark Lynam share what baseball — and life — truly means to them.