Hawaiian twins got to Trailblazer Series with help from Kurt Suzuki

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Kurt Suzuki’s impact on baseball extends well beyond the Major Leagues.

At the Jackie Robinson Training Complex at Vero Beach, two of the players he once coached in Hawaii, twins Kelcee and Rylee Scarlett, are now taking part in the Trailblazer Series, an annual development event aimed at expanding opportunities for girls in the sport.

Before becoming the Majors' first Hawaiian-born manager, the Wailuku native spent time working to grow the game at the youth level in his home state, including coaching the Scarlett twins. That connection has come full circle as they compete on one of the game’s premier development stages.

“I wanted to be a Trailblazer because I think it's a great and cool experience to play with other girls from across the nation,” Kelcee said.

Suzuki first invited the twins to represent Team Hawaii at the 2024 11U National All-State for Team Hawaii in Rosenberg, Texas. He also led the All PONO Baseball Clinic for Maui youths from 2009-20, part of his continued efforts to develop players.

“They’re awesome,” Suzuki said before the Angels’ 8-0 win against the Padres at Angel Stadium on Friday. “I was [coaching] my son's team and … I had them come out and they played with our team a couple times. They’re just great players and have such great attitudes. [They] work so hard and are really dedicated to their craft.”

That influence is most evident with Kelcee, a catcher who plays the same position Suzuki held for 16 seasons in the Majors. She describes it as the most demanding role on the field because of its physical and mental responsibilities.

“You’re basically the leader,” Kelcee said. “He [taught me] how to set up, what to call and the patterns to figure out what the pitcher is feeling.”

Rylee, a right-handed pitcher, focused on a different takeaway from Suzuki, centered on the mental side of the game.

“I’ve learned from him that you can be super competitive, but you have to learn how to control [that],” Rylee said. “‘So what if I make an error, so what?,’ and that has really helped me play.”

Their introduction to baseball came early. At 3 years old, they watched their older brother, Ryan, hit into a net and asked their father for a turn.

“I was like, ‘I want to try,' and I was actually hitting it kinda good,” Rylee said.

For Kelcee, the appeal of baseball, rather than softball, comes from the level of competition.

“I don’t really care for softball,” Kelcee said. “I feel anyone can kind of play it because it's so close and the ball is so big. It's easier to hit and field.”

The Honolulu natives continued to build their experience by playing in countless tournaments, including the 2025 11U Kurt Suzuki Maui Classic in August 2025 in Kahului, which they won with Team Mauka.

Their connection with Suzuki also has another level.

“They have great parents and it’s funny, their uncle was my teammate growing up in Hawaii,” Suzuki said. “So I tell him, ‘I don’t know where [their talent] came, definitely not from you.’ But they're just so fun to be around and I’m excited for them. I heard [Trailblazers] is a pretty cool event.”

As the series heads into its final day, the twins find themselves on opposite teams. They always have fun with their competitiveness when they face each other, a reflection of the bond built through years in the game -- one that continues to grow.

“I'm more competitive because I always have to win. It's not an option. She’s a little bit more relaxed,” Rylee said. “It's amazing to be able to play with someone who's as close as we are."