Baler Spencer Brann is seeing interest from clubs, colleges
San Benito High School senior Spencer Brann, 17, may have his
baseball dreams come true. Major League Baseball teams such as the
Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies, as well as several
California State University and University of California schools
are interested in recruiting the teen.
Baler Spencer Brann is seeing interest from clubs, colleges
San Benito High School senior Spencer Brann, 17, may have his baseball dreams come true. Major League Baseball teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies, as well as several California State University and University of California schools are interested in recruiting the teen.
The Colorado Rockies is having Brann play with their scout baseball team, along with college athletes from all over the United States. Brann recently played at California State University, Sacramento against the San Francisco Giants scout team and then he played at the Triple-A stadium in Stockton. Combining those two games and three before that, Brann’s stats are 12 of 26 with a triple, five doubles and six singles, 10 RBI and nine walks. Brann never thought he would be playing in games such as these.
“Every kid dreams of playing in the World Series, in Game 7, bottom of the ninth and two outs,” Brann said. “You have to have a lot of luck to get there and if I ever were to get that chance, then it would be a dream come true.”
Brann began playing baseball when he signed up for T-ball. He became serious about baseball at the age of 10, while playing on the Hollister Quakes travel team coached by Steve Gessell.
When Brann was 11, he moved from Hollister and across the country to Mooresville, N.C. In North Carolina, Brann played on the Mooresville Racers. The team won the national championship when he was 13.
“It was a USSSA, United States Specialty Sports Association, national tournament out of 216 teams,” Brann said. “And it was a really good feeling to win. Playing against good competition for a week straight was a lot of fun regardless of winning or losing.”
When his family returned to Hollister, he continued to play baseball. As a junior playing on the SBHS varsity baseball team last season, Brann went through many obstacles just to even get playing time.
“Well I’ve always had to face adversity,” he said. “Whether it is playing behind a third-year varsity starter Kyle Zozaya, or having arm issues that kept me out of the lineup, I think all of the struggles and adversity has prepared me and given me the mental toughness and tools to help lead our team to CCS [Center Coast Section] this year.”
The catcher never quit, even though at times he wanted to.
“I was tired of adversity and struggles. I had my bag packed and was ready to walk off the field and to this day I still don’t know why I didn’t, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Brann said. “Without the struggles and conflict, I wouldn’t be the ball player and person that I am today, and a lot of that credit is to my parents and to my best friend for telling me to wait it out and to keep pushing forward.
“They’ve backed me up the whole way. They have supported me through it all, every huge hitting drought and every home run. My parents and a very close friend have kept me grounded and level headed … They’re the only reason why I’m still playing.”
Brann has a ritual for every Saturday game. Before every game, he has a Cherry Pop Tart and a Monster Energy Drink, since he did that on his 12th birthday when he hit three home runs in one game. He said the things he needs to work on include being a team leader and team player, as well as honing is physical and mental abilities in the game.
Brann’s advice for other kids is to “keep on pushing through it all and to not give up. That you never know who is watching you in the stands and that it only takes one at bat, one pitch, or one play to turn it all around”.
If Brann’s baseball plans don’t work out, he plans on going into aviation and getting his pilots license because “ever since I was a little kid I’ve always loved NASA and been interested in airplanes.”
No matter what, Brann knows he will be playing college ball and getting his education, and if anything else happens, it will be a plus.
