Geoffrey Bramblett - Living the Baseball Dream
There has become a familiar sound at the end of each Gateway Grizzlies win. It’s not just PA announcer Tom Calhoun announcing another victory. It’s a song that has become synonymous with victory. When “Sweet Home Alabama” is blasted through the speakers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark, a calm comes over the fans as they know Geoffrey Bramblett is on his way to the mound and a win is soon to follow.
Bramblett, 26, has always loved the game, since he first picked up a baseball when he was five years old he knew that this was his passion. He was always a baseball player, playing throughout high school, eventually finding himself in the thick of the college baseball scene at the University of Alabama. After three years in the SEC, Bramblett racked up 18 wins and an impressive 3.40 ERA. After his junior season he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals where he was placed in their rookie ball organization the Burlington Royals. He made an immediate impact going 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA. Despite his impressive numbers, Bramblett was released by the organization and picked up by the Gateway Grizzlies. His career would be forever changed as he not only joined a new team but found a new role. During the 2019 season former Grizzlies Manager Phil Warren decided to make a change in the backend of his bullpen. Bramblett would go from starter to closer and he excelled.
“I thought I would never [like being a closer] because I was a starter for so long,” Bramblett said. “When I did it and I had success with it I didn’t really want to change because baseball players have that routine. Once I started doing it a lot more, I liked it a lot more. I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
The dominance was immediate and staggering. In 53 innings pitched out of the bullpen, Bramblett gave up just three earned runs. After the 2019 season the MLB came calling again, his contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unfortunately due to the cancellation of the 2020 season Bramblett never had a chance to pitch in the D-Backs system, like many minor leaguers he was sent home during the pandemic and eventually released. After his release he returned to the Grizzlies and found himself back to his familiar role as the leader of the Grizzlies bullpen. He has picked up right where he left off starting the season 1-0 with 2 saves and a 0.00 ERA in his first six innings. An early injury derailed his season for a moment but has now returned and is ready to get back to work and fulfill his dream.
Bramblett has not allowed his MLB setbacks to bring him down, he continues to focus on the future and eventually making it to the big leagues.
“I’m very thankful and blessed [for my past],” Bramblett said. “I’ve played baseball for 20 years now and have been healthy and have had the chance to play all over the country. Big picture, I’ve had a really good career. Hopefully it continues, but I’ve been able to do some things and see some things [because] of baseball.People say you have the best job in the world or you get to play a kid’s game and that’s definitely 100% true”
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Frontier League debuted in 1993 and is the largest of the Major League Baseball Partner Leagues, featuring teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. More information and the complete 2021 schedule can be found at frontierleague.com.