East County Athlete of the Week: Brooks Bartram

Time with Braden River High baseball was short for Brooks Bartram. After switching from IMG Academy to homeschooling for his senior year, this past season was the right-hander's first and only with the Pirates. He leveraged it into an offer from Eckerd College, though, and signed with the Tritons April 29. Bartram, now bound for NCAA Division II baseball, is the East County Athlete of the Week.

Why is Eckerd College the perfect home for you?

At the start, it was hard. I didn't have any notice or any connections to colleges until my first game here, actually. I didn't throw for about three months before our first game (Feb. 10 at Lakewood Ranch High) and then I did a return-to-throw program and got back into it. I did not expect it, but sat (at 93 miles per hour) almost the whole game, touched 95. MaxPreps was there, and they posted it on (X, the platform formerly known as Twitter) and after that, I just had loads of colleges swarming. Eckerd reached out, and I looked at its team and the campus — it's beautiful. It's right on the water, which I love. I loved all the coaches (and) the team seemed nice. They do shark fishing after some games.

How would you reflect on your time with Braden River High?

It was amazing, honestly. The teammates here — the people I met — (became) long relationships that I'll build for the future. Everybody here was nice. They kept each other up. It was fun being with the team (and) having everybody support me through the whole journey.

What were your goals entering this past season?

Just trying to be the best I can as a pitcher. That's all I wanted to do, just make sure to throw strikes (and) have command. A big goal for me was, honestly, just to hit 92. First (time I) came out — lights out — so it was great. 

When and why did you start playing baseball?

I grew up racing dirt bikes. My dad (Kenny Bartram) is a professional athlete in dirt bikes — he does freestyle motocross. At one of his shows, him and my uncle, they threw a ball with me for a little bit. They were like, "This kid has a cannon." Through that, I just started to love throwing the ball, hitting the ball and I got into T-ball. Growing up, I wasn't a pitcher. I was a two-way (player) until about three years ago. My first year at IMG, I was only at 83, but came back and my second year, I was at 87-88. And then I went to (Tread Athletics baseball training) up in North Carolina, and I hit 90.

Why have you stuck with this sport?

Every time I'm on the field, every time I'm at practice, I always have a smile on my face. It brings me joy just to be on the field with my friends and be able to play the sport that I've loved since such a young age.

What's a fun fact about you not many people know?

I'm an actor. My dad's a stunt double — also in the movie industries — I was in "American Sniper," and a few Disney shows when I lived in California. I was supposed to be Henry Danger. I was also in "Reagan." I'm going to get back into (acting) a little more this summer.

What music gets you in the zone during practice or before a game?

Before the game, normally rap in the locker room. We listen to a lot of stuff. Drake is one of the main people that we listen to ... but a lot of rap.

Finish this sentence. Brooks Bartram is...

Outgoing.