The Bear Who Would Be Cub
Smart and focused, Shortstop Eric "Bear" Bruntlett Is On The Fast Track at the Round Express. Will it be with the Astros, though?
Kasie CONNOR
MLNSportsZone.com
It’s a warm summer afternoon in Lafayette, Indiana.
Eric Bruntlett connects with the ball off of a blazing fast pitch. While rounding a diamond studded with bases made from old pieces of plywood, the five-year-old shouts like Harry Caray: "It might be, it could be, it is! A home run!!…Ho-lee Cow!" The Cubs take the pennant.
Today, Eric “Bear” Bruntlett’s fierce focus and work ethic have brought the child’s dreams a little closer to a big-league reality. A rising star in the Astros farm system, he played his first pro year for the Rookie Martinsville Astros. A good outing this Spring moves him up to his current assignment as a short stop for AA Round Rock Express.
The first couple weeks in the season, Bruntlett struggled maintaining contact with the ball. He worked with the coaches on his mechanics. Then one game, he pulled his socks up knee-high where his pants left off. That night he had 3 hits. Superstition beats super-slow motion replays every time.
Ever since then, the socks are up and so is his respectable .278 average in 115 at bats. So far this season he leads the Express in stolen bases; He is second in runs and third in hits.
Production has never been a problem for the 1996 star of the baseball and football programs at Layfayette's Harrison High School.
Bruntlett maintained an impressive GPA while excelling in baseball and football. He was an All-Indiana pick twice as well as a two-time MVP in baseball and Preseason Prep All-American his senior year. Additionally, he received an All-Indiana nod in football and was a three-time All-Conference player.
While excelling athletically in high school, he made the Honor Roll all eight semesters and graduated with a 3.97 GPA. The numerous athletic achievements and high academics landed him a spot on the Stanford University baseball team.
Bruntlett was a stand-out at a university filled with them. His driving discipline and excellent time management skills helped Eric take his degree in Economics a quarter prior to normal graduation.
The nickname “Bear” was a gift of his Stanford teammates. ”It’s because I’m kinda hairy,” he says timidly as he glances downward. Others might tell you the moniker was given to him for his power and tenacity.
As a Cardinal, he lead his Stanford team in seven different categories including doubles, runs scored and stolen bases.
His proudest moment to date is playing in the 2000 College World Series, although Bear's season at Dell Diamond this year may top that.
“When I first walked into the park with Jason Lane before spring training, I thought, Wow! This is where I will be working? I haven’t seen anything like it,” Bear says with a grin.
The Express team takes the field from their clubhouse. Children of all-ages gather around the ramp, waiting for that special autograph. Teenage girls whisper and giggle when their favorite hear-throb walks by. Young boys politely ask for the players to sign their baseball, cap or t-shirts. Bear finds this scene a very fulfilling part of Round Rock baseball.
“Everyone here is so supportive.” He reminisces about writing fan letters to his childhood baseball role model, Kirby Puckett.
When he’s not on the field, he’s in the stream catching fish, or catching an even rarer prize at home… sleep. He hopes to do some fishing with teammate Colin Porter as soon as possible. And, he swears it's true that on top of a minor-league baseball career he's tackling "War and Peace" in his spare time.
His time in Texas has rubbed off musicaly on this Indiana native. “I’ve really gotten into the blues lately”, he says, noting that he has "discovered" Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Bear is sure that the Round Rock Express will go all the way this year, and is very proud to be a part of it.
When it comes to a career in the Bigs, he’s ready to take the call if the Astros need him. Yet it is hard to take the magic of long-ago summers out of even the most pragmatic pro player. Given his choice, the Bear would love to be a Cub and play at Wrigley Field.
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