Getting to Know — Mike Brosseau
Becoming a player in Major League Baseball takes special talent and character. The challenge increases at least ten-fold for a player who wasn’t drafted to get to the big leagues. Mike Brosseau (BRAHSS-oh) appears to be up to that challenge.
Brosseau is the one undrafted US player in Rays camp this year. He was a senior sign in 2016 out of Oakland University in Michigan, and all he has done since joining the Rays organization is hit, to the tune of a .295 batting average and an .822 OPS, playing all of last year in Double-A Montgomery.
“It’s obviously, a blessing, an honor to be part of this clubhouse,” said Brosseau, who learned about the invite about two weeks before camp opened. “I thank the Rays for giving me the opportunity. It shows a lot of faith that they have in me, and hopefully I’m going to do everything I can to prove them right in the decision they made.”
The last Rays position player to make the big leagues in the US that wasn’t drafted was Elliot Johnson, who played 318 games in the majors over parts of five seasons. All told, just about a half dozen undrafted players have been with the Rays in their 21-year history, with now Padres reliever Kirby Yates the latest example. Brosseau says being undrafted can work as an incentive.
“There’s always that chip, there’s always that reminder that no team in the industry wanted to take a pick on me,” said Brosseau “I carry that around with me for sure, put that into work every day, and try to prove people wrong.”
So far, he has proven the Rays right for signing him. Brosseau, a shortstop at Oakland, has played first, second and third in the Rays system.
“I think I’m a player who’s going to bring it to the park every day,” said Brosseau. “I’m trying to grind and trying to get dubs for the team that I’m on and the more wins a team has the more success you’re going to have on a personal level.”
Brosseau has gained a reputation for being a gamer, who came from a blue collar family in Indiana with both parents working in the steel industry.
“They brought me up the right way,” said Brosseau, “earning every thing you get.”
At the plate, Brosseau has earned opportunity, especially with how impressive he’s been against left-handed pitching. Brosseau has hit above a .900 OPS against southpaws each year. Overall, Brosseau also put up his best power numbers last year, hitting 13 homers and collecting 40 extra-base hits in 417 plate appearances.
“When I’m in the box, it’s kinda (about) catching it out front,” said Brosseau. “I didn’t necessarily change my swing path. It’s just where I’m trying to hit the ball in comparison to the plate.”
If he continues to square up baseballs, Brosseau may eventually be added to a short list of undrafted Rays players to get to Tropicana Field.
