FOND DU LAC – MLB scouts stood on the first base side, just left of the away team’s dugout. Notepads, stop watches and phones in their hands.
Their eyes peeled to Fond du Lac catcher Jack Brenner, as Jake Neubauer threw his last warmup pitch before the game, ready to start their stop watches and see Brenner pop up and throw down to second base.
Four batters and three outs later, it was time for Brenner to hit as the leadoff batter. The scouts got close to the netting, phones in hand, quick to hit record for every pitch he’d face.
“It was definitely a little surreal at the start, but now at the end of the day you just got to compete how you would compete when nobody’s watching,” said Brenner who’s signed to play baseball at the University of Oklahoma.
But with the half dozen scouts in attendance for Fond du Lac’s 10-0 win over Manitowoc Lincoln on Monday, April 20, there’s signs that he may not make it that far.
“They’re at every game, I’ve been talking with about eight of them, 10 of them. They’re reaching out consistently every day,” Fond du Lac head coach Jason Schneider said. “I don’t know when the next time I’ll be talking to MLB scouts is.”
Through five games, Brenner holds a batting average of .400 for Fond du Lac. He has six hits on the young season, with a home run, a double and a triple that came against Manitowoc Lincoln. Last season as a junior, Brenner finished with a .400 batting average, 24 hits, 15 RBIs, 8 doubles and 2 home runs.
According to a Future Stars Series story, Brenner “… has worked to get his name into consideration for the first five rounds of the Draft.” The things that stand out to scouts are his athleticism, versatility and contact skills as a hitter.
Brenner plays catcher for the Cardinals, which makes Schneider’s life a little bit easier.
“Having the best player behind the dish, catching, he’s the field general so it makes my job a lot easier,” Schneider said.
But he’ll play whatever position is necessary at the next level.
“The goal is to get on the field at the next level, so whatever takes me there,” Brenner said.
With it being his last season of high school baseball and his future uncertain, Brenner said he’s focusing on what happens on the field and not necessarily who’s watching.
“One day at a time, take it as it comes,” Brenner said. “Just realize that it’s a really cool opportunity, but I still have to perform and do all the little things that I do to make myself the player that I am.”
The MLB draft is scheduled for July 11-12, and when it comes, Brenner may accomplish a lifelong goal and hear his name called. With that will come a decision to make.
“As a little kid, my dream’s always been to play in the MLB, but if that doesn’t come forth, then Oklahoma is a great choice too,” Brenner said.
Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Fond du Lac’s Jack Brenner may have to decide between MLB, college baseball
Reporting by Ben Schultz, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
