By Derek Blalock
Oakland Athletic Communications
 
It was 3 a.m. somewhere in between Pawtucket, Rhode Island and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mike Brosseau was on a bus for yet another long, tiring road trip. Welcome to life in Minor League Baseball...long bus rides, little pay, no glam and all work. Just 25 guys trying to fulfill their boyhood dreams of reaching the Majors.
 
Suddenly, the bus stops on the side of the road near a random gas station. Cars passing at 70-plus miles-per-hour. Could it be a flat tire? It wouldn't be unusual in the Minors.
 
Brady Williams, the manager of the Durham Bulls — Triple-A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays — called everyone off the bus. What could this be about?

It was there on the side of the road in the middle of the Bulls' road trip that Williams told the team that Brosseau, the Bulls' third baseman, was going to meet up with the Rays in Oakland, California for a Saturday tilt against the Athletics. He was going to the show.
 

Mike Brosseau, the undrafted free agent just three years removed from his final year at Oakland University, was headed to the show to play the Oakland Athletics. How fitting.

"(It is) millions of kids' dreams and obviously it was my dream growing up," said Brosseau. "It was kind of chaotic. When (Brady Williams) dropped the news, I was on cloud nine. Everyone congratulated me and we got back on the bus and the call to the parents, even though it was early in the morning, was pretty special."
 
It was just past 3 a.m. in Northwest Indiana. Well before daylight, and well before Bonnie and Mike Brosseau were awake. The elder Mike Brosseau actually had dozed off while watching his son play in an extra-inning game against Pawtucket when he dreamt of a phone call. He didn't wake up. The phone rang again when he realized it was real life. He snapped out of his sleep and was welcomed to arguably the best news one could get in the middle of the night.
 
"It was indescribable. Obviously rolling with emotions between me and my wife," the senior Mike Brosseau said. "Let's put it this way, I didn't get any more sleep the rest of the night. It's exciting, and a lot of thoughts were going through my mind."
 
An only child, Mike was coached by his father in some form through high school. Through college and into the professional ranks, his father was always there for his son in times of struggle. Mike stated his strong fundamental play was direct influence from his father, who always stressed the basics and fundamentals of the game. It was his father who helped him become the hitter that he is, which is a huge reason why he made it all the way from being undrafted to the major leagues in just three years, no easy task.
 
After a long travel day, in Oakland, Calif., Mike singled in his first career at bat, and naturally, gave the ball to the man that taught him the game of baseball.


 
"If I ever did get here, he'd be here and reaping the benefits with me," Brosseau added. "He's helped me out a lot throughout my whole career, whether it be financially...they always found a way to do it. Any recognition I get, or first hit balls or first home run balls are all going to them. It's just a small price for me to pay for thanking them for all the support they've given me throughout the years." 
 
His first stint with the Rays only lasted three games before heading back to Durham. But less than a week later, Brosseau was back in the Majors and has not stopped hitting since the recall.
 
Brosseau hit his first career MLB home run in his first at-bat back with the Rays in front of the home town fans against the Baltimore Orioles on July 3rd. He then added two more home runs on July 13th, ironically against the Orioles at Camden Yards, and another one the very next day. Through his first 12 career games at the MLB level, Brosseau hit an impressive .395 (15-for-38) with four home runs, 10 RBI and four doubles.

"With me, confidence is a big factor with my game," Brosseau said. "When I perform with confidence, I feel like I can compete with anyone on the field. There's no denying that hitting has gotten me where I am now and I'm working every day to keep that rolling."


 
#WEARtheBEAR