Belter off to great start in minors
By Alex Schiffer for D3baseball.com
After being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 25th round a few months ago, former Occidental pitcher Brooks Belter is off to a great start with the New York Penn League Hudson Valley Renegades. Belter said his season has been interesting to say the least, admitting that it took him a few outings to get used to the minor leagues.
Belter, who was 1-3 for his senior season with an earned run
average of 1.19 is currently a team best 3-0 with an earned run
average of 2.45 for the 17-16 Renegades. Brooks told me he
was "shocked" when he got drafted because he figured that if he
were to get drafted, he would go on the draft’s third day if
at all.
Belter spoke highly of his career at Occidental saying how the biggest adjustment was getting use to the coaching style of new head coach Jason Hawkins during his sophomore season. Once adjusted, Belter worked with Hawkins and pitching coach Adam Morgan on pitch location and as well as teaching Belter a few new pitches along the way. Belter would credit both Hawkins and Morgan for preparing for the pro, both mentally and physically. Belter continues to talk to both coaches who urge to keep going and tell him "if he didn’t have the talent, then he wouldn’t be where he is today."
Outside of Occidental, Brooks credits his high school Jeff Trundy for "helping him progress as player" during his high school years at the Gunnery School in Washington, Connecticut. The two still keep in touch to this day.
When asked how a minor leaguer prepares for his day, Belter told me how every player is assigned a host family and how after a game he returns to his host family, only to get up the next morning around 10-11 am to get ready for the next game. Belter added that "the host family is great because it shows that the community cares about the team and wants to be a part of the organization."
As for now, the kid that grew up as a Red Sox fan is on track to possibly play against the team he grew up against. Belter lists his favorite player’s growing up as Josh Beckett, Daniel Bard, and Jon Lester saying how Lester’s rebound from cancer has been a story everyone could appreciate it, and how it’s amazing how Beckett can dominate a game.
For now, Belter’s goal is to continue with his solid start and look forward to moving up the ladder in the Rays organization.
