Brooks Rosser may have closed a chapter of his baseball career, but there is still more to the story.
Rosser, a 2018 Gilmer High alum, graduated with honors from Truett-McConnell University where he attained a business administration degree last month. He was accepted into Kennesaw State University’s master’s program and will pitch for the Owls next season.
Following a strong junior performance in 2021, Rosser was forced to sit out all of the 2022 season. Lingering soreness in his throwing elbow led to a pair of doctor visits and MRIs last fall, and it was discovered he had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
He went under the knife Nov. 20, and the expected recovery time is nine months. He started the rehabilitation process 10 days later, which he continues to do. Rosser was able to start throwing at the end of March and tossed his first bullpen session last week.
“I’m not yet at 100 percent, but I’m getting much closer,” Rosser said last Friday. “My elbow has been feeling good, and I went to the doctor yesterday for a checkup. The ligament is doing great, and the bicep tendinitis I had is pretty much gone. Now it’s just about getting used to throwing off a mound again.”
Sitting on the bench for his senior season was no easy task for Rosser. He and his Bear teammates had battled together, but now he was unable to be there when needed.
“Being with that group of guys for four years, I came into the fall of senior year thinking we were going to go out together with my catcher and two other pitchers who were fifth-year seniors. We were excited because we thought we’d be really good with a great team.
“Then to have surgery and sit there and watch was very difficult. Sitting there knowing in certain games I’d be pitching was frustrating. We’d have a Saturday conference series, and I’d be in shorts sitting in the dugout just watching and it was very difficult, especially as competitive as I am.”
TMU finished the season with a 25-22 record, and the Bears were 16-14 versus Appalachian Athletic Conference opponents. Their season ended with a 5-1 loss to Montreat College in the AAC tournament.
Even before his surgery, Rosser was entertaining the idea of moving on from TMU at the end of the season. That notion was supported by head coach Mike Croley.
“Coach Croley was adamant that I give myself the best opportunity to hopefully maybe play at the next level,” Rosser said. “Before surgery, I was looking at and talking to a few schools. Once I had surgery, I kind of shut that (search) down.
“When I stared throwing again, I realized I needed to try and see if anything was out there. I didn’t want to leave any doubts if I could play at a higher level.”
Rosser visited KSU and said he “fell in love with the program” and spoke highly of the coaching staff. Making the move from TMU to KSU will take Rosser from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I.
KSU routinely plays some of the top teams in the country, and in-state opponents Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and Georgia were all ranked in the top 25 this season.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Rosser said. “There’s good baseball at every level. I played national championship teams at Truett and saw the best of the best in NAIA.
“Moving up to DI and getting to see these top-tier programs is going to be interesting to see how it compares on the field and how I match up. I’m looking forward to the challenge just to see what I’m made of.”
Rosser said he is unsure of how he will be used at KSU. However, he received experience in every pitching role at TMU and is prepared for any situation.
“I did it all at Truett,” he said. “I started, closed and relieved, so I have versatility, and I’m comfortable with whatever role they want to use me in.
“I’ll have to earn my innings when I get there in the fall. They have a lot of upperclassmen leaving after this season. It’s going to be a younger team next year, and that’s why it’s such a good fit. I have some experience, and they have a big freshman class coming in.”
Rosser received a medical redshirt for his senior season. Along with 2020’s canceled COVID season, he has two years of eligibility remaining. He hopes to be fully healed next month, and noted he will have to pitch some live batting practice and a simulated game before he is medically cleared to play.
Once Rosser is back to full strength, he plans to play baseball for as long as possible.
“I’m going to be ignorant and continue to chase that childhood dream of playing professional baseball as long as I can,” he said. “Going to Kennesaw will help that dream a little more than being at Truett, especially with the draft being 20 rounds now. If I can play professional baseball, I will.
“If worse comes to worse, I’ll get to play baseball for two more years and have two degrees from it, so I can’t complain at all.”