Brooks Rosser’s college baseball journey continues at Kennesaw State University.
The Gilmer High alum spent his first three seasons playing at Truett-McConnell University. After attaining a bachelor’s degree last spring, Rosser set his sights on KSU where he is a graduate student.
A change in scenery also introduced a different level of competition. TMU competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, while KSU is a National Collegiate Athletic Association DI program.
“At the NAIA level, there is a lot of competitive baseball that doesn’t get noticed,” Rosser said. “The biggest difference I’ve noticed is the depth at the Division I level. You’ll see a guy throwing maybe 90-92 (miles per hour) in NAIA, or someone a little slower who is a crafty lefty.
“In the Atlantic Sun, which isn’t a super powerhouse conference, but we have some good teams and you’ll see a Friday night guy throwing 94-97. The velocity and depth is where it changes with so many guys throwing that hard. The lineups are much deeper as well. Hitters are a little more disciplined, and they have quicker hands.”
He is pursuing a master’s in general business. During the season, his days started early with baseball and ended late with night classes.
“It’s a lot,” he said of the workload. “I’m taking night classes two to three days per week depending on the semester. I go straight from practice to class in the evening, then back up for weights the next morning. So, it’s a pretty busy day.”
Rosser had surgery in November 2021, and he was back to training at full strength last August.
“I went into fall ball still not 100 percent, but my elbow feels great now,” Rosser said.
The Owls finished the 2023 season with a 25-29 overall record and were 14-16 in conference games. Rosser made 10 relief appearances and posted a 3.37 earn-run average over 10 2/3 innings. He faced loaded lineups versus Clemson, UGA, Georgia Tech and Florida State.
Even though Rosser was no longer dealing with nagging arm pain, he did see a decrease in velocity. His fastball previously topped out at 94, but it was around 87-90 this season.
“Going into a more competitive staff, you have to earn your innings,” Rosser said. “I didn’t do a great job of that but gained the trust of the coaches as the year went on. I wasn’t dealing with any arm issues. My innings had more to do with having a deeper bullpen than years past.”
Rosser noted that he relied more on his slider. His fastball remained an important part of his repertoire to keep hitters off balance. While he did not get as many opportunities on the field as he would have liked, Rosser continued to be an asset to the team as a veteran player.
“I was brought into a young team as an older guy to help out with the leadership aspect,” he said. “The coaches appreciated what I did this year as being a dugout guy. They know I’m competitive and wanted innings. Even though I didn’t get a ton of innings, I enjoyed it. I’m going back next season for a reason. I believe in what those coaches are doing over there.”
Rosser is training at Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., six days per week during the summer. He wants to regain some velocity and develop a cutter.
“I’m also rehabbing my shoulder a little bit down here,” Rosser said. “It’s nothing serious, just dealing with the aches and pains of playing college baseball for so long. I’m just trying to get back to where I was before Tommy John. I’m mainly trying to get back to 100 percent and get a little stronger and faster. I’m kind of putting all of my chips in one basket heading into this last year.”
Rosser is set to graduate next spring. He hopes to use the connections he has made to get a job with a baseball organization in player development.
“I wouldn’t have traded this past season for anything,” he said.
“The bond I have with that team was pretty special, so I’m looking forward to going back for one last time to see if I can empty the tank on this career.”