Brett Sullivan was drafted in the 17th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He made his MLB debut eight years later on April 18, 2023 with the San Diego Padres and has been a journeyman catcher since. In 43 MLB games, Sullivan has slashed just .204/.250/.291 with two homers. Still, he brings a veteran presence to balance out the young catchers currently on the Colorado Rockies roster.
So far, he’s serving as a mentor to both Hunter Goodman and Braxton Fulford as well as the young pitching staff while competing alongside Fulford for the backup catcher spot.
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“I think we all just pick each other’s brains,” he said of working with Goodman and Fulford. “‘Hey, what’s working for you? What do you feel? Hey, what’s this pitcher have? What are you thinking in this situation?’ We all just bounce ideas off each other, and if they take some of them, they do. And you might take some of theirs as well. It’s a collaborative effort, but a lot of it is communication number one.”
Communication and relationship-building are two things that Warren Schaeffer has been stressing throughout his tenure, and Sullivan is taking those directives to heart.
“[As a catcher], you’re kind of part of everything, and I think it’s finding time to either talk to those players wherever you can,” he said. “You find time to talk to the [pitchers] – what are they like? What do they need from you?
“And then in the cage, it’s the same thing. You’re working with the hitting coaches, and then you have your catching individual defense,” he continued. “And when you’re doing that, you’re really focused on, ‘Hey, what do I need to do today to get ready for the game?’ So yeah, you’re bouncing around everywhere, but I think that’s the beauty of catching, and I think that’s what I gravitate to.”
Sullivan works to cultivate relationships “naturally” by asking questions and “getting to know [other players] as a person first, and then you take it to the field and it means a little more.”
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“A lot of us can relate to the same things, and then once you have deeper conversations, you can relate even more,” he said. “And I think that’s truly what you take on the field – ‘Hey, I’ve got your back. You’ve got mine. We’re playing for each other.’ And that helps.”
While this is Sullivan’s eighth spring training, he’s already noticing “The Warren Schaeffer Effect.”
“It’s been great,” he said. “The coaching staff, they’ve come in with their new philosophies and theories, and I think it’s exactly what this team needs. The guys have been amazing. My impression is that it’s been a really fun camp.”
He’s also noticed a difference with the later start times that were rolled out this year.
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“I’ve had a couple of camps where it’s been like that, and I think overall, those are the best types of camps where you have the morning to come in,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean you get here later, necessarily. It means maybe more time to get your body prepared, and I like that a lot. You’re able to get in more work on the training table. You’re able to lift more, and you’re showing up a little more excited each and every day.”
In addition to being a major league catcher, Sullivan also spent time on Team Italy for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“It was special,” he said of his time on the roster. “It was in Taiwan. We went to Japan. I won’t forget that.”
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He also took advantage of the espresso machine, which started as a tradition in 2023.
“I’m already hyped up enough, but I know before the Japan game, I definitely had my fair share,” he laughed. “I think I had at least three shots before the game. You’re just pacing, and then you look at the machine, and you just have another one. But you love it.”
As far as WBC predictions go?
“Italy’s hot,” he said. “I’m rooting for those guys. And then you have the US, who’s really good.
“And the Dominican is playing something special,” he continued. “I really respect them with the fact that I played four years in the Dominican in Winter Ball. And that’s truly how they play. What you’re seeing is how they show up every day and play. So I don’t know who’s going to win, but I’ll be watching.”
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But back in Scottsdale, Sullivan has some goals for the final week of camp.
“Just stay focused. Stay locked in and take it day by day, and be right where your feet are.”
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