by By Steve Kornacki
OMAHA, Neb. — Jordan Brewer (Potawatomi) was at Lincoln Trail Community College in the small, middle-of-nowhere town of Robinson, Illinois, just one short year ago. He was completely off the radar where Division I colleges and Major League Baseball were concerned.
But that all began to change when his coach, Kevin Bowers, called University of Michigan head coach Erik Bakich to put in a good word for Brewer — who turned out being a true diamond in the rough. The five-tool right fielder became the Big Ten Player of the Year, a Baseball America third team All-American and the third-round draft pick of the Houston Astros.
And now, on Saturday (June 15), he’s in the starting lineup at right field and batting third against Texas Tech in the College World Series.
“It really just all hit me,” said Brewer, smiling and shaking his head. “One night, I was just sitting there before I went to bed, after we won to go to the World Series, thinking that just last year I was playing in front of 10 people.
“And now I’m getting swarmed by 10 reporters out there. I wasn’t even supposed to start at the beginning of the year. It’s crazy. But it’s really just God’s plan.”
He said injuries and other situations kept three outfielders off the field including powerful Jordan Nwogu, who hurt his knee and moved to designated hitter.
Brewer continued, “So, it’s just me, Jesse (Franklin) and Miles (Lewis). So, it was destiny. This was supposed to happen. I had to show what I was about. ‘I can do it! I can do it!’ It was in my hands and I took advantage of it, and here I am – Big Ten Player of the Year and an All-American.
“I don’t even know what to say about all of this. It’s absolutely insane to think of. So, it’s just been unreal, a kid’s dream. My dream, literally, is coming true.”
Brewer displays one of the tattoos on his left arm
There’s another major component to Brewer’s success story that hasn’t been told, but is as clear as the tattoo of a Native American chief on his left forearm.
Brewer is part of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians with tribal government functions in Dowagiac, Michigan, and said he’s on a scholarship from that tribe that covers about 70 percent of his costs to attend Michigan.
“It’s awesome,” said Brewer. “I mean, it’s an opportunity that I’m fortunate to have. It also is fortunate for my family, and it helps E.B. (Bakich) out because it gives him more scholarship money.”
He explained the bloodlines from his parents, Richard and Jennifer: “I’m Pokagon-Potawatomi on my dad’s side. My mom’s Italian.”
What does being a member of that tribe mean to him?
“I’m starting to learn more as I’m growing up,” said Brewer. “I enjoy showing off my heritage, and I’m starting to get recognition for it. People are starting to reach out to me on Twitter, and it’s awesome how I connect with more Native Americans now.”
Brewer received a text message on behalf of Nate Neukirch, a high school sophomore in Nebraska who has autism and a heart of gold. “He is unable to talk very much but his smile says it all,” wrote his friend, who went onto say Brewer was “important to him due to your sense of pride for your Native American heritage,” while sharing that Nate’s own deep pride in the same roots provides him strength through trials.
“They were coming to see me the Saturday we were playing at Nebraska,” said Brewer, “and I’m actually tearing up. I texted my family, ‘I’m actually impacting this kid.’ When I met him at the game, a smile just came right out. I could see I was impacting him by just meeting him. I gave him a pair of batting gloves and it was unreal what just saying ‘Hi’ to someone can do. It’s so awesome.”
Brewer said he planned to reach out to Nate during the team’s stay in Omaha for the CWS.
