Jasmine McKoy | Correspondent
At three-years-old in the city of Watertown, NY, Devonte Brown was first introduced to the game of baseball. Brown had no idea that this game would open the door for even more experiences. Brown was introduced to the game by his father who played football and baseball in high school, and who later enlisted in the army at a young age.
In third grade the Brown family moved to Georgia; this is where Brown would continue his baseball career until he graduated high school. Brown would follow in his father’s footsteps and play both baseball and football in high school. Brown was his football team’s running back. When deciding what sport he was going to pursue, it was a no-brainer.
“I think I’ve just always loved baseball, I mean I’ve played it way longer than I did football,” Brown said. “I played football when I was 10-years-old. I only played football just to have something to do when I wasn’t playing baseball. It’s what I did to keep me in shape.”
As Brown is entering his third year with the Wolfpack, he always knew he made the right choice by attending NC State.
“The reason I chose NC State is because I thought it was the best place for me to develop as a player and a student,” Brown said. “From the beginning, the coaches here were very involved with my family and I, they made me feel wanted so I really admire that about the coaching staff here. Also, NC State just felt like home away from home. Even though I’m seven hours away from home, I can never tell that I’m away!”
Since Brown is away from home, family is important. When he is not on the field he enjoys hanging out with friends and family. Brown mentioned that his, “family comes every weekend,” and he even laughed mentioning that, “they’re coming next weekend!”
Being that Brown is one of four Black players on the baseball team, he opened up about his experience with being Black and playing baseball.
“It’s never been any different, I’ve always been treated the same as others,” Brown said. “I try not to set myself apart from others, I try to not make myself stand out. I guess I just try to fit in, and do what I need to do. It’s been good, nothing out of the ordinary has happened.”
Brown’s roommates, David and Terrell, are also Black and on the baseball team and are some people he can talk to about anything — even the personal stuff. Overall, the guys that make up the NC State Baseball team fit together to make up one big family and you can see that with how well the team plays together. Last year the team was ranked No. 1 by the Collegiate Baseball Ranking, this was the first time ever in program history.
The game of baseball will always have a lasting impact on Brown.
“It means a lot,” he said. “It taught me numerous things. I think if I didn’t have baseball, I don’t know what else I would be doing. I’ve never imagined my life without it.”
