File photo by Travis Rosenau Sleepy Eye St. Marys’ Brandon Schmitz has committed to play baseball next year at Bethany Lutheran College.

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye St. Marys’ Brandon Schmitz will join the previous two All-Journal Baseball Players of the Year on the pitching staff at Bethany Lutheran College next spring.

Schmitz announced his decision on Friday, March 8, and will be playing baseball alongside Adryen Tietz of Wabasso and Jackson Huiras of Sleepy Eye, who were named the 2023 and 2022 All-Journal Baseball Players of the Year, respectively.

Schmitz, who played with and against Huiras during his time at Sleepy Eye Public, said that having familiar faces on the team was a big part of his decision to choose BLC.

“I chose Bethany because we’ve had Jackson Huiras from Sleepy Eye,” Schmitz said. “He put in a good word, he said the coaches there are very good and they’ve had great success in the past. It’s nice and close to home and all of that together is what made me pick Bethany over other schools … As well as my friend, Will Walter, he’s playing basketball there. Being close to a friend, someone I know there and making friends along the way, it will be nice to have someone I know there, someone I can go to for whatever I need.”

Schmitz said he’s taken a tour of the campus and talked to the coaches at BLC and said it seemed like the perfect place to start the next step of his baseball career.

Schmitz, a pitcher and infielder for the Knights baseball team, pitched 52 2/3 innings last season with a 2.86 ERA and 52 strikeouts. He sees himself being a relief pitcher in his early years as a Viking but hopes to work his way into the starting rotation eventually.

“I hope to later on in my years be a starter,” Schmitz said. “Starting on the mound in games. But early on, there might be some relief opportunities late into games, or up big. Any opportunity I can get, I’ll take and go with it.”

Schmitz said the decision came down to BLC and the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, but he ultimately decided on BLC.

“They’re bringing back their baseball program next year,” Schmitz said of Wisconsin – River Falls. “I just ended up going to Bethany.”

Bethany has a well-established baseball program, winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference last season with a 25-11 overall record.

“I’ll take any chance I can get to play college baseball,” Schmitz said. “But playing at a successful school is an even better opportunity.”

Schmitz plans on studying exercise science and hopes to continue his education with a master’s degree in physical therapy.