Southwest Orange Observer: Sports Spotlight — Brandon Fields

A senior center fielder on the Dr. Phillips High School baseball team, Brandon Fields has a history of success. A multi-sport athlete, Fields has won a state title in football and made a state semifinal appearance with the baseball team. He’ll be looking to have the same level of success in the fall as a freshman on the University of South Carolina football and baseball teams.

When did you first get into baseball?

It was at a young age — around 6 or 7. My dad introduced me to baseball at a young age with T-ball — that was one of the sports I first adopted next to basketball. I used to be pretty decent at basketball at a young age, and then later on started getting more serious with baseball. From then on I loved it and I got serious with baseball around 12 to 13 years old when I started playing travel ball.

What has kept you in the sport for so long?

Just the factor of wanting to compete, and the ultimate team goal to win and go out there with your boys — guys you’ve built a relationship with.

What’s the most challenging part about playing baseball?

I think the most challenging part about playing baseball is having a consistent routine. With baseball, when you have a routine, it makes stuff easier and you have stuff to go back to when you’re struggling. If I’m having a bad day at the plate, I can have a consistent routine that I can trust and go back to and it’s worked before, so I can get back to that time when I’m doing good. But if I have no plans and no routine, I’m like a chicken without a head — I don’t know where to start and I have no blueprints. 

As a strong hitter, what’s it like at the plate for you during the game?

For me, the biggest thing in high school is I see a lot of pitches on the outside part of the plate. I don’t really get pitched in … because if a lot of guys and coaches in the area know about you and you’re on their radar, you don’t really see a lot of good things to hit. So the biggest thing for me is to work on things on the outside part of the plate and be patient — just be patient and wait for my pitch.

The coronavirus has suspended your baseball season. As a senior, how are you feeling about that?

We had big goals and aspirations this season, because we knew we were young going into the season — we expected a lot mentally, but you had that factor that we were young. We started off the season pretty hot… and we had a really good preseason tournament. We were riding a wave and catching wins, but we felt like we had a lot more in the tank. I was pretty sad to find the season was canceled indefinitely.

You’re going to the University of South Carolina in the fall to play for both the football and baseball teams. What are you most excited about?

Just the new environment — I’ve lived in Florida my whole life. Getting up there and experiencing a whole other state. The campus itself is also just amazing and beautiful — hands down one of the nicest campuses — and the new facility they built is jaw-dropping.