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Brad Weitzel is an American baseball player, scout, coach, and author.  Across his coaching and scouting career, he has amassed 77 big leaguers, including Harrison Bader (2021 Gold Glove), Pete Alonso (2019 NL ROY), Jonathan India (2021 NL ROY), J.D. Martinez (6 time All-Star), A.J. Pierzynski (19 year MLB catcher), Doug Mientkiewicz (2001 Gold Glove, 2004 WS champion, and 2000 Olympic gold medalist), Denard Span (11 year MLB outfielder and 2014 NL hits leader), Steve Pearce (2018 WS MVP), Lance Carter (2003 All-Star), Chris Heston (2015 no-hitter as MLB rookie), and Anthony Swarzak (11 year MLB pitcher), among others.

Weitzel has coached at Palm Beach Community (now State) College (1984–1987), the University of North Florida (1987–1991), and the University of Florida (2007–2019).  He also was the Florida area scout for the Minnesota Twins from 1991 until 2007.  He has coached for the Twins' minor league affiliate Erie Sailors (1990), the Gulf Coast League Twins (1996 & 2000), and within the Minnesota Twins’ Instructional League program (1996–2001).

While at Florida, Weitzel was the key coaching piece to SEC regular season titles in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2018, with 2017 also being the program's first national title campaign in school history. Weitzel coached several national and conference award winners while at UF, including Mike Zunino (Dick Howser Trophy), Brandon McArthur (Senior CLASS Award), and Jonathan India (SEC POY).

Early life and athletics

Weitzel was born in 1957 to Judy and Bill Weitzel in upstate New York.  He was joined by sister Kym in 1959 and brother Jay in 1960. Weitzel grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball across southwestern New York. and western Pennsylvania. Weitzel attended Salamanca High School, playing running back/safety in football, guard in basketball, and shortstop in baseball.  Weitzel played for the storied Salamanca Warriors football program under Joe Sanfilippo and George Whitcher. Weitzel led the team in rushing twice and interceptions once. As a junior, Weitzel had a 3 interception game against rival Olean High School at historic Bradner Stadium, including a 104-yard return down the sideline containing Olean's bench. Weitzel was a Big 30 selection at defensive back.

On the hardwood, Weitzel put down 39 points against Hornell (NY), 31 points against Dunkirk (NY) on 15 of 20 field goals, and 26 points against Falconer (NY) (with 14 points in OT) in an era prior to the introduction of the shot clock and three point line. In a game against Olean (NY), Weitzel made 23 out of 27 free throws. In a holiday tournament at Hornell, he was named tournament MVP. He was considered a sharp shooter and slick ballhandler by opposing coaches and newspapers in the area.

Weitzel played in the World Fastpitch Softball Tournament two times as Team Florida's shortstop.

Playing career (baseball)

Weitzel initially attended Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth, FL. After playing at PBCC for two years, Weitzel earned a scholarship to the University of Georgia, playing two seasons there.

Coaching (football and baseball)

Weitzel began his coaching career at Little Valley (NY) in 1982. He was an assistant on a varsity football team that won Division X and a sectional title at Rich Stadium (now Highmark Stadium), going 7–2. This is the solitary title the Little Valley football program has won in its history.

Weitzel began his baseball coaching career at Palm Beach Community College in 1984.  He then made his way to UNF to assist in beginning the baseball program at the school in 1987.  Initial recruiting efforts amounted to showing potential Ospreys where the future field and clubhouse would be. In spite of this, the overall four-year record during Weitzel's time at UNF amounted to 200–68, a nearly 75% win-loss ratio. The program made NAIA World Series appearances in 1989 and 1991 and generated five MLB players (Sid Roberson, Kevin Ohme, Todd Dunn, Brian Tollberg, and Boo Mullins) under Weitzel and Rhodes.

In the fall of 2007, Weitzel headed to the University of Florida in a return to college baseball.  Weitzel immediately made his mark with the program, instilling toughness, resilience, and a commitment to fundamentals which had not been seen in recent years.  With his past experience working with both pitchers and position players, Weitzel served as the de facto player development coordinator in all aspects of the Florida program.  Practices were not short, with a far greater emphasis on defensive drilling than other teams within the SEC.  Florida led the conference in fielding four separate years – 2010 and 2015–17, with an average fielding percentage of .976 from 2008 through 2019. Further, in conference play during his tenure, Florida averaged a .282 batting clip, good for third in the league. Florida advanced to the College World Series seven out of the twelve years Weitzel was on staff (2010–12, 2015–18).

Record-wise, Florida was 531–255 overall, good for a .675 winning percentage.  Within the SEC, Florida garnered a record of 225–134, a .626 winning percentage – the best in the SEC during this time.

In total, in sixteen years of coaching college baseball, Weitzel led teams to the College World Series nine times (1989 and 1991 NAIA with UNF, and 2010–2012, 2015-18 Division I with UF).

Scouting

Weitzel was the state of Florida area scout for the Twins from 1991 to 2007. During this time, he either signed or had drafted 19 future MLB players. The Florida Diamond Club bestowed their yearly MLB scout of the year award on Weitzel in 1998, 1999, and 2004.

Education

BS in Health and Physical Education, University of Georgia.

MS in Health Education, Nova Southeastern.

Works

42 Years of Dominance, an unpublished text on the history of the Salamanca Warriors football program.

Other media

https://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/salamanca-native-weitzel-an-ncaa-champion/article_58a75ce6-6208-11e7-8373-876543b024e8.html

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/gators-weitzel-helped-start-trend-of-scouts-turned-college-coaches/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/06/19/twins-discovered-martinez-but-didn-sign-him/CAKvpZhAaJjiaLLQXCqFaP/story.html

https://nypost.com/2022/10/08/mlb-playoffs-harrison-bader-thinks-he-was-meant-to-be-yankees/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOE6L5tKdY4 (Jonathan India interview begins at 1 hr, 33 mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiYtkyn1y7w&t=970s (portion on Weitzel begins at 13 min mark, show is Foul Territory podcast co-anchored by AJ Pierzynski)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kSdtYJy4d8 (Harrison Bader MLB Network interview after hitting 5 HRs in 2022 postseason)

References

1. Dixon, Michael (2020-01-24). "'DOGS NAME COACHING STAFF FOR 20TH SEASON • Lincoln Saltdogs". Lincoln Saltdogs. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
2. "Florida C Zunino wins Howser Trophy as POY". ESPN.com. 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
3. "Florida Infielder Brandon McArthur Wins the 2009 Baseball Lowe's Senior lAwards | Senior CLASS Award". www.seniorclassaward.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
4. "Jonathan India - Baseball". Florida Gators. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
5. Herald, SAM WILSON, Olean Times (2017-07-06). "Salamanca native Weitzel an NCAA champion". Olean Times Herald. Retrieved 2023-12-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ^ Martinez, Marco (2019-06-06). "Florida Baseball Assistant Coach Brad Weitzel No Longer on Staff". ESPN 98.1 FM - 850 AM WRUF. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
7. ^ "2019 UF Baseball Media Supplement (PDF)" (PDF). Florida Gators. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
8. gcstaff (2007-06-20). "O'Sullivan names assistant coaches | GatorCountry.com". Retrieved 2023-12-03.
9. ^ "MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.

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