Giants baseball pitcher has his sights set on Tokyo
His dad, Gavin Erasmus, and grandfather played baseball while his mom, Jenny Schultz, played softball.
Born into baseball is how Bradley (Brad) Erasmus described the beginning of his baseball career.
Brad carries with him a rich history of baseball anyone can appreciate.
The Edenvale Giants baseball player comes from a home of baseball players.
His dad, Gavin Erasmus, and grandfather played baseball while his mom, Jenny Schultz, played softball.
Brad’s brother, Justin Erasmus, is currently playing for the Brisbane Bandits baseball team as a pitcher in Australia.
Zack, Brad’s six-year-old son, has also started playing tee-ball.
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“I made the provincial team at 10 years old,” said Brad, who represented SA as a catcher in the 2006 World Baseball Classic at 16 years old.
Now 30 years old, he is the South African baseball team pitcher.
“We are currently training every day for the upcoming Africa Baseball Olympic Pre-Qualifier. If we win we will advance to the Europe-Africa Baseball Olympic Qualifier. Hopefully we’ll play at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” said Brad.
Baseball in SA is self-funded and he hopes that one day the sport will grow.
“It would be great to have clinics and recruitment centres, but funding is needed.”
His love for sport developed at the Edenvale Sports Grounds, where he played for the Imps and then went to Australia.
He returned to SA and went back to the Giants.
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His way of giving back to his community is by coaching the junior tee-ball clubs up to u-18s at the Edenvale Imps and Giants Baseball Club.
He had a heartfelt message to all baseball supporters.
“To all the family and friends who support us – we might not show it, but we appreciate it.”
