Brent Suter surprises girl who snagged his home-run ball with a visit to her Delafield school — and a game of catch
Alec Johnson
CITY OF DELAFIELD - A Divine Redeemer student and her classmates got a surprise visit from a Milwaukee Brewers' pitcher May 29 thanks to chain of serendipitous events this spring.
Not only did they get a visit, but they also got to play baseball with him, too.
Brent Suter, who is in his third season with the Brewers, visited the school after receiving a letter from Divine Redeemer fifth-grader Jordan Young. He spent two hours playing baseball with Young and her classmates.
The reason behind the visit dates to May 8, when Suter hit his first Major League home run against the Cleveland Indians at Miller Park.
Getting the ball rolling
Jordan was hitting baseballs in the batting cage as her mom, Jennifer, watched, when a stadium employee asked whether she'd like to be the junior announcer for the game — an offer she happily accepted.
As she waited for her turn with the mic near the outfield bleachers, Suter hit his home run over the centerfield wall, just under the scoreboard. An Indians outfielder threw the ball into the stands, and Jordan was the lucky recipient.
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But she didn't have the ball for long. A Miller Park employee tracked her down and explained that Suter was hoping to get the ball back. Jordan agreed, but asked whether she could get a signed ball and other gear in return. The deal was struck: Jordan received a new signed baseball, signed hat, and also got to take a photo with Suter outside the Brewers' locker room.
"He just told me about how he went to Harvard. We just chatted about random stuff. He thanked me for the ball, and he was real friendly," Jordan said of their conversation.
The letter
After the game, Jordan wrote to Suter, thanking him for his kindness and inviting him to visit her school and play baseball.
Suter took her up on her offer.
On May 25, Jennifer Young got a call from Divine Redeemer principal Mike Oldenburg, who delivered some surprising news.
"He said, 'Well, you're not going to believe this, but I just got off the phone with Brent Suter, and he's coming here next Tuesday with the kids,'" Jennifer Young said. "I couldn't believe it."
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Jordan's mother, father, Oldenburg and other school staff members kept the visit a secret from Jordan, wanting to surprise her. On the morning of May 29, Suter walked into the school, and Jordan was called out of class.
"Her eyes just about fell out of her head when she saw him standing in the school lobby," Jennifer Young said.
"I was just shocked, honestly," Jordan said.
The visit, playing baseball
Suter spent two hours with students, visiting each of the fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade classrooms. A Harvard graduate and Christian, Suter told the students to work hard in school and do everything for the glory of God.
He also answered students' questions about things such as how fast he can throw a baseball — he averages 84 to 85 mph — how tall he is (6 feet 5 inches), how he got to the Major Leagues, and even whether he plays the video game Fortnite. (He does not, but other teammates do, he said).
Suter then gave the kids a chance to play ball with a pro. A student's parent ran out to buy bats, gloves and balls for all the students in Jordan's class, and the game was on.
Jordan said Suter played all-time pitcher.
"It was exciting. He wasn't throwing any fast pitches, though, at us. He was just tossing it, and we would hit it," Jordan said.
Suter also signed a baseball for each of Jordan's classmates.
"What was amazing was how gracious he is, and how much time he spent with the kids," Oldenburg said.
