Curlis 'Legacy' Continues At Bowling Green

Brayden Curlis SS / RHP / Elder, OH / 2024

CINCINNATI - The “legacy” will continue for the Curlis family. Brayden Curlis is a Bowling Green commit.

But for a while, the Elder senior had some uncertainties when it came to his baseball future after high school.

“Before the summer I had no interest,” reflected the ninth-rated 2024 shortstop in Ohio. “I had no idea what was going to happen.”

Interest did develop from Findlay, Thomas More and Marietta, before BG entered the mix.

“Bowling Green was at a tournament for a teammate and in two games I went 5-for-6,” Curlis related. “I got a call from them later in the week. That was exciting. I’d never had a D-I look. They asked me to come on a visit.”

It proved to be a game changer for the 17-year-old.

“They offered me on the visit but I wanted to discuss whether to go D-I or D-II where maybe I’d get more playing time,” Curlis said.

In the end, the positives outweighed any other decision that Curlis might make.

“I couldn’t be happier with the coaches there,” Curlis explained. “BG was in shambles, the program was canceled, but they came in, took it over and have it going in the right direction. I want to be part of an up-and-coming team.”

There was more that stood out to the 80th-ranked senior in the state.

“The campus was not too big and not too small,” Curlis noted. “My dad played baseball there and my mom played soccer.  I’m excited to continue the legacy there.”

Bowling Green found Curlis to be a solid fit for the program.

“They liked how my bat stayed in the zone and how I hit everybody in the chest on my infield throws,” Curlis related.

It brought an end to a recruiting process that had some doubts.

“I was very nervous at the start of summer,” Curlis admitted. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. I knew I was good enough to play D-II or D-III but I had no idea if I would get an opportunity. I started to get some looks with the connections my CBC coaches have but I didn’t know about D-I. Once I heard BG was interested I started to play with more confidence.”

PBR helped the cause as well.

“A bunch of coaches reached out after they looked at my profile,” Curlis said. “They also liked what they saw at showcases. I visited Findlay and liked how every school is different with their baseball program and with what fits me.”

For Curlis, the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father at Bowling Green was important in making his college decision.

“My dad went D-I and I always wanted to be like him,” Curlis said of his father Chad, a first baseman/pitcher. “Every weekend we’d hit in the cage and take grounders together. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Improvement came with all the hard work.

“When I was younger I was always the little kid on the team,” Curlis reflected. “I didn’t have much pop. But I hit the weight room and became bigger and faster. Now I’m a middle-of-the-order kind of guy and have a pretty good glove in the infield.”

It is something that the 5-11 170-pounder feels he can bring to the Mid-American Conference program.

“I love to play baseball,” Curlis said. “When it comes to practices and games I love putting in the work. The grind never stops. I love hard work and the grind.”

The opportunity to take his game to where his parents played sports was a memorable feeling.

“We couldn’t have been happier,” Curlis explained. “Once I said I wanted to commit, my mom started crying a little bit. We couldn’t be happier.”

Curlis, who carries a 3.4 GPA at Elider and plans to major in business in college, is excited about what lies ahead at BG.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the guys, hanging out with them, forming bonds and being friends in the future,” Curlis concluded.