YOUNG GUN – Brooks Marlow

Brooks Marlow started his collegiate career with a bang. Unlike any other player in the 127 years of Longhorn baseball, the freshman second baseman clubbed a pair of home runs in his first two official at-bats this season. The feat pushed the Longhorns to a 4-0 victory in the opening game of a weather-provoked doubleheader against Duke Feb. 20. In the second game, Marlow propelled the team to a 3-2 lead when he sacrificed a fly ball to left field, allowing teammate Tim Maitland to score at the bottom of the second. The Longhorns won, 5-2.

“It doesn’t get any better than that, especially for a little second baseman,” senior third baseman Kevin Lusson chides.

The conference acknowledged Marlow’s record first-game effort by naming him the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. “Brooks’ start proved that good hitting isn’t about size or how much you can lift in… [s2If current_user_is(s2member_level2)] the weight room,” head coach Augie Garrido says. “Hitting is about making good contact, being aggressive at the plate and squaring up the ball.”

And Marlow continues to build off of that initial success.

He received the nod at second base at the beginning of the season when the University handed incumbent Jordan Etier a four-game suspension. Garrido rewarded Marlow’s efforts on the field by keeping the diminutive (5’9” and 175 pounds) but dangerous middle infielder in the Longhorns’ starting lineup for almost every game.

“When I first came in, I didn’t have a starting spot.  I worked hard and took advantage of my opportunities,” Marlow says. “I surprised the coaches and the older guys, but now they know what I can bring to the team.”

Marlow, who’s named after former Texas player Brooks Kieschnick, was a four-time all-District player. He also earned all-State and all-Centex honors three times as a prep player at Giddings High School under the watchful eye of coach Mike Marlow — his father.

Since Marlow was old enough to pick up a bat, he was at his father’s side, on the field or in the batting cage. He spent his youth learning the game, up close and personal.

“Brooks could always hit. He’s the player who gets after it and does whatever it takes to be the best,” Mike says. “Honestly, I was a bit surprised that he established himself into the starting lineup so quickly, but he’s very determined.”

Marlow reaped the benefits of hitting and playing well even as a youth. He fondly remembers his tee ball games on the dusty field at Giddings City Park, where, after he scored or made a great play, he’d receive an M&M or two as a reward from Lyndy Krause, the unofficial team mom, who’d reach through the backstop fence to hand out the treats.

“That candy was enough incentive for me to get a hit,” Marlow recalls.

The 18-year-old attributes his talents on the field to the coaching and support he received from his father. “My dad taught me

everything I know, and we still work together on things when I’m back home,” he says.

“My dad’s style resembles coach Garrido’s — they both want us to take the game pitch by pitch,” he adds. “They teach the same principals, which has made it easy for me to catch on at Texas.”

And although Marlow continues to excel on the field, Garrido stands by the idea that growing up with a coach as a father doesn’t guarantee prowess or a good work ethic. “Plenty of coaches’ sons get all the input they can from their fathers but end up playing the

piano instead of being a high-level baseball player,” Garrido says.

“Nothing places a player on the road to success except for hard work, confidence and experience,” he adds. “Brooks continues to get better and he’s never depressed by the adversity of the situations he faces in the game every day. He challenges himself to work through the issues he’s dealing with.”

As the games tick off Texas’ schedule and the Longhorns fight for consistency, Marlow — like many of his teammates — tries to stay ahead of a steep learning curve. The jump from playing Class 3A high school baseball to battling the nation’s top college teams is a big one.

One of the issues that Marlow faces is hitting left-handed pitching at the college-level. As a left-handed batter, he’s working to detect the spin from a group of opposing pitchers with more talent than he ever faced in high school.

“Being able to see the spin from quality southpaw pitchers is a challenge,” he says. “I work in the cage every day to find a way to solve that shortcoming, and I won’t stop until I get to where I want to be.”

Giddings, located about 55 miles east of the 40 Acres, reached the Class 3A state tournament twice in Marlow’s high school career. The experience allowed the freshman to become sufficiently familiar with the challenges of playing on the artificial turf at Disch-Falk Field. “Having that experience makes it easier to be aggressive when I need to be, and continues to work to my advantage,” Marlow says. “The game is different at this level, and I’m coping with those differences every day. Coach Garrido gives the team little bits and pieces to chew on every time we take the field, so we’re constantly improving and becoming the ballplayers he wants us to be.”

“Baseball is a game of confidence, and Brooks has plenty,” Garrido adds. “But like many freshmen that confidence comes and goes. He’s still learning.”

At the beginning, Marlow worried about making things happen for his team by getting the big hit or turning a key double play. But as the season wears on, that anxiety no longer exists — he found a comfort level on the field and in the clubhouse.

“I’m getting used to things. I’m focused on playing ball and letting the game come to me,” Marlow says. “I don’t feel like there’s any pressure now except what I expect from myself.”

But don’t expect Marlow to give up his starting spot without a serious fight. He’s living the dream and refuses to let that go.

“It’s a great thrill to be a part of this team and to put the Longhorns’ uniform on every day,” Marlow says. “I’m still the same little player from Giddings just trying to make it in college baseball.”
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