Long before Trevor Breaux threw a pitch for TJC, he was a kid discovering a childhood connection with his dad: Baseball. Breaux, a pitcher from Houston on the TJC Baseball team, grew up with a father who played professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies Organization. Breaux found a passion for a sport that later on built his character and future.
“He kind of taught me the steps of the way. So, baseball always has been there since my whole life,” Breaux said.
From a varsity freshman in high school who did not get a lot of time on the field, to a sophomore struggling to find his path, and now a college athlete, Breaux has realized how important the game is for him.
“The hardest moment was my sophomore year of high school. I was on the varsity team, but then I got benched because I wasn’t performing well. I was good, I was just understrength, weak and just not ready physically,” Breaux said.
Originally a hitter and infielder, Breaux had a turning point in his life after a conversation with his coach before coming to TJC. Breax remembers his TJC coaches, Brett Doe and Eli Egger asking him, “Would you rather go put your beans all into one bucket and just focus on pitching and be like the greatest at that? Or would you, like, split them up and still worry about hitting and still worry about pitching and not really focus on just one?”
He chose to focus on pitching, and that choice changed everything. His experience as a hitter gave him a unique advantage that took him to the next level. Now, as a college athlete and student, Breaux has found his balance to perform well on and off the field even through the challenges.
Breaux has found a support system within many players who share the same passion,
“My teammates support me every time I’m out on the mound. They’re always cheering me on. They’re always motivating us or each other in the weight room,” Breaux said.
On the other hand, Breaux has faced the pressure that comes with standing alone on the mound. When high pressure moments arrive, the noise begins to fade and all eyes are on him, Breaux has a way to center himself.
“What I like to do in those situations, I kind of just take a deep breath, especially like, when I’m on the mound, and just kind of calm down to myself, like, ‘OK, it’s one pitch at a time,’” Breaux said. “We’re going to do one thing at a time, and just try to, like, simplify. Don’t overdo it. Don’t overcomplicate things in your head; just one pitch at a time.”
Breaux strives to be a good leader, supportive and encourage those around him. More than anything, he hopes to be remembered beyond baseball.
“I want to be remembered as the guy that you could trust in a scary situation. I want to be remembered as the leader of a team,” Breaux said.
Breaux also reflects on being the only Black player on the team since high school, describing this season as a fresh start in a familiar role.
“It’s definitely really interesting,” Breaux said. “But at the same time, these guys kind of accept you differently, because when you’re always with them, it’s building a bond that nobody else can get.”
