« Baseball 2019

Brylie Ware

School
University of Oklahoma
Position
Infield
Major
Arts and Sciences Planned Program - BA option

Classroom

Like many others, Brylie Ware experienced the challenge of becoming a Division I student-athlete in the classroom. After two semesters of struggles, Ware did what those who know him best knew he could do: He assessed his strengths and weaknesses and determined where his best talents were. The end results were a changed major and a rapidly increasing GPA, one that jumped a full point in three semesters. With that improvement, he earned a spot on the dean’s honor roll (3.50-3.99 GPA. He was a two-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection and was a two-time Sooner Scholar.

His academic advisor praises his ability to assess strengths and weaknesses, as much because of what it does for him as well as the role model he becomes for other players. Not a loud leader, Ware leads by example and has a voice that encourages his teammates. He values his classroom time and reminds teammates that baseball won’t always be an option, after not being drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft. He helps teammates understand the value of the academic support, challenging them to take advantage of the support they are offered, and he is quick to use himself as an example. He understands that support has helped him achieve an ever-increasing GPA on his successful path to graduation.

Character

Ware’s character is part of every piece of him. It shows up in the classroom, in competition and in his community service. According to those who know him, he is one of those players whom all coaches hope to have in their programs. When positive changes need to be made in the team culture, he is the one who will lead the effort. If players need to accept the culture that is present, he will communicate that as well and provide valuable examples of what to do. He is a good college player who understands his value.

The MLB Draft days in 2018 could have been disappointing as he never got the call. He took a different approach, using that as motivation to work hard on his academics because he understands the value of a degree. He is quick to welcome recruits into the Sooner program. He includes the families of those new players, making them feel comfortable about the family their sons have become a part of. He will be a success in whatever he chooses to do, and right now becoming a coach is his goal. His current coaches know he will succeed in that effort. The coaches know that Ware will always do things the right way, whether someone is watching him or not. He understands that it is what you do when no one is watching is the true definition of character.

Community

Like so many other parts of his life, Ware understands the value of community service and relishes the opportunities he has as a Sooner baseball player. He is always among the first to volunteer, doing it because he wants to. It goes back to valuing the opportunities he is being offered. Among the activities in which Ware has participated during his career are the annual OU baseball-softball Halloween fundraiser games to benefit the Vs. Cancer Foundation, the OKC Children’s Hospital and the K’s for Kids. He has volunteered at area schools and is always quick to sign autographs for fans. His is a friendly face of the Sooners, and he is quick to welcome people, long-time friends and new acquaintances, to his world. If the Sooner baseball team is in the community, it is likely that Ware will be one of the most visible.

Competition

Ware was named to the 2018 All-Big 12 Second Team as an infielder and was named to the 2017 All-Big 12 First Team as the designated hitter. He became the first Sooner to be named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year since 2004 when he won the award in 2017 as a sophomore transfer. In 2018, he led the Sooners in hits with 79 and finished second with a .331 batting average and 20 doubles.

As a junior, he recorded multiple hits in 25 games and multiple RBI eight times, and he hit safely in 47 of the 62 games. In 2017, he was third on the team in hitting during his first year with the program. He played in 57 of 59 games in 2017, starting 54, then followed that up by playing 62 games (out of 63) in 2018. He started all 62 of the games he played in 2018. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in March 2017. As of nomination time, he had appeared in 115 games for the Sooners, starting 112.

He transferred to OU after playing one season at Neosho County CC. He helped Neosho go 51-11 in 2016 and finished the season as the country’s leader in home runs (29), RBI (122), batting average (.589), runs (120) and hits (121) in 61 games played. He won the first NJCAA Triple Crown since 1985 and earned NJCAA All-America honors. He also was named the NJCAA Player of the Year.