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Steve Bralver: From Unwanted To MVP

Steve Bralver is one of two Dynasty clients currently playing in non-MLB-affiliated professional baseball (the other one being Brendan Murphy).  Bralver is one of those guys who has impeccable character and has absolutely no problem making someone laugh.  He is also a phenomenal baseball player, who was unfortunately overlooked in this past year’s MLB Amateur Draft.  A big reason for that was the fact that he played at a Division III school (Emory University).  While Emory is known for pushing out very knowledgable graduates, it is not highly regarded for its baseball program.  That said, Bralver still made the most of his time at Emory University.  In 2007, Bralver led Emory University to the Division III World Series where he was named to the World Series All-Tournament Team, and in 2009, he was named the University Athletic Association (UAA) MVP after hitting .375 with 7 HR’s and 61 RBI’s in only 42 games.

Some agencies might look at those achievements and still say that a guy like Steve Bralver is not worth their time, but we saw somebody who has a lot of potential on and off the field, and someone we really wanted to bring into our family.

As mentioned, Bralver went undrafted after graduating from school.  After a lot of tryouts with various Independent professional teams (you can read more about that journey on Bralver’s blog at Seamheads.com), Bralver found out that no Frontier League teams had a spot for him on their roster.

Eventually, the Calgary Vipers of the Arizona Winter League came calling.  They needed a first baseman, and they liked Steve Bralver.  With not many options on the table and nothing to lose, Bralver accepted their offer and became determined to prove his value on the field.

Seventeen different Major League organizations sent scouts to watch the players in this year’s Arizona Winter League.  Steve Bralver got the exposure he needed.  Additionally, 55 free agents, including Steve Bralver, received contract offers from professional teams after a draft was held by the Arizona Winter League.  Bralver received an offer from the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League.

On Saturday, the draft was behind Steve Bralver, but he still was looking forward to that night’s Arizona Winter League Championship Game between his Calgary Vipers and the San Luis Athleticos.  Bralver ended up going 4-for-4 with a home run (2-run home run in the 1st inning) and three RBI.  He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.  From unwanted to MVP.  But still the same amazing character.

“It’s been so much fun,” Bralver said. “We had fans out rooting for our team that we didn’t know, but they came out and rooted for us every single day. To win this for them, to celebrate with champagne and the whole number, the rings, the dog pile, we loved it all.”

If you want information about Dynasty’s Professional Baseball Placement Service, please click here to email us.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “Steve Bralver: From Unwanted To MVP”

Really cool story. Is it very common for independant league players to make it to the minors? I know this happened with parise but i wasnt sure how common it is. Seems like both of your independant league guys have been putting up good numbers (i checked murphys numbers the past 2 years he has big power.) Is it likely guys like this will be able to work their way back into the minors and then MLB, or are they most likely stuck in the indy leagues? Thanks.

It all depends on the scouts who are watching the games and the needs of their teams. There are many players who got their start in an Independent League before having a successful MLB career. I can’t predict whether Brendan or Steve will make it to the minors and then to the majors, but I will do everything in my power to give them the best shot to succeed.

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