1. Early Life and Education
Eric Bruntlett's formative years were spent in Lafayette, Indiana, where he excelled in both academics and athletics, laying the groundwork for his future baseball career at the collegiate and professional levels.
1.1. Childhood and High School
Eric Kevin Bruntlett was born on March 29, 1978, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Craig and Angela Bruntlett. He was a versatile two-sport athlete at William Henry Harrison High School in Tippecanoe County. In baseball, he played second base and shortstop for the Harrison Raiders, and he also served as a cornerback for the school's American football team. As a junior in 1995, Bruntlett was a key member of the Raiders team that won the Indiana High School Athletic Association state baseball championship. That season, he achieved a batting average of .463 with 31 runs batted in (RBIs). Beyond his high school team, Bruntlett also played on a traveling summer baseball team, which garnered him attention from college recruiters.
1.2. College Career
Despite being selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball in the 72nd round (1663rd overall) of the 1996 MLB draft, Bruntlett chose not to sign with the team, opting instead to fulfill his college baseball commitment to the Stanford Cardinal. During his first two seasons at Stanford, his playing time was limited. As a freshman in 1997, Bruntlett made nine appearances as a bench player, recording five hits in eight at-bats with two RBIs. The following season, he played in only five games, going 0-for-2, due to time missed after sustaining a pulled hamstring during practice. While in college, Bruntlett also played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League.
The 1999 season marked a breakthrough for Bruntlett, as he was named the Cardinal's starting shortstop in mid-February. He altered his hitting approach, transitioning from a power hitter to a contact hitter and reducing his strikeout rate. He finished the season batting .316 with one home run and 28 RBIs, earning him Stanford's Most Improved Player award. Bruntlett made his first College World Series appearance in 1999, having not been on Stanford's playoff roster in his previous two seasons. The Cardinal advanced to the semifinal round of the 1999 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, where they lost 14-11 to the Florida State Seminoles. In his final collegiate season in 2000, Bruntlett started all 62 games for Stanford, batting .352 with 24 doubles and 69 runs scored. Bruntlett and his team reached the finals of the 2000 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, ultimately losing 6-5 to the Louisiana State University Tigers.
2. Professional Baseball Career
Eric Bruntlett's professional baseball career spanned from his selection in the 2000 MLB draft to his retirement in 2010, marked by his development as a versatile utility player and significant contributions to two MLB franchises.
2.1. Draft and Minor Leagues
The Houston Astros selected Bruntlett in the ninth round with the 277th overall pick of the 2000 MLB draft. On June 20, 2000, shortly after the conclusion of the College World Series, Bruntlett signed with the Astros and was assigned to the Rookie-level Martinsville Astros of the Appalachian League. He initially faced difficulties adjusting to professional baseball, batting only .191 and committing several errors through early August. However, he concluded his first professional season batting .273 with one home run and 21 RBIs in 50 Appalachian League games.
Bruntlett began the 2001 season with the Double-A Round Rock Express of the Texas League, where he became the team's starting shortstop. After a slump in May, he mechanically adjusted his swing, improving his bat path and vision at the plate. He finished his time in Round Rock batting .266 with three home run, 40 RBIs, and a team-leading 23 stolen bases. At the end of August, Bruntlett was promoted to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. In five regular-season games after the promotion, he went 2-for-16 with one RBI, and he added another five hits and three RBIs in the Pacific Coast League playoffs.
Having made a positive impression on the Astros front office, Bruntlett returned to the Zephyrs for the 2002 season. However, he was subsequently demoted back to Round Rock at the end of April when fellow infielder Adam Everett was sent down to Triple-A, creating a roster crunch. In June, Bruntlett stole his 43rd base in Double-A, setting an Express franchise record. The Zephyrs only recalled Bruntlett to Triple-A for the final game of the season. In 116 games for Round Rock that year, Bruntlett batted .265 with two home runs and 48 RBIs, while he hit .206 with one RBI in 18 Triple-A games.
Bruntlett opened the 2003 season with the Zephyrs, but his path to the major leagues was complicated by the Astros' acquisition of veteran infielder Jeff Kent. He already faced competition from other infield prospects in the Astros' farm system. Splitting his time between second base and shortstop, Bruntlett began the year batting .265 with two home runs and 27 RBIs in Triple-A.
2.2. Houston Astros
On June 24, 2003, when José Vizcaíno fractured his wrist, Bruntlett was promoted to the Astros to fill the roster spot, making his major league debut on June 27 as a pinch hitter against the Texas Rangers. After starting his MLB career 0-for-9, Bruntlett recorded his first hit on July 2 with a single against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Wayne Franklin. His first home run came on July 7, a two-run blast off Ryan Dempster of the Cincinnati Reds. When Vizcaíno returned from the disabled list on August 21, Bruntlett was optioned back to the Zephyrs. In 26 games with Houston before the demotion, he played second base, shortstop, and outfield, while batting .255 with one home run and four RBIs. He was recalled to the major league club again on August 31, allowing him to be eligible for the postseason roster if needed, though the Astros were ultimately eliminated from playoff contention. Bruntlett finished his rookie season batting .259 with one home run and four RBIs in 31 games.
During spring training in 2004, manager Jimy Williams chose Bruntlett for the Opening Day roster, valuing his defensive versatility over an additional left-handed relief pitcher. However, he was optioned to New Orleans on April 10, with his roster spot going to pitcher Chad Harville. After hitting .232 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in New Orleans, Bruntlett returned to the Astros on June 14 when Everett nursed a hamstring strain. In this two-week stint, he went 2-for-10 with one home run and two RBIs, and Williams lauded his defensive ability at shortstop, second base, and center field. Bruntlett continued to practice outfield upon his return to the Zephyrs, understanding that positional flexibility would enhance his major league opportunities. He was called back up to the Astros on August 6 when Everett fractured his wrist after being hit by a pitch. Bruntlett remained on the major league roster for the rest of the year. In 45 regular season games for the Astros, Bruntlett batted .250 with four home runs and eight RBIs. He also hit .250 with six home runs and 37 RBIs in 86 Triple-A games. The Astros qualified for the 2004 National League Division Series (NLDS), and Bruntlett was included on the postseason roster as a bench player. He made two appearances in the NLDS, going 0-for-1 with a walk as the Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves. The Astros advanced to the 2004 National League Championship Series (NLCS), where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, with Bruntlett playing in four games and going 0-for-2.
Prior to the 2005 season, the Astros underwent a series of minor league realignments. Their Triple-A affiliation with the New Orleans Zephyrs was terminated, and the Round Rock Express were promoted to Triple-A, with the Corpus Christi Hooks taking over as Houston's Texas League affiliate in Double-A.
New Astros manager Phil Garner decided to carry 11 pitchers and 14 position players into the 2005 season, which allowed the team to include both Bruntlett and Chris Burke as utility players. Bruntlett began the season with a 0-for-14 hitless streak, the longest in the majors at that time, which ended on May 20 with a double against the Texas Rangers. A defining moment of his season occurred on July 24 when, as an extra innings defensive replacement, Bruntlett hit a three-run home run in the 14th inning off Héctor Carrasco of the Washington Nationals, who had a good 2.04 ERA that year, securing a 4-1 victory for the Astros. In 91 regular season games that year, Bruntlett batted .220 with four home runs and 14 RBIs, playing every position on the field except for pitcher and catcher. Bruntlett was used sparingly in the postseason, going 1-for-7 combined in the 2005 NLDS and 2005 NLCS, though five of those seven at-bats came in an 18-inning NLDS game against the Braves. Defensively, he sealed an Astros victory in Game 4 of the NLCS with a game-ending double play against the Cardinals. The Chicago White Sox swept the Astros in the 2005 World Series, with Bruntlett appearing in two games as a defensive replacement.
José Vizcaíno's offseason departure from the Astros before the 2006 season created an opportunity for Bruntlett to potentially receive more playing time. Although manager Phil Garner described Bruntlett as "an exceptional defensive player", he retained his role as a utility player in reserve. Bruntlett also changed his uniform number from 4 to 10 during this season due to the arrival of Preston Wilson. At the start of August, Bruntlett was sent down to the Triple-A Round Rock Express; the Astros needed to open a roster spot, and because Bruntlett still had minor league options, he could be moved without having to clear waivers. At the time of the demotion, Bruntlett was hitting .250 with nine RBIs in Houston. He played 22 games in Round Rock, batting .219 with one home run and seven RBIs. He was recalled to Houston on August 28 to provide defensive flexibility if the Astros made the playoffs. However, the Astros missed the playoffs after a 3-1 loss to the Braves on October 1. Bruntlett finished the season hitting .277 with 10 RBIs in 73 games, and he was particularly effective in pinch-hitting situations, going 7-for-17.
In his first year of arbitration eligibility, Bruntlett signed a one-year, 525.00 K USD contract with the Astros in 2007. However, the offseason acquisition of veteran utility player Mark Loretta threatened Bruntlett's role on the 2007 roster. He was the last player cut from the opening day roster, a decision general manager Tim Purpura called the most difficult of the day. Bruntlett went unclaimed on waivers and began the season in Triple-A with the Express. After hitting .200 in April, Bruntlett had a resurgent May in Round Rock, batting .362 with eight extra-base hits and 15 runs scored. By the time of his promotion on June 14, he was hitting .279 with one home home run and 21 RBIs in 60 Triple-A games. The Astros recalled Bruntlett when Everett fractured his leg in a collision with teammate Carlos Lee, and in Everett's absence, Bruntlett split time at shortstop with Loretta. He appeared in 80 MLB games that season, during which he hit .246 with 14 RBIs. The Astros finished in fourth place in the NL Central, prompting the front office to retool their roster for the upcoming season.
2.3. Philadelphia Phillies
On November 7, 2007, the Astros traded Bruntlett and closer Brad Lidge to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for center fielder Michael Bourn, relief pitcher Geoff Geary, and infield prospect Mike Costanzo. The Phillies avoided arbitration with Bruntlett, agreeing to a 600.00 K USD contract prior to the 2008 season. With an established middle infield of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, there was no clear path for Bruntlett to become an everyday player, but manager Charlie Manuel intended to give him regular playing time in a reserve role. Bruntlett took over as starting shortstop from April 8 to May 10 when Rollins was on the disabled list with a sprained ankle. Despite a slow start, he adjusted to the role, hitting .235 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 26 games during Rollins' absence. For most of the season, Bruntlett's primary role was as a late-inning defensive replacement for Pat Burrell in left field. In 120 regular season games for the Phillies that year, Bruntlett hit .217 with two home runs and 15 RBIs.
Philadelphia defeated the Brewers in the 2008 NLDS and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2008 NLCS, with Bruntlett going a combined 1-for-3 across those two series. En route to the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship, Bruntlett delivered two game-winning runs against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Tampa Bay Rays). In Game 2, he hit a pinch-hit home run. In Game 3, he was hit by a pitch as the leadoff batter in a tied bottom of the ninth inning and subsequently scored the winning run on Carlos Ruiz's hit to secure a walk-off victory.
After a strong spring training performance, Bruntlett served as the Phillies' right-handed utility player for the 2009 season. On August 23, Bruntlett completed the first game-winning unassisted triple play since Johnny Neun did so with the Detroit Tigers in 1927. In the ninth inning of a tense game against the New York Mets with a two-run difference, Bruntlett had committed two errors, allowing both Luis Castillo and Daniel Murphy to reach base with no outs. With Jeff Francoeur up to bat, Castillo and Murphy attempted a double hit and run. Bruntlett caught Francoeur's line drive out of the air, then stepped on second base to catch Castillo, and subsequently tagged Murphy out on the base path. This play was only the second time in MLB history that an unassisted triple play ended a game. The play was a much-needed moment of success for Bruntlett, who had been struggling offensively and subjected to boos from fans at Citizens Bank Park. He finished the regular season hitting .171 with seven RBIs in 72 games. Bruntlett was initially left off the 2009 NLDS roster in favor of Miguel Cairo, traveling with the team only as a potential injury replacement. However, after manager Manuel was forced to use Cairo as an outfielder and starting pitcher Cliff Lee in the series, he added Bruntlett to the Phillies' 2009 NLCS roster at the expense of carrying a 12th pitcher. Bruntlett scored a run in one appearance during the five-game series. When Manuel returned to 12 pitchers for the 2009 World Series, he elected to keep Bruntlett on the roster over Cairo. Bruntlett was 0-for-1 in one World Series appearance as the Phillies lost the series in six games to the New York Yankees. That November, the Phillies removed Bruntlett from their 40 man roster. Rather than accept an assignment to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he elected to become a free agent.
2.4. Later Career and Retirement
On December 28, 2009, the Washington Nationals signed Bruntlett to a minor-league contract that included an invitation to spring training. Bruntlett did not make the opening day roster and was instead assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs as their starting third baseman. After he hit .210 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 44 games for Syracuse, the Nationals organization released Bruntlett on May 31. On June 17, the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, who were in need of a veteran infielder, signed Bruntlett to a minor-league contract. There, he provided stability to a lineup that was otherwise in frequent flux due to major league call-ups. As Scranton's utility infielder, Bruntlett hit .265 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs in 70 games.
Bruntlett expressed that he did not want to spend another year in Triple-A, and when he did not receive any major league contract offers for the 2011 season, he elected to retire from professional baseball. Between his tenures with Houston and Philadelphia, Bruntlett finished his career batting .231 with 11 home runs and 72 RBIs in 512 MLB games.
3. Playing Style and Characteristics
Eric Bruntlett was highly valued for his exceptional versatility as a utility player. Throughout his career, he demonstrated the ability to play effectively at numerous positions across the field. He played every defensive position except for pitcher and catcher. His defensive flexibility was a significant asset, allowing managers to deploy him wherever needed, whether filling in for an injured starter or providing a late-inning defensive replacement. This adaptability was a key factor in his sustained presence in Major League Baseball.
4. Major Achievements and Records
Eric Bruntlett's professional baseball career was marked by several significant achievements and records:
- He was a member of the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. He made a total of three World Series appearances during his career (2005 with the Astros, 2008 and 2009 with the Phillies).
- On August 23, 2009, he completed the 15th unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history. This historic play was also only the second time in MLB history that an unassisted triple play ended a game.
4.1. Career Batting Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Plate Appearances | At Bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Triples | Home Runs | Total Bases | RBIs | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | Sacrifice Bunts | Sacrifice Flies | Walks | Hit By Pitch | Strikeouts | Ground into Double Play | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | HOU | 31 | 56 | 54 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | .259 | .255 | .370 | .625 | |
| 2004 | HOU | 45 | 61 | 52 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | .250 | .328 | .519 | .847 |
| 2005 | HOU | 91 | 121 | 109 | 19 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 4 | .220 | .292 | .413 | .705 |
| 2006 | HOU | 73 | 136 | 119 | 11 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 2 | .277 | .351 | .345 | .695 |
| 2007 | HOU | 80 | 165 | 138 | 16 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 1 | .246 | .346 | .283 | .629 |
| 2008 | PHI | 120 | 238 | 212 | 37 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 63 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 7 | .217 | .297 | .297 | .594 |
| 2009 | PHI | 72 | 118 | 105 | 15 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 2 | .171 | .224 | .238 | .462 |
| MLB Career Total (7 seasons) | 512 | 895 | 789 | 115 | 182 | 39 | 3 | 11 | 260 | 72 | 31 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 76 | 5 | 9 | 157 | 17 | .231 | .303 | .330 | .633 | |
[https://www.mlb.com/news/eric-bruntlett-was-big-in-2008-world-series-c295080008 MLB.com video of his 2009 unassisted triple play]
5. Personal Life
Eric Bruntlett met his wife, Eden, a delivery room nurse, while they were both students at Stanford University. The couple has two daughters. Bruntlett was a diligent student, graduating from Stanford in three years with a degree in economics.