Hamilton High’s star outfielder and baseball prodigy Michael Brueser peers over his shoulder at his home field with a grin. The 6-foot-1 junior’s cleats stand staked into the fine-cut grass as he reflects on the memories that reside within these hallowed grounds.

These are the same grounds that birthed the career of current Stanford infielder and Brueser’s older brother, Nick. Had it not been for his older brother’s success and enjoyment in playing the game of baseball for Hamilton, Brueser admits that he very well could have continued to pursue a career in soccer. At age 12, Brueser even helped lead the San Tan Legacy soccer team win in the Arizona State Cup.

It was not until age 14 when Brueser traded in his soccer cleats for a bat and a glove.

“It really clicked for me freshman year when I started focusing solely on baseball and I realized I had a real shot at making varsity,” Brueser said.

In 2017, Brueser’s freshman year, he did in fact make the varsity team and was fortunate enough to play alongside his older brother in his senior season. This same year, as one high school baseball career began, the other came to a close, but both would ultimately conclude with Hamilton High’s seventh state championship; a storybook-type ending which Brueser’s parents called their “proudest moment as parents.”

Growing up, the Brueser brothers were inseparable. This being said, playing beside Nick was not unfamiliar territory for Brueser. He reflects back on their childhood where they would do everything together from playing wiffle ball in their backyard, to playing football at their local park. But like most sibling relationships came a high level of intensity and competitiveness.

“We’ve always been so competitive with each other and I feel that’s translated to our high school sports,” Brueser said. “I’m always trying to keep up with Nick’s records and all the stuff he’s done for Hamilton. I really try to model myself after him,” Brueser added as he enters his third season of varsity baseball for Hamilton.

Brueser’s competitive nature did translate well into his career as an outfielder for Hamilton’s varsity team. Hamilton’s star left-handed pitcher and Brueser’s best friend, Shane Murphy, is a testament to his competitive fire.

When Brueser is not crushing baseballs over the padded walls of Hamilton’s baseball field, he can often be found staying active with his best friend Murphy. The duo will frequently play golf, ping pong and video games such as Call of Duty and MLB the Show; they’re even teammates in a three-on-three basketball league. Murphy revealed there is a mutual camaraderie in staying active and facing off against Brueser, stating he has a demeanor that “earns him respect among people.”

“I remember in his freshman year, his first big game, he hit a grand slam against Mountain View in the Desert Vista Tournament," Murphy said. "It was just a wild moment and that was when things started to click. He’s probably the most clutch player on our team. Ever since then you just expect Mike to come through in these big moments and he comes through everytime."

While Brueser and Murphy share a kinetic chemistry on the field, even more can be said about their off-field chemistry. The pair of “brothers,” as they call themselves, mirror each other in a variety of ways. Both Brueser and Murphy feel as if they share a concise intellectual understanding of each other, often sensing they are on the same wavelength. But the one trait that Murphy attributes to their brotherly relationship is their matched sense of dry and sarcastic humor.

“He’s known for these witty but obvious comments, it’s hilarious,” Murphy said. “He’s very intelligent and most of his humor reflects that -- his family is the same way."

This familial bond extends far beyond daily gatherings and mirrored personalities. Brueser’s parents, Mark and Christine, welcome Murphy into their home with open arms, including their Sunday dinners.

“It’s mandatory to be here on Sundays for dinner,” Brueser shared. “Shane is here for most of our Sunday gatherings, we really are one big family."

Brueser credits his success and demeanor both on and off the field to his family upbringing. In the Brueser household there has always been a high standard for professionalism and academics -- after all, Christine is a director of audit and accounting as well as a senior partner for a CPA company, and Mark is an engineer manager for a corporation that deals with global aerospace and defense technologies.

Brueser takes immense pride in his academics, along with forming close relationships with his teachers.

“He’s extremely dedicated and very disciplined,” Mark said.

He revealed that while his intentions are to continue baseball throughout college, he would also like to seek a degree in finance.

“Michael is an excellent student, he’s always challenging himself in the classroom with AP classes- - all while maintaining a GPA above 4.0,” Christine said..

Along with excelling in the classroom, Brueser has been labeled as a leader by his teammates. He has been praised for his “even-keeled manner” and “ability to carry himself.” Brueser attributes these traits to not only his upbringing, but baseball royalty that’s passed through Hamilton -- namely Murphy’s brother and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Patrick Murphy, and Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Cody Bellinger.

Now, Brueser seeks to craft his own legacy for Hamilton while continuing to build upon his family and school’s tradition.

As the sun begins to descend on a crisp 70-degree day in Chandler, Arizona, Brueser points to the maroon-colored 22 on his white pinstriped jersey.

“My brother wore this number,” Brueser said. “He decided to wear this number because of all the great players that passed through Hamilton’s baseball program with the same number.”

No. 22, a number worn by Hamilton greats such as Austin Filiere, Mitch Nay, Nick Brueser and now Michael Brueser.

“I want to continue that legacy of the number 22 and I want that to be the number Hamilton is recognized for,” Brueser said.