Jeremy Brotherton

2023 Inductee

It is with great pleasure and honor that I am able to introduce this next inductee.  He has been a lifelong friend of mine and has impacted my life and others through baseball and relationships.  

He was born and raised in Ringgold, Georgia, and came to Ridgeland for High School.  He was an instant Game Changer for our program as he brought so much knowledge of the game to our team.  His father had been a longtime baseball coach at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and, at that time, was the Chattanooga State Head Baseball Coach.  Jeremy got the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the business. He brought that knowledge and experience to our team immediately after stepping onto campus.  

Just to tell you how much Jeremy knew the game I will share this short story with you.  In little league a kid stole second and Jeremy was playing Shortstop.  He had the ball in his glove and told the runner that it was a foul ball.  When the kid stepped off the bag, Jeremy tagged the little fellow getting him out.  

Jeremy’s hard work at Ridgeland would help to lead the Ridgeland Panthers to 3 straight playoff appearances, a 1998 Region Championship,  and a GHSA Final 8 appearance in 1998.  He broke the record for the most home runs here with 14 total and also at the time led the whole entire state of Georgia for the most season and most career hits for anyone to ever play the game.  He played on the TEAM Georgia team in Oklahoma that won the Championship and also played on Team American that became the first team to win the championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Jeremy’s #1 jersey is the only baseball jersey to be retired  

He was a fireball to play on the same team with and was always that teammate that had your back and side.  He was ready to throw down at the drop of a hat.  He would always say to everyone, COMPETE!!  Although he got his speed from his Mom, which by the way beat him in a footrace his freshmen year on the beach, but we won’t talk about that one, he got his father Bob’s attitude toward baseball and life.  

Jeremy took notice of the guys on our team that were a little less fortunate and he always made sure that everyone had the best equipment to play with.  He would literally bring clothes, shoes, cleats, hats, or whatever anyone needed and was glad to share with them.  He would always make it a point that everyone was part of the learning process of baseball and would help everyone to just be better.  

After high school, Jeremy went to the University of Georgia, where he was part of a championship program once more.  He then finished his playing career at Kennesaw State University and moved on to play professional baseball with Chillicothe Paints.  After his playing days were finished, he became the head baseball coach for Georgia Perimeter, where he led them to national rankings.  He then became a high school coach at Milton High School right outside of Atlanta, Georgia.  He took on a different professional role 2 years ago and now serves as a regional representative for BSN Sports Sales.  He continues to serve as a coach for the prestigious TEAM ELITE of Georgia, currently coaching some of the best talented players in the world.  

When it comes to baseball and all of his accomplishments, Jeremy Brotherton has literally been around the world and has done it all.  With all of these opportunities, he remains very humble and continues to be a servant leader in taking care of kids and making sure they have the opportunity to love and learn the game of baseball as he has been able to do.  Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure and honor that I introduce you to a great friend and teammate, one of the class of 2023 Hall of Fame inductees, Mr. Jeremy Robert Brotherton. 

—Scott Harden, 2023