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Before World Series Champion relief pitcher Brett Martin pitched in the major leagues, he was an eighth-grader in Hamblen County Schools.

Thursday night, he spoke those students being honored at the annual Middle School Scholars Banquet at First Baptist Church Morristown Fellowship Hall.

Martin went to the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2013, but he developed tendonitis in his elbow after his first semester. After redshirting, he decided to come to Walters State Community College where he was drafted in June 2014 by the Rangers.

“I played five different positions in the minor leagues,” Martin said. “There were long bus rides, small towns, injuries and a lot of failures. I didn’t think about it at the time, but I look at those bus rides in the minor leagues as some of the best times of my life,” he said. “I was very grateful that I could accomplish the things I did in my career. Since 2019, I pitched 200 major league games as a left-handed reliever.”

Martin said the toughest challenges as a minor leaguer was the bus rides, the less-than-average food and low pay. After shoulder surgery was performed, his recovery didn’t go as hoped.

As he found out, life could be a curveball. Martin gave advice that he as an eighth-grader looks positively back upon now.

He said that one should make good decisions in school, be careful in who you hang out with and most importantly to choose to be kind. Martin also said to set goals, embrace challenges and not to be afraid to ask for help.

“You should work hard, but you should also enjoy life,” he said. “Your future isn’t about what you do, but what you become.”

He ended his remarks by telling the students that when their turn comes, they should step to the plate and hit their opportunity out of the park, no matter what that opportunity is.

After his speech, Superintendent of Schools Arnold Bunch presented a Hamblen County Challenge Coin to Martin. Bunch also announced that a financial donation will be made in Martin’s honor to the East High Baseball Boosters Club.

A native of Morristown, Martin is a graduate of Morristown-Hamblen High School East, where he played baseball. After realizing his dream of attending the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship, injuries redirected his career home to Walters State Community College. He was drafted in the Fourth Round of the June 2014 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers. He spent 10 years in the Rangers’ minor league system until making his major league debut in 2019 with the Rangers, serving as a relief pitcher for the next five years. Martin helped Texas to the World Series title in 2023 under Manager Bruce Bochy.

Martin now works in commercial insurance sales with Cate Insurance Agency. He is married to Haley and they have a two-month-old son. He is a pitching coach to youth in the community.

Bunch said that Martin represents someone who knows what it means to grow up in this community, pursue excellence and give back in meaningful ways.

“What makes Brett’s story especially meaningful is not just what he accomplished, but where he chose to come back to,” Bunch said. “After his career, he returned home to Morristown, where he now works, mentors and invests to help the next generation of young people in this community achieve their own goals.

“Students, as you prepare for the next steps in your journey, Brett’s story is a reminder that big dreams can start right here and that perseverance, resilience and commitment can take you further than you might imagine,” Bunch said.

Students from East Ridge, Lincoln Heights, Meadowview and West View middle schools were honored for their academic successes by the school system. Each student received an eagle trophy and a proclamation from the Tennessee General Assembly signed by State Rep. Rick Eldridge and State Sen. Steve Southerland. Students also received a six-month online subscription to the Citizen Tribune.

Bunch thanked all who attended the banquet.

“Your presence sends a strong signal of support and stresses the importance of learning and academics to these young men and women,” he said. “While we celebrate sports, we need to celebrate academics, which is really key to what you’re going to do for your future. Parents, you should be extremely proud of these young men and women. Thank you for stressing the importance of academics to your student. These students are well on their way to being able to do what they want to do for their futures.”

Students honored were pictured with Bunch and the school board member from that student’s district.

The banquet was sponsored by the Citizen Tribune, Hamblen County Schools, HC*EXCELL and Utrust.