Baseball is only a small part of who Cerritos College Falcons’ Brody Cuellar is and for a guy that batted .321 this season and led his team in RBI and base on balls, it only tells a portion of his story and success at Cerritos.
Conversations with the primary designated hitter Cuellar revealed a 20-year-old man that’s positioned himself perfectly to further his baseball career, to build a strong foundation and it all begins with his Catholic faith.
Cuellar is a believer, not ashamed of it and knows that his relationship with God is what has guided him through tempestuous times.
“Am I going to pray for it to get easier or am I going to pray to be stronger?”
“I’ve already decided in my mind that in life in general, I’m going to pray to keep getting stronger,” he added. “And I know that when I pray for those things, I’m going to keep getting tough situations thrown at me and that’s for me to get to work.”
It has been a long road for Cuellar but the tough moments in his life have compelled him to wholeheartedly reflect on where he was in his life, where he is now and where he sees himself in the future.
Out of Bishop Montgomery High School, Cuellar had several offers from universities to play baseball but learned that he wasn’t Cal State or University of California eligible after failing to complete a couple of classes.
“It was stuff like that. It would bother me because I would be like ‘man, I know I should be there,’” he said.
Cuellar added, “But now when I look at it, I know that everything’s for a reason and I think being at Cerritos is the best thing that could have happened to me.”
After being left disappointed in missing out, Cuellar could have made decisions that would have led him down a much different path, but in his faith also found himself in the best possible place to turn his current situation into one that would guide him into becoming more than just a baseball player.
“I’ve learned a lot from coach Nate, from [Vopinek]. All our coaching staff, they’re all great people and great coaches,” Cuellar said.
He added, “Coach Fern always talks to us about [that] we could lose every game, but if we all become better young men, then he succeeded. And he really shows that, it really is bigger than baseball at Cerritos. And I just know I made the right decision going there. I really have learned a lot.”
Cuellar is fully aware of all the hardships that come from being a student athlete and in his everyday life but welcomes them. He knows that he is not in complete control of his life.
“The Lord already has his plan made for me,” he said. “So, it’s more of a day-to-day. Whatever comes my way, get it done to the best of my ability.”
Cuellar expresses a deep humility on and off the baseball field and a mental fortitude that simply cannot be taught.
His parents described him as an incredibly caring, disciplined and loving individual. It’s easy to see where he gets it from.
Cuellar was raised in a Catholic home and attended Catholic schools. He was brought up in a home that rewarded openness and honesty.
“God’s always been first,” Audrey Cuellar, his mother, said.
She added the importance of being able to have clear communication with any child, allowing your kids to be able to freely express themselves and how that’s aided in Brody’s growth.
Jessi Cuellar, his father, said that Brody always looks at everything in a positive light and noted the positive impact that he has on others.
Jessi said, “He is big on faith, which is a beautiful thing.”
The ability to be open about his faith has allowed for others in his life to lean more into their own, from the friends he’s made in high school to his current teammates which have now led to group prayers before every game.
“Baseball is my outlet,” he said but Brody noted the significance of how baseball helps spread the word. His mission is not to force his beliefs on anyone but hopes that the way he carries himself and talks about it will resonate with even just one person around him.
Brody is a diligent and regimented individual. Whether it’s nursing a nagging hand injury, having pre-planned meals everyday, stretching or his preparation during the week for a baseball game.
This all comes from an understanding that your religion and relationship with God is only part of the journey. There is work still to be done and God trusts in you to do your part, Cuellar said.
“The Lord gave me the opportunity to wake up today, to be great, to go out, and it’s up for the taking, honestly.”
Brody said he is not results oriented anymore, it’s about the process and “every little win counts.”
“We’re not promised tomorrow. You get up and you win small. There’s going to be days when you’re going to mess up and you’re going to feel like crap and be like ‘damn I screwed that up.’” he added.
As for his goals after Cerritos, Brody hopes to continue playing baseball at a high level, get a good education, continue leaning into his faith to keep being a better man and build a strong foundation for a healthy, positive family.
Brody is conscious of who he is. It is all thanks to his relationship with God that he’s been able to propel himself forward and lift others up.
Brody is in a place now where he is fully content with allowing God to guide his future.
“I know in the Bible it says if you’re anxious about something, then the Lord’s going to kind of take it out of your life because the Lord always tells us never to be anxious,” Brody said. “There would be times where I’d get anxious.”
“But in the most recent I think of it more as open palms of the Lord. You keep your hands here and you just give it up to him. He’s going to take the rest. So, if I keep this mindset and I’m strong with it no matter the ups and downs, maybe the Lord keeps me here for a while and maybe not.”
