Meet the Mighty Mussels: Get to know Fort Myers' fourth-year manager Brian Meyer

The Naples Daily News and The News-Press will profile a Fort Myers Mighty Mussels member each week to introduce fans to the Minnesota Twins' Single-A prospects and those guiding them as they work their way up the Minor League Baseball ranks in Southwest Florida.

Brian Meyer is in his fourth season as the Mighty Mussels' skipper and is the reigning Florida State League Manager of the Year. The Cleveland native played college baseball at Otterbein College before serving as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater. Meyer moved on as an assistant at Wright State, and then as Director of Operations at Tulane, reaching the NCAA Tournament in both stints before moving on to Butler in 2017 before being hired by the Minnesota Twins in 2020. The Naples Daily News sat down with Meyer to learn more about him.

Meet the Mussels:Mighty Mussels managing partner John Martin gives a look behind the Twins' Class A affiliate

Question: When you look back on your career in baseball, do you have a favorite memory?

Meyer: There's a lot of stuff that I look back on. One of them that I think has made the most impact on my life, on and off the field, was May 29, 2011. I was an assistant coach at Wright State on that day, and we won the Horizon League tournament. We were hosting the tournament, and that night, I actually met my future wife. So we had a cookout at our head coach's house after the game, and my wife was visiting her parents that weekend, and her dad was our equipment manager. And, you know, I always look back on that day as, you know, not just winning a championship on the field, but my life changed completely that day from a personal standpoint as well.

What accomplishment on your resume are you most proud of?

Meyer: I think just being here, still being in the game. You know, when I was growing up, I wasn't the biggest, fastest or strongest kid. I was cut three times from travel ball, and we had one travel ball team in our local town. And when I was 8, 9, and 10 years old, I got cut from travel ball. I was devastated. And I look back on that, and especially with a kid of my own now who's starting to grow up and love it. It crushed me at the time. But I look back on it, and there was one other kid who actually played on those teams who ended up playing college baseball, and I ended up playing college baseball. I love the game, and to still be in it and to see how God has blessed me down this path and kept me in baseball to serve a bigger purpose, that's something that I really reflect on.

What advice would you give to younger baseball players?

Meyer: I had a coach when I was 10 years old, Frank DeStefanis, and his brother is actually the one who cut me three times from travel ball. But Frank believed in me. Frank took me under his wing as a really young kid, and he always told me, don't give up. And you know, kids hear the Jim Valvano speech with that, but if it's in your heart and it's something that you're really passionate about, don't give up. You have to go through some trials and tribulations, and you might not understand it at the time, but if you keep pressing forward with persistence and determination you can find a place to play, whether that's Division I, whether that's Division III, there's an opportunity for everyone to keep continuing to play this game as long as they possibly can, knowing that at some point you're going to have to hang the spikes up. But when you do reach that day, if you can look back and really look at yourself in the mirror and say you did everything you possibly could to maximize the most of your abilities, and you enjoy the game while you're at it and learn some lifelong lessons along the way, that is success.

What's something a casual Mussels fan may not know about Single-A baseball?

Meyer: They're a long ways away from the Big Leagues. This is their first year in affiliate baseball, the first time playing 100-plus games, and they are a really long way from being in the Big Leagues. There's a reason that there's levels to the minor league system before you reach the Big Leagues, and this is the lowest rung that you can get when it comes to affiliated baseball. So they're still learning every single day what it takes to be a professional, what it takes to play the pro game, and really developing their process as to what will allow them for further success.

What is your typical pregame routine?

Meyer: An hour before first pitch, we're wrapping up some pregame meetings with the offense, with some pitchers. We do a competitive game prep session when we're at home with our hitters in the cages. There's days where I'll help the hitting coaches with that. Before that, just eat some dinner, take a shower if I need to. And then I always go out and see my wife and my son before the game, usually 25-30 minutes before the game. I'm able to play catch with him, he's usually there in full uniform every game. So just kind of spend some time with them before the game actually starts. Those are things I look forward to before the start of the game.

Do you have a favorite theme or promotion night at Hammond Stadium?

Meyer: I look forward to Miracle night and wearing the throwback jerseys. When I was hired back in 2020 we were still the Miracle, and I was super pumped about the colors and the jerseys. And then two weeks later we found out we were going to be the Mussels. My high school colors were purple and gold, so that wasn't a big change or anything. But I think the Miracle, as many people will point to, had a really good brand before we changed to the Mussels. Not that there's anything wrong with the Mussels, I think our people do a great job promoting it and we run with it in the clubhouse as well. And I also enjoy fireworks night, especially after we win and my family comes down. I'm able to sit there and watch them with my son.

What does your go-to playlist look like?

Meyer: If I'm driving around in the car, typically I have it on a Christian radio station, whether that's 89.5 or 88.7 FM. Usually, I always have that on in the car. When I'm in the office or, you know, at home hanging out, depending upon what I'm doing, there are a lot of different artists on my Spotify playlist. I range kind of with anything. If it has a good beat, I'll listen to some of my favorites, anything from Springsteen, 90s country to 90s R&B, 90s hip hop. I lived in New Orleans for five years and really got into a lot of the music there. Trombone Shorty is a local artist from there who I really enjoy. Leon Bridges, I got a lot of different things floating on my Spotify playlist. Just kind of depends upon whatever I'm in the mood for.

Do you have a favorite spot to eat around town?

Meyer: My favorite place is probably Blu Sushi. Whenever we have the grandparents in town, or my wife and I are able to get out for a night, that's typically where we go.

Upcoming Mighty Mussels schedule

Tuesday-Sunday vs. Tampa Tarpons

July 1-3 at Bradenton Marauders

July 4-6 vs. Bradenton Marauders

July 9-14 vs. Daytona Tortugas

July 19-21 at Clearwater Threshers

July 23-28 at Dunedin Blue Jays

Upcoming Fireworks Shows and Promotional Giveaways

Fireworks Nights

• July 4
• July 5
• July 12

Giveaways

• July 6: Red, white, and blue hat
• July 13: Pit viper sunglasses

Go to MightyMussels.com for game times and more promotions.