MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Brent Suter likes doing impressions during media interviews, whether it'smovie characters like "Forrest Gump," Ron Burgundy from "Anchorman" or others from pop culture.
His latest acting role was a"Back to the Future" parody this month with Brewers teammates and coaches in which he starred as Dr. Emmett Brown from the classic 1980s movie.
All jokes aside, the left-handed Moeller High School product is simply reveling in his time as a Major League Baseball player.
"He's not up there saying, 'Man, if I don't do this and this, I'm going to be out of the league,'" Moeller basketball coach Carl Kremer said. "He is there living the moment. And I try to get people to understand that, man, if we could all do that, we're going to be better at what we do."
Suter, a Mount Lookout resident, often returns to Moeller in the offseason to speak to the student-athletes. He played both baseball and basketball during his time there as a student.
"He'd be the guy that if he walked into Moeller High School or into a restaurant people might think that he is someone because he is 6-foot-5," Moeller baseball coach Tim Held said. "But if you happen upon a conversation with him, he's just a normal guy. He fits into those situations. He doesn't expect anything special."
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Suter is grateful for his baseball journey, and he can't wait to get started with MLB's 60-game schedule this summer. Milwaukee will open the season July 24 at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
"We have, really, a good team chemistry," Suter told WCPO. "We're able to feed off each other's energy really well. So, especially with no fan noise coming in, we'll have to really lean on each other to keep each other locked in on and off the field."
Suter worked out in Cincinnati this spring and was able to maintain baseball conditioning at home and at an area baseball complex.
Suter said he's not in a high-risk category for COVID-19 so he doesn't have any personal reservations about starting the season, but he understands the concern that others may have about returning.
"I'm feeling good," Suter said. "I was doing three-inning stints and lives (simulated games) in Cincinnati probably the last month or so. I've been built up to about three innings, which I probably won't be asked to throw much more than that. So from that standpoint I'm in a really good spot. Mentally, I'm just ready to go, too."
His comic relief is certainly welcome around the clubhouse and in the media.
Suter, who signed a two-year contract extension in February, has an excellent camaraderie and a spot-on impression of longtime Brewers announcer Bob Uecker, who is famous for his "Major League" line "Just a bit outside."
"Bob Uecker might be my favorite human being," Suter said. "He's awesome. Just a great guy."
Yet not everything is a joke to Suter, a Harvard University graduate whom the Brewers selected in the 31st round (965th pick overall) in the 2012 MLB draft.
He is also passionate about conservation and is a supporter of multiple environmental groups. He studied environmental science and public policy at Harvard.
Suter gave interviews on Earth Dayand promoted messaging related to conservation.
"It's kind of a two-edged sword for this pandemic," Suter said. "There is less emissions because there is less people traveling, but there is more waste with all the to-go orders and all the PPEthat has to be thrown away. Trying to find that balance and how best to go about it is kind of tricky with this situation."
Kremer said Suter's passion about the environment is authentic. The longtime Moeller coach is proud of how Suter is leveraging his platform as a professional athlete to emphasize positive change.
"There is no ego about Brent Suter," Kremer said. "He's just really one of the great kids that's ever come from Moeller."
Suter worked as a substitute teacher in the Forest Hills School District after he was drafted. He worked his way through the minor leagues and made his major league debut in August 2016.
"He can adapt in any situation and always has a positive on that situation," Held said. "I love when he comes back. I lure him back into talking to our guys and our team about his journey and not giving up and always finding a way to contribute."
Besides pitching, Suter also played center field during his Moeller baseball career. The 2008 Moeller graduate is tied for the most triples (seven) in a season in program history.
Kremer remembers Suter reading one of his textbooks in the locker room before taking the court.
"He was very dedicated to that academically but he was also one of the first guys who would have a laugh and a celebration -- really great at balancing those parts of his life," Kremer said.
Suter was on Moeller's 2007 Division I state championship basketball team as a "Gold Team" member, or reserve player.
He had time to reflect upon his Moeller days during the quarantine period this spring.
"I didn't get a whole lot of playing time that year," Suter said. "I was a junior sitting behind some really good future Division I players. But in terms of that team and that togetherness we had, to be able to come out on top playing St. X in the state finals was crazy. Beating them for a third time that season -- just the joy that the buzzer went off was probably the best memory."
