Brewers Prospect Fulfills Late Brother's Big-League Dreams

When the Boys of Summer take the field, a New Tampa teen will be among those suiting up.

Tucker Neuhaus, 18, went straight from the Wharton High School diamond to the Milwaukee Brewers’ rookie mini-camp in Phoenix in preparation to play on the Brewers’ rookie-league team in Arizona this year, signing for a cool $771,000.

Neuhaus, who played shortstop with Wharton, was the 72nd overall pick in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft and promptly signed with the Brewers, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

It’s a dream Neuhaus shared with his older brother, Tyler, and one Neuhaus now pursues in his brother’s memory.

A Family Tragedy

Also a MLB draft prospect, Tyler Neuhaus was a sophomore catcher at Hillsborough Community College when his life was cut short at the age of 19. 

He was on his way home from a party when his 2007 Honda Civic struck a TECO power pole at the Hillsborough/Pasco county line Nov. 30, 2012. Neuhaus was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital where he died. It was discovered later that he had been texting on his cell phone when he lost control of his car.

Still reeling from the tragedy, the news that Tucker Neuhaus would play for the Brewers was bittersweet for the Neuhaus family.

“Our family has gone from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in just six months,” said Ken Neuhaus. “We were proud but humbled when we got the news about Tucker. Here we were, battling through the worst tragedy of our lives and then we hear about Tucker’s success. It’s really a story of tragedy and triumph.”

Baseball has always been a mainstay in the Neuhaus household.

“It’s every little boy’s dream to play pro ball,” said Ken Neuhaus. “When I was growing up in Iowa, I wanted to play for the Chicago Cubs.”

Ken Neuhaus didn’t make it to the big leagues but did play college ball at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Afterward, he served as head baseball coach at Bethel College in Minnesota for 14 years and then relocated his family to Florida so he could coach at Freedom High School. He ended his career as a scout for the Reds.

His sons, 7 and 9 years old when the family moved to Florida, were already well indoctrinated into the baseball lifestyle.

“They started with T-ball and grew up playing in the New Tampa Little League,” said Ken Neuhaus. “They both loved the sport.”

Tyler Neuhaus went on to play for Freedom and Wharton and his brother followed in his footsteps at Wharton.

“Ty was Tucker’s mentor and best friend,” said Ken Neuhaus. “He was devastated when Ty died.”

But Neuhaus believes the lessons taught through baseball helped his son cope with the loss.

“You learn life lessons through this sport. Sometimes it’s a hard lesson of loss,” said Ken Neuhaus. “But Tucker battled through the worst tragedy of his life and persevered.”

Determined To Fulfill A Dream

Following his brother's death, Tucker Neuhaus was determined to play ball for both of them, though the odds were against him.

A strained quadriceps forced him to miss most of his senior season. Then, the first time the Brewers were scouting him, a ball hit him, puncturing his ear drum. It didn’t go much better the second time the Brewers scouted him. Fighting the flu, Neuhaus vomited on the field and was taken out of the game.

“I really thought I was done with ball,” Neuhaus said. “But it’s all part of God’s perfect timing.”

The Brewers liked Neuhaus’ determination and positive attitude, not to mention his skills (he was touted as one of the state’s top players), so they gave Neuhaus a third shot.

This time, Neuhaus came through with flying colors and became the Brewers’ second pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Tucker Neuhaus believes his brother was watching over him that day, and said he has a responsibility to keep his brother's baseball dreams alive.

Spreading A Message

But now, with the national platform of Major League Baseball, both father and son feel they’ve also found a way to give meaning to Ty’s tragic death.

“We feel we can now use this vehicle of Major League Baseball to get out the message of the dangers of driving while distracted,” said Ken Neuhaus. “Ty was a wonderful boy who made a bad decision. But he’s not alone."

Neuhaus noted that 12 teens die every day from distracted driving.

“It’s kind of a silent epidemic,” he said, adding that a good friend of his just lost his 23-year-old son to a crash caused by texting and driving. “It’s the No. 1 reason for accidents.”

The family plans to use a fund set up in Ty’s name, TyNeuhausMemorialFund.com, to launch a campaign to promote awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

“We hope to use Tucker’s good fortune as an avenue to warn kids that, if they want a bright future, they have to pay attention behind wheel. Just put the phone away when you’re driving. That’s our message,” said Ken Neuhaus.