Most individuals acknowledge Rob Gronkowski, the previous NFL star who gained a number of Tremendous Bowls, together with one alongside his youngest brother, Glenn, after they achieved the largest comeback in historical past in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons. Many are additionally accustomed to his different two brothers, Dan and Chris, from their NFL careers or appearances on exhibits like Shark Tank, Household Feud, and Nickelodeon. Nevertheless, what’s much less recognized is that one Gronkowski brother selected a special sports activities path, following a singular journey of his personal.
Gordie Gronkowski Jr., the oldest (and tallest) Gronk bro, performed skilled baseball.
After being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels within the 2006 MLB Draft out of Jacksonville College in Florida, he spent three seasons within the Minor Leagues, reaching as excessive as A-ball. Nevertheless, a recurring decrease again damage finally led to the ultimate three years of his profession in impartial skilled baseball.
I just lately met Gordie on the Arnold Health Expo in Columbus, Ohio, the place he was representing his household’s firm, G&G Health Tools, which he co-owns together with his brothers and Dad. Not solely is the corporate one of many largest distributors of health tools within the U.S., however they’ve additionally launched their very own line of health gear.
Are you able to guess what it’s referred to as? That’s proper—Gronk Health Tools. The model gives a variety of high-quality exercise tools, together with Industrial & dwelling health tools, energy coaching gear, equipment, Chilly Plunges, Saunas, and many others.
Once I talked about indy ball, Gordie’s eyes immediately lit up. You’ll be able to all the time inform when a participant really loves the sport and cherished his expertise. Anybody can love the lavish way of life of the NFL, nevertheless it takes an entire different kind of particular person to play on the earth of impartial baseball. There are host household homes as a substitute of mansions and concession stand submit recreation spreads as a substitute of five-star meals.
So sit again, seize your favourite chilly beverage in your Ice Shaker (as seen on Shark Tank and based by the Gronkowski brothers!) and revel in getting a glance into the world of Gordie Gronkowski Jr., the baseball bro.
Soccer is in your DNA… what was it about baseball that drew you in as a substitute of soccer?
Because the oldest brother, and although my dad was a 4 yr starter at Syracuse on a full scholarship for soccer, I simply by no means actually had the angle or the psychological toughness on the time. Being born and raised in Buffalo, New York, in the event you play sports activities, you’re often a 3 sport athlete. I had a ardour for baseball, hockey and basketball. With baseball, I went to the Little League World Collection twice once I was 12 and 15 years outdated. Regardless that I used to be a very good athlete in Buffalo, that didn’t imply something going in opposition to the beasts down in Florida.
I’m assuming as massive into health as you all are, that dwelling exercises have been positively distinguished. Rising up, did you do the identical exercises as your brothers although you performed completely different sports activities?
Rising up with 4 youthful brothers had a huge impact on me. My father taught us the significance of figuring out and utilizing correct type, guiding us by high-rep, light-weight workouts. At first, I wasn’t significantly motivated to work out, however my brother Dan, who is definitely two years youthful than me, had an actual ardour for health and the gymnasium. Our highschool’s health tools was in horrible form on the time, so our father constructed an attractive gymnasium downstairs in our home. Dan started excelling in all my varsity sports activities groups, gaining energy, muscle, and weight in such a wholesome, optimistic means. Watching him made me need to catch as much as him. Sure, you learn that proper—I discovered myself attempting to maintain up with my youthful brother, Dan. With out my youthful brothers I probably wouldn’t have made it the place I did with skilled sports activities and presumably school sports activities.
How did you find yourself in indy ball after getting launched from the minors?
I used to be severely contemplating strolling away from baseball after one other again damage required me to undergo rehab as soon as once more. After my third yr within the minor leagues, having already undergone one surgical procedure, I used to be prepared to offer it up. However then I obtained a name from John Massarelli, who advised me a couple of new impartial baseball group within the Frontier League, with a brand-new stadium being constructed simply exterior of Cleveland, Ohio, in Avon. As a northern boy, I had by no means performed near dwelling, close to my childhood family and friends, so this chance felt completely different. I additionally didn’t need to depart the sport of baseball figuring out that an damage is likely to be the rationale I needed to stroll away. I labored laborious to rehab and earn one other likelihood to play. Even throughout spring coaching, I handled some tightness, however I saved it to myself, decided to push by and get again on the sphere to play on the excessive stage I used to be use to acting at.
I used to be extremely lucky to remain wholesome and play a whole season, and that group turned the primary inaugural group to ever win a championship. The assist from the followers was nothing in need of superb, and the turnout at every recreation was really inspiring. It was all the things I had hoped for once I got here again—being wholesome, reaching a championship, and sharing the expertise with unimaginable individuals who understood what I had gone by. However what meant much more to me than successful the championship was being acknowledged by the whole league for my neighborhood service. I used to be honored to obtain the Fran Riordan Citizenship Award. What many individuals don’t know is that Fran is definitely from Buffalo, NY as effectively, which felt like an unimaginable connection.
Why did you select to go that route as a substitute of simply getting again to the “actual world”?
I knew that baseball wasn’t a sport that paid a lot, particularly when returning to Indy baseball, and I understood I wouldn’t be making a lot cash. Whereas I had different alternatives ready for me, there was one thing deep inside me that I couldn’t let go of. I wasn’t happy with the best way I needed to stroll away from the sport as a result of an damage, particularly in any case the hassle, time, and numerous hours I had devoted to the game over time.
What was your favourite place in indy ball and is there any particular purpose(s)?
I actually cherished my time enjoying for the Lake Erie Crushers and Southern Illinois Miners. The followers have been extremely supportive and engaged, creating such a optimistic, welcoming environment. I used to be grateful to play beneath my coaches, John Massarelli and Mike Pinto, who really believed in me. The stadiums have been model new, and day by day I stepped onto the sphere, I felt like I used to be precisely the place I used to be meant to be. However greater than something, it was my teammates who impressed me essentially the most. I didn’t need to allow them to down, and their assist pushed me to be the very best model of myself each single day on the sphere.
What have been a few of your favourite experiences or tales from indy ball?
There’s all the time going to be so many tales. You’ll be able to’t inform all of them,
and a few in all probability shouldn’t be advised, however a number of instances when the group was again on the resort after they all left the stadium, we performed jokes with their jerseys and pranks on opposing groups and many others., I all the time thought it was hilarious when a rookie would go as much as bat and we’d change their stroll up track. For instance “I’m a Barbie Woman”, or “Child Shark”. It not solely made it as awkward as attainable for the batter however obtained the followers laughing and the vitality up.
However by far, coming collectively and successful a championship in Lake Erie as an inaugural group of a bunch of misfits from all around the world was my favourite expertise. I do know it doesn’t imply loads to most individuals, however on the time, it meant the world to me and to the town of Avon, Ohio. I additionally did say in my first ever Cleveland information article “We’d win a championship for the town earlier than Lebron.” Simply saying.
Your former supervisor in Southern Illinois, Mike Pinto, talked about how a lot enjoyable you have been to have within the clubhouse and that you just have been all the time so “HYPED.” Former Curshers teammate, Andrew Davis, stated you all the time had a lot vitality. How did you keep so hyped and devoted to indy ball when it’s such a grinder way of life?
I feel the grit and willpower I developed rising up with my 4 youthful brothers—all the time striving to be the very best and lead by instance—turned a mindset that was instilled in me. Trying again on how far I’ve come, it actually hits dwelling. From being a little bit child in Buffalo, NY, enjoying in entrance of simply 20-30 folks a recreation, to stepping onto the sphere at Jacksonville College, enjoying in entrance of lots of typically 1000’s, and finally enjoying skilled baseball throughout the USA—that’s what I think about making it. It was the journey of a Buffalo child who walked on to earn a full scholarship, was named freshman participant of the yr, gained the first-ever convention freshman MVP on the convention match, and was finally named group captain in my senior yr—issues that nobody, together with myself, in all probability thought I may obtain. Regardless of how many individuals we performed in entrance of, I all the time knew there was no less than one particular person cheering me on, and that’s all I wanted. If I may encourage only one particular person to be higher or assist them attain their targets of enjoying, that’s what baseball really meant to me
How did you make the choice to hold up the cleats?
After we gained the championship in Lake Erie, which was now my 2nd skilled championship Ring after the Ring we gained for LA Angels Orem Owls in my 2nd yr, I actually felt like I had achieved all the things I wanted to emotionally and mentally, and I used to be at peace with transferring on from baseball. I had given all the things I may to the sport, and in return, it had given a lot to me. The one purpose I saved enjoying for 2 extra years was the possibility to play skilled baseball within the Metropolis of Boston with the Worcester Tornadoes within the Can-Am League, proper subsequent to my brother, Rob, who had been drafted by the New England Patriots on the time. Though it wasn’t the identical expertise as I had in Lake Erie, and regardless of main the group in hitting, they traded me. I went on to play two extra years with the Gateway Grizzlies and the Southern Illinois Miners within the Frontier League, however I may inform my physique and thoughts weren’t the place they wanted to be. That’s when you realize it’s time to stroll away. However what I’m grateful for is that I used to be capable of depart the sport by myself phrases… on high! (That’s what she stated).
After baseball, you transitioned to working within the health world. What function do you play at Gronk Health now?
I’m at present a co-owner and a Industrial Account Supervisor primarily based out of Boston. We design and ship health tools all through the northeast.
There’s nothing extra fulfilling than serving to others obtain their health targets and galvanizing them to reside more healthy, happier lives. That sense of pleasure and function is similar feeling I skilled once I was on the baseball area.
Has your expertise in indy ball helped you with Gronk Health now? Have you ever carried over any qualities from that point in proball?
My expertise in minor league baseball has helped me tremendously transition into the actual world. Baseball taught me the right way to lead by instance. I used to be by no means that man who was going to inspire you by providing you with loopy speeches. I used to be somebody who was going to assist inspire and information a group by laborious work by speaking and galvanizing others to be the very best. Baseball is a recreation of self-discipline and failure. Whenever you go one for 3, you’re a Corridor of Famer, which is loopy to consider as a result of in virtually another sport that a lot failure would get you launched or reduce.
The psychological toughness you need to have in baseball is what has actually helped me with work. Whether or not it was me placing out or making a foul play, you needed to have the flexibility to bounce again from setbacks and keep a optimistic mindset, each of that are completely essential in enterprise as effectively. Main failures and challenges are all simply part of the journey, and it’s all about the way you reply..
Is there the rest you need to inform the world about Gronk Health?
At G&G Health and Gronk Health, we’re greater than only a health firm; we’re a motion. Born from the imaginative and prescient of athletes who really perceive the ability of health, our mission is to assist rework lives. Whether or not you’re a seasoned athlete or simply starting your health journey, our merchandise are designed to satisfy your wants and exceed your expectations. With Gronk Health, you’re not simply investing in tools—you’re becoming a member of a neighborhood that values integrity, authenticity, and the relentless pursuit of health excellence. That’s why it carries the GRONK identify.
I simply need to personally thank Gordie for taking the day trip of his busy schedule each on the Arnold and afterwards to speak indy ball and assist me share his story with our readers.
If you’re all for any merchandise that carry the Gronkowski identify, you’ll be able to take a look at the next hyperlinks:
