2024 MLB draft prospect Joseph Sullivan blazes his own trail by breaking Heisman legacy to opt for baseball stardom
Joseph Sullivan's journey has been quite extraordinary. While he is part of a lineage that has made its name in football, his achievements on the diamond have been exemplary, justifying his decision to take up baseball instead of football.
Joseph's grandfather, Pat Sullivan, forged a name for himself on the Gridiron. He represented the Auburn Tigers from 1969 to 1971, where he became one of the most feared quarterbacks in the game. He tied the NCAA record for touchdowns, scoring 71 in his career.
In 1971, he won the coveted Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Auburn Tigers player to do so. He remains one of only three Auburn players to have won the award to date, with Bo Jackson (1985) and former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (2010) being the other two.
He spent six seasons in the NFL and also coached four teams in a coaching career that spanned nearly three decades. Joseph's father, Patrick Sullivan Jr., also played quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and the TCU Horned Frogs.
With a rich history in football, it would only be natural to see Joseph on the Gridiron. However, he credited the mental toughness it takes to make it big in baseball as one of the reasons for picking it over football.
“Probably all the failure. I think it’s one of the hardest games you can play. It definitely takes a strong mental guy to do that. Along with the hard aspects of the skillset and everything, mentally, it’s the ones who are strongest who make it the furthest,” Joseph Sullivan said per MLB.com.
Sullivan also noted his father's insights about the added longevity of playing baseball since it is less hard on the body.
Joseph Sullivan has been a revelation for the South Alabama Jaguars
Sullivan has excelled as a utility player for the Jaguars. In three seasons at South Alabama, he recorded 25 home runs and 95 RBI with an average of .271. He has also walked 88 times while stealing 45 bases, which shows he is a difficult hitter to get off base.
This year, Sullivan was invited to take part in the MLB Draft Combine. He also starred in the MLB Draft League last summer, recording four homers and stealing five bases in 19 games. Whether he can carry his family's legacy forward to the major leagues, only time will tell.