Prominent Young African American Baseball Player Eric Fleetwood

Eric Fleetwood

By Professor Sterling Haynes

Meet Eric Fleetwood a talented young baseball player studying business at Triton College.

The Cincinnati Ohio native currently ranks No. 2 nationally with Junior College Baseball (JUCO). Division I batting average (.488) while adding 13 home runs and 53 Run Batted In (RBI) during a breakout freshman season that has already drawn Division I attention.

He frequently grew up as the only Black player on his travel teams, an experience that reflects the broader decline in Black representation across the sport. Black players made up just 6.8% of Major League Baseball (MLB). Opening Day rosters in 2026, down from 18% in 1991, according to league diversity data. MLB continues trying to rebuild the Black participation in baseball.

This year marked one of the first times he’s played alongside multiple players of color and Black coaches, giving Fleetwood a firsthand look at the impact representation can have, making him hopeful he can help be part of that shift for younger players of color coming up behind him.

Zoom Interview with Eric Fleetwood

What inspired you to play baseball?

My grandma took me and my brother to the batting cage when I was six years old. When I went in there and started hitting, I fell in love with it ever since. My family got me into T-Ball at a young age at the local YMCA. Growing up, I was a big Reds fan. Brandon Phillips was my favorite player. He was always smiling and having fun. People tell me that's kind of how I am too now.

What's your favorite part about baseball?

My favorite part is competing with my teammates. I'm still best friends with some of the guys I've met on my T-Ball team. I love hitting home runs. Baseball has given me a chance to meet people all over the country.

There is a lack of representation for African Americans in baseball. Do you have any tips to encourage more people to play? When kids see players looking like them, succeeding in that sport, it helps them believe they belong there too. My biggest advice is to give the game a chance and stick with it. Baseball teaches discipline, resiliency, confidence, how to deal with failure. The more kids we can get around the game, they'll fall in love with it.

That concludes the interview it was insightful and a pleasure.

Fleetwood is set to return to Cincinnati this summer to play for the Hamilton Joes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Baseball has some of the most games in their seasons compared to other sports. Professionally, they range between 80 to 100 games in a season. College level, between 40 and 50.

Follow Eric Fleetwood on social media. @Ericfleetwood23 on Instagram. Ericfleetwood3 on X. Cartoon Characters created by Sterling Haynes. Learn more at sterlinghaynes.com