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Former minor league player covers his business bases
By MARIE STEMPINSKI
Article published on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 |
TREASURE ISLAND – Jason Pruett has traded a baseball glove for retail development, but he’s still winning the game. Pruett, well known in the Tampa Bay area during the late 1990s and early in this decade, was a pitcher in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays minor league system.
“We played all over the country,” he said. “We (the Hudson Valley Renegades) even won the minor league World Series in 1999.”
Pruett’s lifelong dream was to make it to play in the major leagues. He hoped to become a Devil Ray and it looked promising. Then nature threw a curve ball.
“I started to have shoulder problems. I tore my labrum twice. I was 26 years old and had two surgeries. I didn’t want to be in the minors into my 30s,” said Pruett, who lives on Treasure Island.
It was time to try something new.
“I kept my friends and contacts from the years I was playing ball,” Pruett said.
He met Ed Cothron, owner of Red Rabbit Development, through a mutual friend.
“I’m the company’s leasing director. We currently have 12 to 14 projects under way,” he said.
Pruett travels throughout Florida talking to prospective tenants, keeping them up to date about the company’s projects, and listening to what they need.
“Customer service is very important. I get a lot of good feedback. I like people and work well with them,” he added.
Development isn’t Pruett’s only interest. He’s on the road to becoming an entrepreneur with a new clothing line called Gamezon.
“It’s a new line of T-shirts, swim suits and outdoor apparel,” Pruett said.
The Texas native enjoys Treasure Island and plans to stay here. Still single, he likes to say that he is “taking applications.” He’s involved in the community and is active in the Pass-A-Grille Community Church, The Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, and visits shut-ins in nursing homes.
“There are some baseball fans there that I talk to,” he said, smiling. He’s also involved with and supports local law enforcement.
“My grandfather was a Dallas police captain. He saw Ruby shoot Oswald,” Pruett said.
What advice would he give young people today?
“Never burn your bridges,” he said. “You never know what life is going to throw at you, so keep your friends and be ready for the next play of your life.”
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Article published on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007
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