University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Kari Hodges/UGAAA
Bulldog Spotlight: Getting to Know Brian Zeldin
October 17, 2023 | Baseball
Originally from Atlanta, graduate Brian Zeldin returns to Georgia with baseball credentials that include an Ivy League Tournament Championship and a trip to an NCAA Regional Final from a career at the University of Pennsylvania.
During his senior year, the 5-11, 200-pound right hander made nine appearances for the Quakers, posting a 2-1 record and 3.74 ERA in 21.2 innings with 21 strikeouts. After unranked Penn defeated No. 13 Auburn in the NCAA Auburn Regional, Zeldin threw 4.2 innings over two outings – allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four – to help the Quakers advance to the final. Graduating from Penn with degrees in healthcare markets and finance in May 2023, Zeldin decided on the University of Georgia to continue his baseball career and pursue a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship.
When did you start playing baseball and when did you realize you loved it?
"I started playing baseball when I was five. My dad played baseball in college, so he always pushed me toward baseball. After school, I'd go hit in the batting cages and go throw. I just stuck with it. Growing up, I really enjoyed the game and enjoyed being around friends. It's a team game. You're always around people, so I loved it."
What drew you to playing for Georgia after graduating from Penn?
"After graduating, I wanted to be in the best conference I could be in, play the best competition. I'm from Atlanta. I wanted to come home and play for the Dawgs and having Coach Wes Johnson here is amazing."
Penn had a huge season last year, what was that experience like for you?
"Winning the Ivy League Tournament was great. We hadn't done it in 30-something years. Dogpiling on the field with all my buddies that I had been with for four years was unbelievable. It's hard to beat that moment.
In the regional, it was very loud. The Auburn fans are ruthless. When we played them, it was nice to get a victory there. Then we went and beat Samford. The Southern Miss games were all tough. I thought we could have won those, but it happens. We outdid expectations. It was a great experience. I'll never forget it."
How do you think you can bring that experience to Georgia?
"Having that experience is great. Getting out there. I've seen plenty of guys get starstruck. It's a little bit of a maturity factor. I've played four years, sort of, with an injury and COVID. I hope I can get out there, compete, get some outs and help win games."
Have you seen any aspects of your game improve since being here?
"Absolutely. Honestly, all my pitches. Just small tweaks here and there, but they make a big difference."
What differences have you seen coming from the Ivy League and already having faced an SEC team?
"When you look through a lineup, the SEC is a little bit deeper. We face some good hitters in the Ivy League, but now we're facing nine of them through the lineup. The guys are talented. Everyone's a little bigger, stronger and faster."
How has the transition been from Penn to Georgia?
"It's great being close to home. I can see my family whenever I want to versus when I was at Penn, I think I saw my family maybe once a semester. I couldn't really travel, and it wasn't always great for them to come and visit me. Here they're an hour and a half trip away, so it's so easy."
How is the team chemistry developing with the new guys on the roster and the coaching staff?
"I love the guys. Everyone's great. Everyone's been around the game. Everyone's been around teams before. We got a bunch of good guys here. Everyone is a good person, genuinely nice. I want to be around them so that makes things easier."
What do you like to do when you're not playing baseball?
"I love to watch sports. I love all sports. Baseball, golf, tennis, basketball, football. I'm big into sports. Hang out with friends, listen to music, watch movies."
What's next for you after college baseball?
"Hopefully, I'm playing professional baseball. That's my first goal. That's why I came here. If that doesn't work out, probably go into investment banking. Then at some point wealth management, I'm not sure yet. There's a lot of options."
(Bulldog Spotlight written by Brigette Ramirez, Georgia Sports Communications Student Assistant)
During his senior year, the 5-11, 200-pound right hander made nine appearances for the Quakers, posting a 2-1 record and 3.74 ERA in 21.2 innings with 21 strikeouts. After unranked Penn defeated No. 13 Auburn in the NCAA Auburn Regional, Zeldin threw 4.2 innings over two outings – allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four – to help the Quakers advance to the final. Graduating from Penn with degrees in healthcare markets and finance in May 2023, Zeldin decided on the University of Georgia to continue his baseball career and pursue a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship.
When did you start playing baseball and when did you realize you loved it?
"I started playing baseball when I was five. My dad played baseball in college, so he always pushed me toward baseball. After school, I'd go hit in the batting cages and go throw. I just stuck with it. Growing up, I really enjoyed the game and enjoyed being around friends. It's a team game. You're always around people, so I loved it."
What drew you to playing for Georgia after graduating from Penn?
"After graduating, I wanted to be in the best conference I could be in, play the best competition. I'm from Atlanta. I wanted to come home and play for the Dawgs and having Coach Wes Johnson here is amazing."
Penn had a huge season last year, what was that experience like for you?
"Winning the Ivy League Tournament was great. We hadn't done it in 30-something years. Dogpiling on the field with all my buddies that I had been with for four years was unbelievable. It's hard to beat that moment.
In the regional, it was very loud. The Auburn fans are ruthless. When we played them, it was nice to get a victory there. Then we went and beat Samford. The Southern Miss games were all tough. I thought we could have won those, but it happens. We outdid expectations. It was a great experience. I'll never forget it."
How do you think you can bring that experience to Georgia?
"Having that experience is great. Getting out there. I've seen plenty of guys get starstruck. It's a little bit of a maturity factor. I've played four years, sort of, with an injury and COVID. I hope I can get out there, compete, get some outs and help win games."
Have you seen any aspects of your game improve since being here?
"Absolutely. Honestly, all my pitches. Just small tweaks here and there, but they make a big difference."
What differences have you seen coming from the Ivy League and already having faced an SEC team?
"When you look through a lineup, the SEC is a little bit deeper. We face some good hitters in the Ivy League, but now we're facing nine of them through the lineup. The guys are talented. Everyone's a little bigger, stronger and faster."
How has the transition been from Penn to Georgia?
"It's great being close to home. I can see my family whenever I want to versus when I was at Penn, I think I saw my family maybe once a semester. I couldn't really travel, and it wasn't always great for them to come and visit me. Here they're an hour and a half trip away, so it's so easy."
How is the team chemistry developing with the new guys on the roster and the coaching staff?
"I love the guys. Everyone's great. Everyone's been around the game. Everyone's been around teams before. We got a bunch of good guys here. Everyone is a good person, genuinely nice. I want to be around them so that makes things easier."
What do you like to do when you're not playing baseball?
"I love to watch sports. I love all sports. Baseball, golf, tennis, basketball, football. I'm big into sports. Hang out with friends, listen to music, watch movies."
What's next for you after college baseball?
"Hopefully, I'm playing professional baseball. That's my first goal. That's why I came here. If that doesn't work out, probably go into investment banking. Then at some point wealth management, I'm not sure yet. There's a lot of options."
(Bulldog Spotlight written by Brigette Ramirez, Georgia Sports Communications Student Assistant)
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