Brad Groleau giving Princeton athletes the Royal treatment

Brad Groleau continues to work his way up the ladder in the Kansas City Royals’ organization entering his seventh season as an athletic trainer.

On the way to his next stop, he’s making a layover in Princeton during his offseason.

Groleau, a former 3-sport standout at St. Bede (class of 2013), is working for Princeton High School this winter as an athletic trainer. He’s working home basketball games and wrestling matches on a per diem basis.

You could say he’s giving the Tigers the Royal treatment.

“It’s been great being able to help and provide some coverage for the athletes during my offseason and getting to know Jeff (athletic director Ohlson) and the coaches,” he said.

Well experienced in treating ball players' sprains and strains, Groleau quickly became adept at stopping bloody nose during the PIT wrestling tournament last weekend.

“That was a fast-paced environment which I really enjoyed,” he said.

Ohlson said Groleau has been a great fit for PHS.

“Brad does a great job for us. He has been outstanding working with our kids. It has been a win-win for both of us,” he said. “We have been very fortunate to have someone great athletic trainers working with our kids over the last 10 years and Brad has contributed that on.”

Ohlson and wrestling coach Steve Amy don’t want to give him up just yet.

“We would love to keep him around but MLB season will be calling at the end of the month,” Ohlson said.

“He’s been great. Too bad he’s got to go back to the Royals,” Amy said.

Groleau, 30, will be leaving at the end of the month to report to Surprise, Ariz. where the Royals share a spring training complex with the Texas Rangers. He’ll primarily be working in the minor league camp, but will fill in on rotation on the big league side.

At the end of spring training, he’ll return to Springdale, Ark. for his second season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

“I spent two years in the Quad Cities in High A, which was a really good experience. Now at the AA level, there’s really good baseball there as well,” he said. “It’s been really enjoyable. Arkansas is a great state.”

He enjoys his travels around the Texas League with stops in Tulsa, Okla., Springfield, Mo., Wichita, Kan. and the other side of the division in Texas, traveling as far as Corpus Christi this year.

“I’m really pleased with all the stadiums in the Texas League, like our stadium in Arkansas,”he said. “It’s a top-notch facility. They maintain the facility really well. It’s been a great joy to work there.”

Groleau started as an intern with the Royals in Omaha in 2017 and 2018 and was brought on full time in 2019. He’s seen his share of the Royals ball players he’s worked with now up in the big leagues, most notably second baseman Michael Massey, an University of lllinois product, first baseman Vinny Pasquantino, infielder Maikel Garcia and pitcher Angel Zurpa.

“I had those guys with me my first fulltime job with the Royals in Rookie Ball. It’s pretty cool to see them go from Rookie Ball up to the big leagues,” Groleau said.

A standout on the diamond at St. Bede as a 2-time BCR Player of the Year and McKendree University, Groleau especially relates to the ballplayers he works with and has his own experiences to share.

“That’s the best thing about this job you form some great relationships,” he said. “I’ve shared some of my past experiences just playing ball and some of the guys will look up my old stats and make jokes about certain things. It’s always fun to bring up.”

Just like the players, Groleau said you want to work your way up with an eye on the big leagues one day.

“I want to continue to work my way up in any type of role with the organization,” he said. “I always tell myself, too, to just stay present and be in the moment. I’m really looking forward to another year in AA and working in Arkansas. It should be a great year.”

Kevin Hieronymus has been the BCR Sports Editor since 1986. Contact him at khieronymus@bcrnews.com