Brett’s love for sports began at a young age through baseball and other athletic experiences. Early participation helped him learn the rules of competition while developing a strong passion for sports. Looking back, he recognizes how important those formative experiences were in shaping his athletic journey. Today, he emphasizes enjoyment, learning, and passion in his work with athletes of all skill levels.

At 10 years old, Brett showed strong potential as a football player during his short youth football career. However, this was also the first time he experienced performance anxiety and struggled with the pressure of expectations placed on him. He recalls worrying about maintaining his reputation and hoping games would be canceled to avoid the stress of competition. Ultimately, Brett chose to focus his energy on baseball, while later recognizing how valuable mental performance support could have been during that stage of his development.

As the youngest of three siblings who all pitched at the collegiate level, Brett felt expectations to follow a similar path as a left-handed pitcher. However, struggles with perfectionism, pressure, and coping with failure eventually led him to lose enjoyment in pitching. Recognizing that sports should always be enjoyable, he decided to step away from pitching to focus on hitting instead. That transition ultimately led him to become primarily a first baseman and reclaim his passion for the game.

This marks Brett’s transition to Varsity baseball, earning a playoff call-up after spending most of the season on Junior Varsity. During this time, he learned to navigate the pressure and expectations from family, peers, and the surrounding community. He also recognized the physical demands required to compete at a higher level. The experience motivated him to become stronger, faster, and better prepared for future college recruitment opportunities.

Brett’s passion for baseball began with his father, Eric Holtz, who has played a major role in both his athletic and personal development. Eric owns and operates Game On 13 and previously managed Israel’s Senior National Baseball Team, leading them to their first Olympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games. This photo captures Brett and his father competing together in a father-son tournament in Cooperstown, New York. Brett credits both of his parents for much of the support and guidance that shaped his journey in sports and life.

After a successful high school career, Brett committed to playing Division I baseball at Columbia University. His freshman year brought significant mental health and performance challenges as he adjusted to the demands of college athletics, academics, and a new social environment. Limited playing time and the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately brought his collegiate baseball career to an early end. Despite the challenges, Brett values the experience for the growth, opportunities, and the lasting relationships it provided.

Following his collegiate career, Brett signed to play professional baseball in the Czech Republic’s top league, the Extraliga. Focused simply on enjoying the game again, he went on to have one of the best seasons of his career, finishing third in batting average and helping the Ostrava Arrows win a league championship. He was later selected to the league’s 2021 All-Star team. Beyond baseball, the experience gave Brett lifelong relationships, cultural experiences, and a renewed appreciation for the joy of the game.

After his successful 2021 season overseas, Brett faced the difficult decision of continuing professional baseball or beginning his career in the mental health field back in the United States. While transitioning away from full-time athletics, he experienced firsthand the identity challenges many athletes face when leaving sport. Although he initially planned to play recreationally, Brett later earned the opportunity to compete for Israel’s Senior National Team in the 2023 and 2025 European Championships. Balancing a professional career with high-level competition required strong time management, discipline, and clearly defined goals for both work and baseball.