Granite Bay alum Chase Bentley is making his mark on the professional world after being drafted with the Milwaukee Brewers almost immediately after his high school career ended.

The nationally ranked 2025 high school graduate who previously represented Team USA, was pleasantly surprised this past MLB draft after being selected in the nineteenth round at just eighteen years old.

Bentley, who grew up in a very baseball-involved family, has been playing since he was little, and has known since middle school that it was something he hoped to make a career out of. This year, it became a reality.

After spending three years on the Granite Bay’s varsity baseball team, and aiding them to become division two section champions every year he played, Bentley transferred to IMG academy last year for the second semester of his senior year for a more intense training curriculum. 

IMG academy is a boarding school located in Florida, that allows athletes to focus on their sports, as well as their education. Their commitment and success in athletics sparked Bentley’s interest and made him “want to live up to that”.

“We (had) a lot of mental skill training, visualization, our training recovery, practice. Everything was really planned out and purposeful.” Bentley said. “I love being in a structured environment where I know exactly what I’m doing, what I’m supposed to do, why I’m doing it, (and) what it’s going to help me with.”

After being given the opportunity to play at IMG, as well as another training program for his first semester, Bentley had to make the decision to be away from home for his senior year of high school. While the beginning was hard, he later realized it was the right decision for his career. 

“Chase has always been really good about pushing himself to do things that are uncomfortable, and I think that that’s a unique trait.” Megan Bentley, Chase’s mom, said. “Especially at the ages that he’s done that. And so for him to have moved away from home and gone and chased his dream, literally, and then gone to a different school his senior year. That’s just crazy.”

In his Freshman year at Granite Bay, Bentley was given the opportunity to play for Team USA, where he ended up winning gold with the team. He was invited to Arizona for a tryout-like process, and after making the team, he then accompanied about 20 others to Mexico to play against other teams while representing the country.

“Being able to play with a bunch of really elite players and against really good competition at that age was definitely something that I’ll never forget. Playing on Team USA winning a gold medal is just a once in a lifetime thing.” Bentley said.

Prior to being drafted with the Brewers, Bentley was committed to Texas A&M for baseball. While college was the plan from the beginning, Bentley had “always dreamed of getting drafted out of high school”, but didn’t really think it would become a reality. The draft was a pleasant surprise for both Bentley and his family.

“I was definitely shell shocked, and it happened very quickly. So as time passes, I’m definitely more confident, and I do think he made the right decision. But initially it was just such a change from what we were expecting.” Megan Bentley said.

Although he will not be attending Texas A&M this upcoming year, Bentley plans to go back to continue his education and get his masters later down the road.

Brian Bentley, Chase’s dad, also played baseball in college at the University of Florida, which led him to be very involved in Bentley’s baseball career, and become one of his biggest role models within the game. 

“To describe Brian, I would say definitely proud.” Megan Bentley said. “For guys that play baseball to have the opportunity to play professional baseball, is just a dream.”

With baseball season on the horizon, and the Brewers Opening Day being especially early this year, Bentley will soon be stepping into his new role in professional baseball even earlier in his life than ever anticipated.

“Anybody could do it. It doesn’t matter what position you play, how big you are, nothing really matters,” Bentley said. “If you’re willing to put in the work and do things that other people won’t do, you’re gonna see results.”