How Brandon Puffer Turned a Story of Failure into a Platform of Hope
After fifteen years in professional baseball—including time in the major leagues—Brandon Puffer knows what it means to climb to the top … and to fall hard.
Today he’s the co-founder of GPS Texas Baseball, where he mentors and develops young athletes on and off the field. His life centers on faith, family, and using his experience to help others navigate failure and find redemption.
“Things look good now, but I’ve been through tough times and I want people to know there’s always a way back.”
A Baseball Player Whose Greatest Win Came After His Biggest Loss
After rebuilding his life following nearly four years in prison, Brandon knew God was asking for more.
He’d been quietly sharing lessons from his journey—about integrity, humility, and second chances—with players and parents, but he felt compelled to reach a wider audience.
The question that kept pressing on him: Could my story give someone else the hope I once needed?
He realized a book could extend his reach far beyond ballfields and locker rooms.
From Rock Bottom to Redemption: Finding Purpose After Prison
For years, Brandon carried the idea for a book but couldn’t see where to start. Writing felt daunting; the publishing world felt inaccessible. He worried about revisiting painful memories and exposing the lowest moments of his life.
Each time he considered starting, self-doubt crept in: Who would want to hear from me?
Without guidance, the dream stayed on the shelf.
When Self-Doubt Stopped the Story Before It Started
Then came a series of connections that could only be described as providential.
A conversation with his friend and speaker Stephen Mackey led to a “chance” meeting between Mackey and ShareYourStory.com CEO Alex Demczak. That meeting turned into a Zoom call with Alex and co-founder Will Severns, and Brandon instantly knew he’d found his team.
“I had prayed for years for the right partners. After that call, I had zero reservations. God had aligned it perfectly.”
Streamline Books offered exactly what he needed: a structured, supportive process that would let him focus on telling his story while their experts handled the rest.
A Divine Connection That Led to Streamline Books
Turning a life of brokenness into a book of hope wasn’t simple. Brandon relived dark seasons—his arrest, incarceration, and the pain he caused others. But the Streamline team guided him through every draft and edit, helping him capture both the mistakes and the miracles with honesty and grace.
Throughout design and publishing, the team’s collaboration gave him confidence. He saw how cover art, layout, and messaging could match the heart of his story.
When he finally held From the Bullpen to the State Pen in his hands in December of 2022, he knew it wasn’t just a book, it was testimony in print.
Turning a Mess Into a Message Through the Writing Process
Since publication, Brandon’s platform has multiplied:
- Speaking engagements: invitations to churches, schools, and sports programs (many directly through Streamline’s network.)
- Media coverage: guest spots on faith-based podcasts and local outlets, sharing a message of redemption.
- Financial ROI: paid speaking opportunities and book-signing events that supplement his coaching income.
Beyond numbers, Brandon measures success in messages he receives weekly from readers who say his story restored their faith or gave them courage to start over.
“The best part is hearing from people who say the book encouraged them, or that they passed it to a friend who needed hope.”
One Milestone That Stands Above The Rest
The Echo, a newspaper circulated to every inmate in the Texas prison system, featured Brandon’s story.
Knowing that his words were reaching men and women sitting where he once sat was profoundly humbling.
“My prayer is that someone in a cell reads it and realizes they’re not forgotten, that God still has a plan for them.”
Brandon continues to mentor athletes, speak across the country, and use his platform to show that no setback is beyond redemption. Through his book and his life, he’s proving that grace truly gives everyone a second inning.
