Growing up, they have always found themselves playing alongside one another. Be it on a Little League team, a travel ball team or in high school, the brothers have been beside one another at each step of their baseball careers.

And now, they get to share one more baseball season together, this time in the MLB Draft League. The Burd brothers, two standouts from Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, are wearing Crosscutters uniforms as Steele is a catcher and Slaide is an infielder.

“We’re always going at each other to see who’s going to do better. We want to do better than each other, but we want the best for each other,” Slaide said. “It’s always going to be a friendly competition at the plate.”

It’s that sibling friendly rivalry the two have had their entire lives on a baseball diamond.

Steele Burd of the Crosscutters gets ready for fielding practice during Media Day at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We come from a very competitive family, so growing up it was comparing stats. Who did this, who did that, who made this play, who had the big hits. So it’ll be super fun to be on the same team, but compete against each other within the same team and playing the same game,” Steele said. “It’ll be so much fun. I’ll push him, he’ll push me. I know what he needs, he knows what I need, so having that brotherly connection will really help us out.”

The two have played well their entire careers, that’s why they’re going to Stetson in the fall together to play baseball. Slaide just wrapped up his senior season at Hilton head Christian Academy and Steele finished his sophomore season at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

And sharing this summer in Williamsport is something both are grateful for.

“I mean it’s definitely a dream come true. We’ve always played with each other growing up,” Slaide said. “Every team he was on, I was on, so it’s very cool going into this summer, our last summer together, on the same team together.”

“It’s a dream come true. We played together all through high school, travel ball. It’s pretty cool coming out here and playing in a really good league together for the summer and depending on how everything goes, we’re going to Stetson together in the fall. So, we’re super pumped for that,” Steele said.

Slaide Burd of the Crosscutters fields a ball during Media Day practice at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Crosscutters begin the season on Tuesday with a home series vs. the West Virginia Black Bears starting at 6:35 p.m. and the Burd brothers are glad to get the chance to play and showcase their talents. They both noted they were excited when they got the call to come to Williamsport.

“I was really excited. I just wanted to get up here as soon as possible, get up here to play, feel the environment and play,” Slaide said. “It’s a cool environment with the fans and to be with my brother again, I’m excited for that.”

“It was awesome (to get called). It was definitely a dream come true to play together, especially around a bunch of guys that have the same dream all of us do and that’s to play this game as long as we can,” Steele said. To have the opportunity to come up here and play together is really, really awesome.”

Steele had a solid sophomore season at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. He played in 48 games, batted .285 with 12 home runs, 42 RBIs and scored 35 runs. He hit .295 in conference play as well as the team went 34-24 and 18-14 in the league.

Slaide is a talented hitter who was a key member of the team winning the South Carolina Class AAAA state championship over HHCA, capturing the school’s second straight state title in mid-May.

Steele Burd of the Crosscutters gets ready for fielding practice during Media Day at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The competition both faced was good throughout the year, but the Burd brothers also know the competition starting Tuesday is a huge step up.

“It’s definitely going to be better than high school, I just got done with that. Definitely better than that, but I’m really excited,” Slaide noted. “I’ve always done better with better competition. Being around it, I thrive better as a player and feed off other teammates and teams. I’m excited to see what’s coming for me.”

“I just came off a good season at Florida in JUCO and saw a lot of good competition, but being able to come here and play with the elite of the elite this summer?” Steele said. “It’s just a dream come true. It’s one step closer to fulfilling my childhood dream of playing at the highest level.”

Both the Burds noted they want to make an impact this year with the Crosscutters, and they have a chance to do so starting on Tuesday evening.

“I definitely want to be known as a pretty good hitter and make myself known just as an all-around player, good teammate, good guy,” Slaide said. “Just to be well known around here and show that I can play up with these guys at a young age.”

Steele Burd of the Crosscutters catches a throw from the outfield during fielding practice during Media Day at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Steele echoed the same sentiments.

“Just being able to play here, it’s unbelievable and the competition’s great. Whatever happens, happens. So, I just give it to God, he’s got me and he’s got my career and my path,” Steele said. “So just staying in his faith every day and trusting what he’s got for me. I give all the glory to him and whatever happens, happens.”

Slaide Burd of the Crosscutters gets his bats ready for batting practice during Media Day at Bowman Field Sunday afternoon. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette