Baseball Business Spotlight Series: 0-2 Brand
Welcome to our Baseball Business Spotlight Series! This week, Painting Corners sat down with Rudy Rivera, Founder and CEO of 0-2 Brand™. You can learn more about Rudy and 0-2 Brand on their official Instagram (@0and2brand) and store (0-2brand.com).
Where did you grow up? Where are you located today?
I grew up in Pasadena, California. My roots are there. I still live close and am connected to the same communities and baseball fields that shaped me.
Pasadena baseball runs deep in my family. Growing up, I played all the way through high school and junior college baseball. I have managed Little League, high school, and adult league teams like my grandfather once did. Today, I coach and manage my sons’ teams. I’ve been a big time Dodgers fan since the 90’s.
What is your company name?
0-2 Brand™. We sell baseball-inspired lifestyle apparel rooted in mentality, legacy, and community. Hats, tees, hoodies, and gear built for the fighters, dreamers, and doers who never quit, on and off the field.
How did you get into baseball?
I found baseball through my dad, uncles, and cousins. I fell in love with the game early and later realized that love was not accidental. Baseball has been part of my family since my grandfather.
What do you like or dislike about the baseball community?
I like the legacy, the storytelling, and the multigenerational connection.
I dislike gatekeeping. The game grows when more people feel welcome.
What makes baseball so special?
Baseball shows you who you are and what you are made of. It mirrors life. Highs and lows, struggle and triumph. It humbles you and it teaches you. No one is bigger than the game. It reveals your character every time you step on the field.
Why is it important to incorporate that into your business?
Baseball teaches you how to compete under pressure. Life puts you in a two strike count more often than people admit. The mentality you build in those moments carries you. The brand reflects that.
What was the spark that led to what would become your business?
There was no dramatic spark. It began as a college assignment. I was finishing my degree and had to create and run a business for a class. I had a lot of creative energy and the more I worked on the idea, the more I realized it was something I could actually build. I had no clue what I was doing and that scared me, but I moved forward anyway.
Is there special meaning assigned to either the name or logo?
The name 0-2 comes from the mentality of being down in the count and battling back. That mindset has shaped my life and leadership. Everyone deals with pressure and setbacks. What matters is how you respond. I believed people would connect with that.
For the logo, I contacted a specific designer directly. I have always respected Nipsey Hussle’s mindset, work ethic, and how he built The Marathon. My brand carries that same spirit of never folding, betting on yourself, and pushing forward with belief. The designer who created Nipsey’s logos worked with me to create the 0-2 Brand logo that exists today. That collaboration gave the mentality a visual identity.
The 0-2 Brand™ Hydro Golf Hat (Left) and the Stay Locked In Tee currently on sale (Right)
What is the essence of your brand and who does this brand exist for?
0-2 Brand™ is about battling back, staying locked in, and responding to pressure with belief. It exists for baseball players during their playing days and after. It is also for anyone who has faced struggle, made adjustments, and kept moving forward. If you have been counted out and refused to quit, this brand speaks your language.
What makes your business unique?
I do not chase trends or gimmicks. The mentality is the design. Every piece is worn as a badge of honor and respect earned. 0-2 Brand™ is a community of fighters, dreamers, and doers with an undying belief in themselves and the work it takes to get after it.
Is this your main gig or a side hustle? Was that always the case?
It is a side hustle today, built with long-term intent. I work full time in leadership and operations. The brand grows brick by brick after hours.
Highlight reel. What has been your biggest moment since starting your business?
Seeing people I have never met wear 0-2 gear and tell me what it means to them. That is when I knew that the message connected.
0-2 Brand™ Merchandise
Blooper reel. What was your biggest mistake or learning moment?
Comparing myself to other brands, especially on social media. Early on, I measured myself against what others were doing instead of focusing on my own lane. I am competitive by nature and that part of me will always be there, but I have learned that running my own race is where the real growth happens. The brand gets better when I keep my focus on what I am building.
Obstacles you have had to overcome as a business owner?
Time, balance, patience. Parenting, working full time, and building something real without shortcuts.
What is your favorite customer story?
The one that has not been written yet. The true impact of 0-2 Brand™ will show in the moments when someone is going through it, when things get difficult, and they choose not to quit. I am waiting for the moment where the message helps someone keep going and achieve their goals even when they are afraid. That is the story I want to see.
Who has been your greatest support or inspiration?
My family has been my support. My family and the game of baseball have been my inspiration. They shaped how I show up, how I lead, and why this brand exists.
0-2 Brand™ Founder Rudy Rivera (Left) with his family at a baseball game
What does a typical day in the life look like for you?
Career during working hours. Family woven throughout the day because life does not pause. Dedicated family time after work. When the house is quiet, I build the business and the brand.
Best seller or favorite product to highlight?
The “Down But Never Out™” hoodie is the best seller. The mentality fits into four words.
My favorite product is a one of one mistake. My manufacturer accidentally printed “Stay Locked In™” on the first hoodie. That phrase was meant for tees. It arrived right after my family received difficult news about my youngest son, who is on the autism spectrum. I was dealing with presale orders and deadlines and had no room for error, but instead of frustration the hoodie felt like a reminder to stay locked in when life gets heavy. That moment reinforced why the message matters beyond clothing.
Back of the 0-2 Brand™ Down But Never Out™ Hoodie currently on sale
One piece of advice to someone starting their own business today?
Dream big and back it with action. Belief only matters if you move.
0-2 Brand™ is based in Pasadena, CA.
