Kingston Thunder alum Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.), shown here with the High-A Everett AquaSox, has been voted the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2021 Wayne Norton Award winner as the top Canuck minor league pitcher (in the affiliated minor leagues). Photo: Everett AquaSox

November 18, 2021

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Right-hander Matt Brash has won the Canadian Baseball Network’s Wayne Norton Award as the top Canadian pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks.

Brash (Kingston, Ont.) enjoyed a breakout season in the Seattle Mariners’ organization after he was acquired from the San Diego Padres in September 2020. A fourth-round pick of the Padres in 2019, Brash went a combined 6-4 with a 2.31 ERA in 20 appearances (19 starts) between High-A and double-A this season. Most impressive, however, was his 142 strikeouts in 97 1/3 innings.

In 2021, Brash topped all Canadians in the affiliated minor league ranks in strikeouts (142) and finished second in ERA (2.31) and innings pitched (97 1/3).

“I’m honoured,” said Brash over the phone from Peoria, Ariz., where he’s training at the Seattle Mariners facility, when told of the CBN award. “It’s always nice to receive recognition. I think I had a really good year and kind of put myself on the map, so it’s really nice just to be considered for this award. I’m really proud to be Canadian and to be from Kingston, Ontario.”

Brash collected four of nine first-place votes cast by a panel of Canadian baseball experts and garnered 34 points in total to fend off strong competition for the honour. Right-hander Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, B.C.), who went 6-2 with a 1.20 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 45 innings in High-A and double-A in the Atlanta Braves’ organization, secured three first-place votes and finished second with 23 points. Veteran lefty Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.), who posted an 8-4 record and a 3.88 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts) for the Minnesota Twins’ triple-A St. Paul Saints, collected two first-place votes to finish third.

The 23-year-old Brash attributed his 2021 success to a combination of things.

“I think the work I did during the COVID season last summer and last winter kind of prepared me for this big jump,” he said. “I gained a lot of [muscle] weight and I worked really hard to get my arm healthy and worked on my pitches, so I came into spring training in the best shape I’d ever been in.”

Prior to the 2021 season, Brash’s fastball was regularly clocked in the 93 to 95 mph range, but by the time he was throwing in M’s camp this spring, his velocity had risen to 96 to 99 mph. That increase, combined with the refinement of his already strong secondary pitches, which include a slider, curve and changeup, helped him strike out 13.1 batters per nine innings in 2021.

That type of improvement is no small feat when you consider that Brash spent much of the COVID lockdown in Kingston where he had to be creative to keep his arm in shape. Finally, in February 2021, he was able to cross the border and pitch at a baseball facility in Buffalo.

“Back home in Kingston, no one really plays ball at that level, so there aren’t really any facilities specifically for baseball,” said Brash. “So I was definitely struggling. I was just throwing into a net in this old warehouse and I was throwing bullpens to my old teammates who haven’t played baseball in about six years. It was definitely a grind until I got to Buffalo and I got to work with some of the other minor league players.”

But his perseverance certainly paid off. His 2021 season made him a top prospect in the Mariners’ organization and by the end of the campaign, he had cracked Baseball America’s vaunted Top 100 MLB Prospects list.

“It took me a while to get going this year because I hadn’t pitched in what felt like two years, so I was a little wild at the beginning, but about half way through the year, everything kind of clicked and I got back in a groove and my confidence went up and from there, my natural ability just kind of took over and I started getting on a roll,” said Brash.

Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.), second from the left, is shown here with fellow pitchers Nate Fisher (far left) and Dayeison Arias (to the right of Brash), and catcher Jake Anchia after Brash pitched the first six innings of a combined no-hitter for the double-A Arkansas Travelers on September 2. Photo: Arkansas Travelers

He counts the combined no-hitter he started for the double-A Arkansas Travelers against the Wichita Wind Surge on September 2 as one of the highlights of his season. He struck out 11 and didn’t allow a hit in six innings, before turning the ball over to relievers Nate Fisher and Dayeison Arias to complete the no-hitter.

But his biggest highlight came when he was called up by the Mariners on September 28 during their pursuit of the final American League Wild Card spot.

“That was incredible. It was definitely one of the coolest baseball experiences I’ve had,” said Brash of the call-up. “It was great being up there with sold-out crowds, with such a passionate fan base while they were trying to make the playoffs. All the players were super welcoming and even though I didn’t get into a game, it was still an awesome experience. And I’m just working really hard to be up there next year for good.”

On top of his CBN honour and his big-league call-up, the Canuck righty was also named the Mariners’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year and to Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Team after the season.

But don’t worry, Kingston, even with all of his success, Brash hasn’t forgotten his roots. His home city remains close to his heart and he’s looking forward to heading home on November 24 to spend the holidays with his parents, Jamie and Sandra, and his sister, Carlye.

And he hasn’t forgotten that it was in Kingston that his road to a pro ball career began. He honed his skills in the Kingston Thunder program under Randy Casford, who coached him for nine years. Casford was a former collegiate pitcher and a coach at Queen’s University.

“Randy taught me a lot about the mentality I needed to have and when to throw certain pitches and he shaped me as a ballplayer,” said Brash.

It was apparent at a young age that Brash had an exceptional arm and he had opportunities to play for high-profile programs in Toronto, but he opted to stay with his hometown Thunder.

“I loved playing with the same group of guys,” said Brash. “I grew up with them and it was good enough baseball that I still was developing as a player.”

Brash went to Bayridge Secondary School, where the ball team had only a brief season. But it was while he was in his third year of high school that he first contemplated a pro baseball career.

“In my grade 11 year, my velo jumped up a lot,” said Brash. “So, I was getting into the ’90s then, so I started to get some attention from scouts . . . Right out of high school, I could’ve gone into pro ball, but I really wanted to go to college and I think that was the best thing for me to develop both physically and mentally because I was a small kid in high school and I had never been away from home.”

Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) set a Niagara Purple Eagles’ single-season strikeout record when he fanned 121 batters in his junior season. Photo: Niagara Purple Eagles Athletics

Also a strong student, Brash was offered a combined athletic and academic scholarship to Niagara University, where he’d star on the diamond for the Purple Eagles for three seasons.

“Niagara was awesome,” he said. “I played really close to home and all the people and coaches were amazing.”

By his junior collegiate season, his fastball was registering in the mid-90s and he captured the interest of a lot of scouts, including Jake Koenig of the San Diego Padres, who came and watched Brash throw a bullpen.

“My junior year I pretty much had every team contact me or had them come watch me at some point,” said Brash. “I did a pre-draft workout. I flew down to L.A. and pitched for the Padres on their game mound at Petco Park and I pitched for the Dodgers, too, in their bullpen.”

Brash would post a 2.43 ERA in 14 starts and set a Purple Eagles’ single-season record with 121 strikeouts that season to earn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Pitcher of the Year honours. His performance convinced Koenig and the Padres to select him in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB draft.

With that, Brash became just the second player from Kingston to be drafted. Right-hander Jonnie Mazzeo was chosen in the 41st round by the Montreal Expos in 1999.

Brash made his professional debut with the Padres’ Low-A Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League in 2019. In four relief appearances with the TinCaps, he allowed just one run and struck out six in 4 1/3 innings. He also hurled a scoreless inning for the Padres in the Rookie ball Arizona League.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, that would be all he would pitch in the Padres organization before he was dealt to the M’s on September 17, 2020 to complete a trade for veteran reliever Taylor Williams.

“I’m really happy in Seattle,” said Brash. “They’re a great organization. They give you all the tools to get better, so I’m really happy that I got moved and I’m excited for next year.”

Brash is hoping to crack the Mariners’ big-league staff in 2021

“I think my main goal is to just work really hard this off-season to get my body in great shape to make the team out of spring training,” said Brash. “I want to be in the big leagues next year.”

And if he does head north with the Mariners, he might have the opportunity to pitch in Toronto at the Rogers Centre, in front of his many friends and supporters who would travel from Kingston. Most importantly, he would have the chance to pitch in the major leagues in front of his mom and dad and sister.

“My parents and my sister have been with me along the road the whole time,” said Brash. “My parents took me to every game, to every showcase. They went to so many games, even when they had to drive hours and hours. They’re definitely my biggest supporters. I’m so thankful for the support of my family.”

***

The Canadian Baseball Network’s top pitcher award (affiliated minor league ranks) is named after legendary scout and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Norton (Port Moody, B.C.). In the mid-1970s, Norton founded and established Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team, while doubling as a part-time scout. He also formed the National Baseball Institute and was later a trusted scout for the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners. He passed away in 2018 after a courageous battle with ALS.

Honour Roll

Previous Canadian Baseball Network Pitcher Of The Year (Affiliated Minor Leagues) Winners:

(Renamed the Wayne Norton award for 2021 season)

2008 _ Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ont.) Braves.

2009 _ James Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) Brewers and John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) Brewers.

2010 _ Scott Mathieson (Langley, BC) Phillies.

2011 _ Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC) Padres.

2012 _ James Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) Brewers.

2013 _ Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) Twins

2014 _ Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Nationals.

2015 _ Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) Phillies and Shane Dawson (Drayton Valley, Alta.) Jays.

2016 _ Jameson Taillon (The Woodlands, Tex.) Pirates and Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Phillies.

2017 _ Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Braves.

2018 _ Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Jays.

2019 _ Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) Twins.

2020 _ Minor league seasons cancelled, COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 _ Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) Mariners.

(Bold indicates major league service.)

Glew: Brash wins CBN's Wayne Norton award, as top minor league pitcher