Matt Brash

Matt Brash

Hometown: Kingston, Ont. — Canada’s first capital.

Bats/Throws: R-R

Height/Weight: 6’ 1” 170 lbs.

Team: Niagara University.

Position: RHP.

Coaches: Rob McCoy.

Past Teams: Kingston Thunder, Bayridge HS.

Past coaches: Randy Casford, Jeff Stewart.

Good genes: Father, Jamie played ball and ran track.

Ranked: 2nd on Baseball America’s top 15 prospects from New York state … 2nd on Perfect Game’s top 10 list for New York state … 233rd on Perfect Game`s top 500 combined list (Up 27 spots, May 15, 2019) … 288th on Baseball America’s top 500 combined list (down 47 spots, May 15, 2019) … 260th on Perfect Game’s top 400 combined list (April 24, 2019) … 241st on Baseball America’s top 400 combined list of high schoolers and collegians (Up 47 spots, Aprirl 17, 2019) ... 169th on Perfect Game’s top 202 college players (April 2, 2019).

What they are saying: “I’ve seen him at 94 MPH, but I know other guys have got him at 96 MPH.” _ National League scout

2019 season as a junior at Niagara _ Finished with a 2.43 ERA with a 4-5 record in 14 starts ... Walked 29 and struck out 121 in 85 1/3 innings, holding opponents to a .194 average ... Worked 7 1/3 innings giving up one run on four hits and walking a pair in a loss to Siena, while striking out seven ... Recorded a complete game win against Fairfield, allowing one run on nine hits and one walk, while striking out seven ... Worked 4 2/3 innings in a win against Marist as he allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and three walks, as he struck out seven ... Had a phenomenal outing with six scoreless striking out 10 in a win against Iona, one whiff short of his career-high, allowed three hits … Tossed seven scoreless to get the win against Monmouth allowing four hits and a walk, striking out eight ... Took loss against Quinnipiac as he was touched for five runs -- three earned on five hits in 6 1/3 innings as he struck out 11 ... Recorded first win in 1-0 victory over Rider as he pitched scoreless, giving up six hits and walking one, as he struck out nine ... Lost to Cincinnati giving up five runs -- four earned -- on four hits and four walk, as he whiffed nine ... Charged with loss against Utah Valley State pitching seven innings charged with two runs on four hits and three walks, as he fanned eight ... Took loss against Bucknell pitching five innings giving up seven runs -- four earned -- on five hits and two walks as he struck out nine ... Worked four innings giving up three hits -- one earned -- on two hits and two walks, while fanning seven against New Mexico ... Pitched seven innings allowing one run on four hits and two walks, while fanning 11, as he had no decision in a 4-3 loss to North Carolina A&T.

2018 season, as a sophomore at Niagara _ Had 3-1 record in five starts and seven appearances, fanning 32 in 28 innings with a 5.13 ERA ... Threw his second career complete game shutout against Monmouth whiffing eight, walking one and scattering four hits in seven innings ... Best Manhattan 3-1 to clinch a spot in the MAAC Championships for the first time since 2006, pitching 8 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering only four hits, fanning eight, tying his career-high, and throwing133 pitches.

2017 season as a freshman at Niagara _ Made 17 appearances -- including 10 starts -- compiling a 5-1 record of 5-1 ... Had 63 strikeouts, as he worked a staff-high 77 1/3 innings pitched...

2016 season _ With the Kingston Thunder struck out 18 of a possible 21 outs help the Thunder to an 8-2 win over Georgetown in the final of the Mississauga North tourney. He allowed two hits.

2015 season: Brash Pitched for Team Ontario in the Canada Cup; as the province won bronze ... Pitched in Tournament 12 ... With Kingston Thunder he pitched 76 2/3 compiling a 1.19 ERA, with 146 strikeouts, allowing only 13 earned runs ... Pitched Bayridge High to championship

2014 season: Pitched Bayridge to first title in school history.

The most influential person in my baseball life: “My parents (Jamie and Sandra) and sister (Carlye) They supported me and allowed me to become the player and person I am today.”

The most influential person in my baseball life, other than my family: “My coach Randy Casford really taught me how to pitch and to believe in my talent. His baseball knowledge and experience was so valuable for me at a young age.”

Honours 2019 as junior as Niagara _ Named MAAC Pitcher of the Year … Selected to All-MAAC First Team … Set Niagara single-season strikeout record with 121, which led MAAC and was 10th in the NCAA. … Named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District District 1 First Team … Maintained grade point average of 3.67 … A First Team Academic All-District honoree, he advanced to the Google Cloud Academic All-America ballot ….2018 as a sophomore at Niagara _ Earned Metro Atlantic Pitcher of the Week working 8 2/3 innings against Manhattan with eight strikeouts ... Also gained the same honour for beating Monmouth 2017 season _ Named MAAC Rookie of the Year, the fourth player in Niagara history to do so. 2015 season _ Earned Eastern Ontario Baseball Association Senior Rep Player of the Year ... Captain of Bayridge HS ... Voted Bayridge’s top male athlete all four years of HS.

Last Kingston player drafted: Ex-Kingston Ponies RHP Jonnie Mazzeo, 41st-round pick of the Montreal Expos in 1999.

Kingston ex-pros: RHP Charlie Pester, class-A Burlington A’s and class-D Dubuque Packers in 1955, class-D Orlando Seratomas in 1956; LHP Arnie Jarrell class-B Toronto Maple Leafs and class-C Kingston Ponies in 1945, Kingston Ponies, 1946-47; OF Vinnie McQuaide Kingston Ponies, 1946-47; C Edwin (Chaucer) Elliott class-B Concord Marines in 1904, Brantford Indians 1905, Class-D Oswego 1906-07, class-D St. Thomas Saints, 1911.

Scouting Report

Perfect Game

An outstanding performer for Niagara this spring, Brash has really done a nice job establishing himself on the national prospect radar and could be a guy in line for a selection a round or two higher than this ranking may suggest. Slenderly built and moderately undersized overall, Brash has had a monster year, with a 2.43 ERA across 85 innings with 121 strikeouts as compared to just 29 walks. He fills up the zone with a full arsenal of pitches, operating mostly in the 90-93 mph range with his fastball and throwing strikes with the off-speed, highlighted by a slider and changeup. Scouts like the projection and pitchability.




Bob Elliott