August 20, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Former Delta Blue Jays and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns infielder Brad Antchak passed away on Saturday at the age of 28 after a long illness.

His sister, Nikki Bennett, shared the news on Facebook.

“My sweet, strong brother, Brad Antchak, has gone to be with Jesus,” wrote Bennett. “He took his last breath peacefully in the early morning of August 18th with family by his side after fighting the biggest fight of his life. He is so brave and he fought harder than we can ever imagine.”

Born on December 11, 1995 in New Westminster, B.C., Antchak started playing baseball in the Whalley Little League as a five-year-old. He developed into a standout infielder and graduated to the Delta Blue Jays of the B.C. Premier Baseball League when he was 14.

“Anyone who knew Brad in our league will remember him as an excellent hardworking ball player and a good-natured person dedicated to pursuing his baseball dreams,” the Whalley Little League wrote in a statement on their Facebook page on Saturday. “Our thoughts are with the Antchak family at this difficult time.”

Antchak’s performance with the Delta Blue Jays garnered him collegiate interest south of the border. He competed for two seasons with Oklahoma A&M Junior College before he was selected in the 39th round of the MLB draft by the Houston Astros in 2014.

He opted not to sign with the Astros and joined the Div. 1 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns in 2016.

He would spend two seasons at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In 2016, he batted .246 with one home run, 12 RBIs and five stolen bases in 45 games. He followed that up by hitting .241 with two homers and 16 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 48 contests in 2017.

Longtime Ragin’ Cajuns assistant coach Anthony Babineaux was saddened to learn of Antchak’s passing. Speaking with The Acadiana Advocate, he shared fond memories of the Canadian infielder.

“Just always energetic with a smile on his face,” Babineaux told the Advocate. “It was always a good conversation when you talked to him, because of the fact that he always had a good demeanor. He was always positive and really a jolly happy-go-lucky guy.”

Following his collegiate career, Antchak batted .253 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 stolen bases for the independent Can-Am League’s Quebec Capitales in 2018.

In more recent years, Antchak had worked as an apprentice in his family’s sheet metal business.

Details about funeral services have not been finalized.