Click to watch the interview with Brigman

Professional baseball players spend more time with their teammates than they do their families and get to experience success and failure all together, over and over.

Few people will ever understand the daily grind and pressure this game puts on a prospect as they set forth to reach the Major Leagues. The odds are so stacked that it can seem overwhelming as it gets harder and harder to advance with each level of promotion. Those that stick with the grind, keep showing up every day, putting in the work, and with a great attitude, and positive outlook, are the ones that get to keep going. 

Insert 28 year old Bryson Brigman, one of the most positively infectious prospects in the entire Dodgers organization.

Brigman plays with incredible energy, he’s upbeat, he picks up his teammates, and it’s never wavering. 

Although it can sometimes get lost in the grind of a full season, with the swings from good to bad and back, it’s important to note that people have noticed. They’ve noticed his big smile when things go good, they notice his uplifting sense of team when things aren’t as good, and they notice that he is a very hard worker, relentlessly positive and that’s all before talking about how talented he is. 

Background

Brigman grew up in San Jose and has a unique story to tell. He went to a friends birthday party as a kid at an ice skating rink, and liked it so much he decided to keep going. One thing led to another and the next thing he knew he was playing hockey. 

As his hockey skills advanced, he got asked to play for a Select team in Los Angeles, and although it meant leaving his home for a few days a week, he was all about it.

He would fly to L.A. once a week during his High School career, then come back home for 3 days of school each week, and he loved the whole process. 

What a cool experience that was, and here’s how he described it. 

So, the San Jose Sharks were big in town, and they had a couple Ice rinks around and I went to a skating rink Birthday party, and my dad just asked if we wanted to do it again.

Brigman continued

So we went again, then started going on our own, it evolved into playing hockey and I was lucky enough to be able to do that. Eventually I got asked to play for a team in LA that got guys from everywhere so that started the flying back and forth, and leaving on Thursday and staying until Monday Night. 

With the Brigman smile we’ve all seen so many times, he added

I loved it, of course, because I’d get a couple of days off from the homework and I had great host families and teammates out there. I still miss hockey and I still watch it. 

Brigman was a 2 Sport Star as his baseball skills continued to advance as he got older. He was a 4 year letter winner at Valley Christian, and left the Warriors program ranked as the number 2 prospect in both the Max Preps and Perfect Games rankings for 2014. 

He also got to play on Team USA on 3 different occasions, once at the 16U level, and twice at 18U. It was a great experience and one that he looks back on and appreciates. 

Awesome, Awesome, it was just awesome! We had some really good teams, anytime you come up through the ranks and get to wear USA across your chest it means something. To be able to bring back those Gold medals 3 times was a great experience. 

After an elite prep career Brigman was drafted in the 40th Round by the A’s, but chose instead to further his career at the University of San Diego. He said that he was super appreciative of the offer the A’s made, but, in the end, he just wanted to go to school. And he loved his time as a Torrero.

So, the draft thing, for me, was more of a courtesy pick. I had been talking with the A’s leading up to the draft, and my price was basically just too high for the type of player I was. So, for me, I never really thought much about going in the 40th round, or anything like that, it was more of just a tip of the cap in appreciation to the A’s for noticing me, because I really appreciated it. 

Brigman continued on why he chose school instead

I wanted to go to college, and I loved the City of San Diego, and I loved the whole area. The campus was fantastic, the facilities for baseball were really top notch, and they really wanted me so it seemed like a good fit. It was pretty close to home too, but not too close, so I thought it was a good spot for me.

Brigman made the right choice as he got to play right away, and next to his good buddy Kyle Holder as a Freshman. He made the All-WCC Freshman team as a 2nd baseman, then followed that up with a very good Sophomore campaign as a short stop. Then, he got drafted again in 2016, this time in the 3rd Round by the Mariners, and he signed. 

Brigman as a Pro

Brigman was with the Mariners organization until 2018 but was then traded to Miami, and was with the Marlins through the 2022 season. He made it as high as AAA in the Marlins organization before electing Free Agency after the 2022 season. 

That’s when he signed with the Dodgers.

Brigman has made a mark from Day 1 since stepping into this organization. The Dodgers are huge on culture, they demand a positive atmosphere, and they seek top notch talent, all boxes Brigman checks. 

Prospect Feature

When describing the type of player Brigman is on the field, you first have to start by describing the type of person and teammate he is off of it. He is always smiling, he finds ways to have fun playing the game every day, he’s uplifting to his teammates, and he’s overall someone you want to have in your dugout throughout a 6 month professional season. 

In terms of his talent and on field ability, you have to start with his speed and versatility. Brigman grew up a short stop, but has played everywhere from 2nd base, to LF, and the day I interviewed him he was taking ground balls at third base in preparation of playing the hot corner. Click on the picture on the left or on this link to watch him make a great catch at the wall from his Left Field spot. 

Offensively, Brigman is a player that can do a little of everything. His offensive game certainly doesn’t revolve around power, but he can hit some home runs. Click on the picture to the right or on this link to see his power. 

Brigman has a very short swing, stays inside the ball very well and is very good at using the big part of the field, and going oppo. His ability to stay on balls and hit them to right field makes for good contact, and when combined with his speed, is a very good combination of skills that work together. Click here or on the video on the left to see his ability to hit oppo, his speed beating out base hits, and his natural ability to hit the ball up the middle. 

Road to the MLB

Brigman is 28 years old and grinding away at the AAA level. Keep in mind, as you evaluate every prospect and their path to the MLB, every players time table is different. Brigman is talented enough, and certainly has the experience to contribute on a Major League club. Here’s what he had to say about what he would bring. 

I pride myself on having good character, and being a good teammate. I think that’s a big thing because you don’t want a hiccup when you bring someone up. I can play multiple postions, and I feel good at all of them, and I think the bat is pretty consistent and is quality. It’s not super heavy, but I think there is a lot of good consistency in there, and I really do believe I can help a Major League team win. 

Having seen him play all year long at AAA OKC, I can say this, I couldn’t have said it better myself. 

His situation is not one of ability, it’s one of opportunity, one that he’s itching to make the most of. What many people don’t realize is, that, just because you are in the MLB, doesn’t mean you are better than many of the players in the Minors. 

It simply means you were at the right place at the right time, and were given opportunity, whereas, many of those in the Minors may not have had that chance yet. Brigman, in my opinion, falls in this category. He is likely better than a chunk of players already on MLB rosters, but is playing in an organization that is simply loaded with talent and is, quite possibly, the most difficult franchise to break into the MLB level.

So Brigman will keep showing up every day, he’ll do it with his patented smile, he’ll continue to be a very good and consistent offensive player, and he’ll continue to play defensively wherever is asked of him, and will continue to do it well. 

He’ll also continue to wait for his chance, his opportunity to crack the Big Leagues, an opportunity I have no doubt he would make the most of. 

In closing I would like to thank Bryson for joining for an interview. The interview is almost 13 minutes long, which is incredibly gracious of him, because these guys have just about every second of their day accounted for. 

It was a great pleasure getting to speak with Bryson as Dodgers Daily has become a big fan and will be rooting for him all along the way. 

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