By Jeff Slovin, Contributing Writer
Northborough – After a stellar four years on Algonquin Regional High School's varsity baseball team and then four years starting for the Bryant University Bulldogs, Kevin Brown is now concentrating on his next big goal – playing in the Major Leagues.
Brown, a left fielder, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in early June and is now working his way through the Cubs” farm system.
He described draft day as very nerve-racking.? “I was following the draft tracker the whole day and I was seeing guys who I had played with and against throughout the whole draft, so I was a little on edge,” he said. “I had a good feeling that I was going to be drafted, but I did not know who or when I would be drafted. I first saw it on the computer screen and heard my name announced on the audio. I think I said something that probably can’t go in this article and then told my mom who had just stepped out of the room for a second that I was going to be a Cub.”
After being drafted, Brown was assigned to the Arizona League Cubs, the Cubs” rookie club, but was recently promoted to the Cubs” Minor League team, the Boise Hawks, in Boise, Idaho.
Brown is a lifelong Northborough resident and graduated from ARHS in 2009. He was a member of the state championship team in 2006 while he was a freshman, the state finals team in 2007, a two-year captain for both baseball and basketball teams, and a Central Mass. All Star.
At Bryant University, Brown was a starter for all four years he played for the Bulldogs. His many honors there included being named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Year and a member of the Freshman All-American team in 2010. This year he was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year and an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Third Team All-American.
Brown is as successful in the classroom as he is on the baseball field. In May, he graduated from Bryant with a degree in politics and law, was chosen as the Politics and Law Student of the Year, and named a Second Team Capital One Academic All-American.
Bryant University Hitting Coach Mike Gedman, son of former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, was a coach who had a great influence on Brown.
“[Coach Gedman] taught me how to control my emotions, not to get too high or too low during this roller coaster of a game,” Brown said. “He taught me how to play in the present and to understand that this game is a process and that results do not always matter. If your process is strong, then you will have strong results.”
Gedman also introduced Brown to Chris Colabello, another local baseball star, who has been a great inspiration and mentor. Brown practiced with Colabello in the offseason, picking his brain.
“He is the prime example of being patient and understanding that this game is a process,” Brown said.
Colabello made it to Major Leagues this season with the Minnesota Twins, after playing seven seasons with the former Can-Am League team, the Worcester Tornadoes.
It has been Brown's lifelong dream to play professional baseball.
“I plan to play this game for as long as I can. I want to be a consistent player in the Major Leagues someday,” Brown said. “It will not be easy to get there, but I am up for the challenge. I am excited for the journey.”
