from worst to first: how i won the cubs MILB POY award in 2010

Last week I shared the process that led to Nick Morabito winning the Mets MiLB POY award in 2024. Today, let me share my story of winning the Cubs MiLB POY award back in 2010…

Yup, that’s me in the picture you clicked on to read this blog back in early 2009 at the position I played most, 1st base coach. After 200 at-bats in Double-A I was hitting a whopping .190. On days I wouldn’t start (which were most) I would take my position as 1st base coach. Pretty much rock bottom. (click HERE to see Instragram Post for more pictures)

No longer getting regular playing time, I was instead high-fiving my teammates as they rounded first base. It was the hardest season of my career. I still remember saying to myself multiple times some version of: “One day I’ll look back and be grateful for this lesson.” 

Part of me thought this was the end of my baseball journey, but it wasn’t. After a couple months went by I was demoted to High-A ball in Daytona. I made it a point every single day to focus on two P’s: Process and Positivity. 

Doing so got me back on track and led to me finishing the year strong. Then the very next year, in the same AA league where the previous year I had the lowest batting average, I hit .344, won the batting title, and was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year.

Those two P’s turned what seemed to be the END of the road for me, into a slight BEND in the road.

I owe everything to that season. It shaped my entire career. It equipped me with the mental strength of knowing that I could be at the lowest of lows, and still come back from it, stronger than ever. I can’t tell you how many times, as I moved up the ranks, that I reflected on it. 

In my mind, baseball would never be as bad as it was that year. I truly felt that way. So yes, 2009 could have been the end of my journey, but it ended up being the beginning of a new one. 

Athletes out there who may be going through something similar, please keep these 4 words in mind: Fall. Learn. Rise…STRONGER.

Even better, live by this mantra...OMMS: Obstacles Make Me Stronger.

*It was an honor to have won this award alongside Chris Archer, who that year won the Cubs MiLB Pitcher of The Year award. He is undoubtedly one of the best human beings I’ve ever been around.

Until next time,

-Brandon