Reno, Nev. – On September 18, 2024, Reno Aces manager Blake Lalli, with a champagne bottle in his hand, addressed the room full of his players and coaching staff.

In typical managerial fashion, Lalli recalled how proud he was of everyone involved in the clinching of a playoff spot before a moment to recognize a few specific players: Albert Almora, Kyle Garlick and Bryson Brigman.

Lalli said something in his speech that had been on the mind of every member of the 2024 Reno Aces: “Where would we be without Bryson Brigman?”.

Bryson Brigman committed to Santa Clara University when he was in eighth grade. Before he had even played a high school baseball game, Brigman knew he would play baseball in college. However, by his sophomore year of high school, the San Jose native said the entire coaching staff that had recruited him had been let go.

“By the start of my junior year, I was committed to Stanford,” Brigman said. “And then at that point, I was planning to go to Stanford, which was awesome.”

Brigman, sporting a 3.8 GPA and a respectable SAT score, submitted his transcripts to Stanford, but didn’t hear back from his contacts at the school for close to three weeks.

“We called and said ‘Hey, what’s going on? We put everything in,’” Brigman said. “And they said ‘Oh yeah, sorry. You didn’t get in.’”

Brigman, being from the area, said that Stanford had a reputation of committing to players early before dropping them at the last second. Bryson later learned that he was dropped for current Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner.

“I went from being committed in eighth grade to not having a college to go to going into my senior year,” Brigman said.

Brigman was drafted in the 40th round of the 2014 MLB Draft coming out of high school. He would decline to sign with the Oakland Athletics that year, instead attending the Universtiy of San Diego to play ball for the Toreros.

“My parents and I were ‘million or die’ kind of people,” Brigman said. “I just wasn't quite a million-dollar player at that point, at least in the eyes of whoever was making the decisions.”

Two years later, Bryson Brigman was drafted in the 3rd round of the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.

In 2018, Brigman was traded to the Miami Marlins organization, where he would play for their High-A and Double-A affiliates. Brigman played in three different levels of professional baseball in the 2018 season for two different organizations.

“I had no idea it was going to be me,” Brigman said. “Some of my teammates said ‘hey, keep those bags packed man, you’re on the block,’ and it ended up being me. (It) just happened really fast.”

From 2018 to 2022, Brigman was back with the Marlins, rising from High-A all the way up to Triple-A in Jacksonville in ‘21 and ‘22. Brigman’s status as a journeyman athlete would intensify further after he signed a Minor League contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in March of 2023.

“It’s kind of like going to a new school, you know?” Brigman said. “You gotta find some new friends, figure out routines.”

In November of 2023, Brigman elected free agency again. An apparent theme of the shortstop’s career has been taking a chance on yourself, and when the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Brigman to a Minor League contract on March 16, 2024, it would prove that taking a chance on himself was the best decision of his storied career.

Brigman played the best season of baseball of his life in 2024. After briefly starting the year in Double-A Amarillo, he was promoted to the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, the Reno Aces.

“I always knew that when he was in the lineup, he was going to be a consistent, good player,” third-year Aces manager Blake Lalli said.

In his first 113 games played with Reno, the 29-year-old hit for a .334 batting average, his highest mark over a comparable sample size since Brigman had a .372 average in 47 games as a 21-year-old with the University of San Diego in 2016.

“He worked the same way when he was doing good as when he wasn’t doing good,” Lalli said. “That’s ultimately how you put a season together. You ride those highs, but the big thing is to limit the lows, and he was able to do that.”

Both Lalli and Brigman recalled a batting practice session in Sacramento as being a point where Brigman’s swing clicked during the 2024 regular season. Lalli suggested that Brigman flatten the barrel of his bat to get a better angle of attack to the ball.

“It was nice to see that swing change…come to fruition, and I was able to have a big year down in Reno,” Brigman said. “Just being ready at release and making sure I’m on that back leg and ready to fire.”

Brigman served largely as a utility player for the Aces. Intense work ethic helped him find success no matter where he played.

“With other players, you can assume (their positions) most of the time. Digital Marketing Manager Chase Grodin said. “But when you looked at the lineup each day, you would really have to pay attention to where Bryson was playing.”

Brigman spent significant time at second base, shortstop, left field, right field and even recorded one inning on the mound as a pitcher.

“I'd throw him in the outfield, and he’d rob a home run, make a great play,” said Lalli. “I mean, the fact of the matter is, when you work like Bryson Brigman, you’re not gonna get worse, you’re only gonna get better. He got better because of what he did when no one was watching. It was easy to watch him get a couple hits a night and say, ‘he’s a good player,’ but that all stems from who he is as a person and his work ethic.”

Outside of his dedication to himself, Brigman always took the time to interact with his community.

“Whenever we would need engagement from players, (Brigman) was always first in line,” said Grodin.

Brigman’s upbeat attitude was recognized by Lalli as well, saying that it was clear he cared about the people around him in a deep way.

“That’s one of the biggest compliments anyone can get,” said Lalli. “That’s definitely Bryson - he’s gonna spend time on people.”

On Sunday, September 22, 2024, Bryson Brigman won the Pacific Coast League batting title. But on Saturday, September 21, he was on a 6 a.m. flight to his brother’s wedding.

Bryson had gone hitless the night before, and he said that it was only before that game where someone told him he was leading the league in batting average.

After enjoying the wedding, Brigman would take another 6 a.m. flight Sunday morning, arriving at Greater Nevada Field at 11:30 a.m. for the 1:05 p.m. start time. At this point, Brigman wasn’t even sure if he was going to play this last game of the season.

Brigman said Aces hitting coach Travis Denker called him and convinced him to go for the batting title, citing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“So I grab some McDonald’s, grab me some sprite, two cheeseburgers and a little spicy McChicken, housed it in the Uber on the way over and rolled out there,” Brigman said.

Blake Lalli and his coaching staff spent hours figuring out what had to happen for Brigman to take home this award. He said that they even called officials at MiLB to get a confirmed answer.

Lalli said they knew that Brigman needed at least three base hits and a walk in the final game of the season to get there.

“It was almost like I was a pitcher throwing a no hitter,” Brigman said. “No one was trying to talk to me.”

With two hits and a walk on the day, Bryson Brigman stepped up to the plate for the final time in 2024. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Brigman laced a single to right field.

Brigman said that he felt the most energized and alert during this at bat than he did the entire year before.

“I don’t know if it was the adrenaline or what, but I really feel, I don’t know man, someone was looking out for me and helping me figure it out in the end,” Brigman said.

Winning the batting title was the end result of a crazy weekend for Brigman. He said there are no hard feelings toward his brother’s poor timing for his wedding.

“It wasn’t happy and proud that Bryson won the batting title,” said Lalli. “It was happy and proud for Bryson, and I think those are two different things. When I saw that every single player and pitcher couldn’t help themselves but to leave the dugout in pure joy, that’s why that moment was so special.”

Bryson Brigman will turn 30 years old in June of 2025. To most, this age would represent something daunting. For Brigman, though, his 2024 season proved that he has entered his prime as an athlete.

“I definitely need to pick a place where I have the best chance to get to the big leagues,” Brigman said. “Obviously, I don’t want someone to (just) give it to me, but if I go out and win the batting (title), I’d like to get a debut from that.”

For now, Brigman said he is letting his body heal after his long season. Lighter strength workouts and yoga are on the menu to maximize his recovery in the start of the offseason. Around Thanksgiving, Brigman will leave Minnesota, where he spends time with his girlfriend, and head back to San Jose to start ramping up his baseball training.

“I don’t know what is next for Bryson,” Lalli said. “I know no matter what it is, he’s got a lot of baseball left in him. But whether it’s in baseball or in life, I know the type of person he is - he’s going to succeed.”

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