Last night’s Seattle Mariners game was historic for the city of Kingston, as Matt Brash made his highly anticipated Major League Baseball debut against the Chicago White Sox.
Although the city of Kingston has seen a number of locals reach high levels of competitive baseball, Brash becomes the first to appear in an MLB game.
Brash, who entered the season ranked as one of the top 100 prospects league wide, was tagged for the loss in 5.1 innings pitch, but the 23 year old impressed with 6 strikeouts and allowing just 4 hits and 2 earned runs.
The rookie had an impressive spring training earning a spot in the Mariners rotation, and coming into the game said he was feeling good and ready to get to work.
“I felt fine,” Brash was quoted by MLB.com.
“Pregame on the bus ride here, I was a little jittery, butterflies. But once I got out to the mound, I felt great.”
Brash played baseball for both the Kingston Thunder and Bayridge Blazers throughout his youth, and a number of former coaches and teammates were excited to watch him take the mound for his first start.
The rookie is one of few pitchers boasting a knuckle curveball and possesses a fastball that regularly clocks out at 95 miles per hour.
Yesterday, Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson declared it “Matt Brash Day” in the city of Kingston, following some extensive campaigning by two MOVE 98.3 on air hosts.
“With now the majority support of city council, it is my great pleasure to declare or proclaim today Tuesday, April 12, as ‘Matt Brash Day’ in the City of Kingston,” Paterson said in a video.
Brash’s next start is expected to be April 17 against the Houston Astros.
