Brandon maximizes the power potential in his body by implementing a regular routine of drills using bands and bungee cords to promote posture, balance and the transfer of energy…he uses these and other tools to create awareness and feel with his swing...He and his wife, Madison, are in the process of building a country home in Franklin, Tenn. …they live there in the offseason with their puppy, Collie, a miniature bernedoodle, a mix of a Bernese mountain dog and poodle...Brandon launched the "Home Runs for Hope" program in 2019…for each home run Brandon hits, he and Madison donate $100 to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, matched by the Rays Baseball Foundation…his 17 HR raised $3,400 last season…mental health has heavily impacted his family and he wants to ensure no one feels helpless when dealing with mental health issues...Brandon discovered his key to success while in the minor leagues, which he shared with the Tampa Bay Times…"A big thing has been eating applesauce. When I got to Triple-A Durham, I was struggling and they had those GoGo squeezes in the fridge and I was like, 'Ah, applesauce. I haven't had a lot of fruits lately.' Had one, ended up hitting a home run. Had three hits that day. And I was like, 'I've got to have applesauce tomorrow.' The next day, I hit two home runs, and I just absolutely took off."
2019
Named an AL All-Star…voted the club's Outstanding Rookie by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA…his 17 HR ranked 3rd in club history for a rookie, behind Evan Longoria (27) in 2008 and Jonny Gomes (21) in 2005, despite 68 games on the injured list...Finished 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year race behind unanimous winner HOU Yordan Álvarez and BAL John Means...Min. 300 PA, his .514 SLG was the 2nd-highest in AL history by a rookie middle infielder, behind BOS Nomar Garciaparra (.534) in 1997...Since 2005, only three other AL rookie middle infielders have matched his home run total: NYY Gleyber Torres (24) in 2018, HOU Carlos Correa (22) in 2015 and CWS Alexei Ramirez (21) in 2008...Fouled a ball off his right shin on July 2 vs. BAL, sustaining a right shin bone bruise, then was removed from his Aug 21 rehab game with Triple-A Durham with a left quadriceps strain, a separate and unrelated injury…reinstated from the 60-day IL on Sep 22, appearing in 6 games (5 starts) to end the season...At the time of his injury, led the Rays with 16 HR and 49 RBI and ranked 2nd among major league rookies in both categories…his 16 HR tied Evan Longoria in 2008 for the most by a Rays rookie before the All-Star break…was on pace to break the club rookie record for homers before his injury...In Baseball America's annual Best Tools survey of major league managers, coaches and executives, was ranked as the AL's 2nd-best Defensive Second Baseman behind NYY DJ LeMahieu...On March 20, signed a six-year contract through 2024, with club options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons…the deal will pay him at least $24 million, and up to $49 million if options are exercised and incentives are reached…it was the fourth time the Rays signed a player with less than a year of service time to a long-term extension, following Chris Archer (2014), Matt Moore (2011) and Evan Longoria (2008)...Named AL Rookie of the Month for April, the first Ray to win it since Wil Myers in September 2013…the winners were based on stats covering both March and April…led AL rookies in March/ April with a .289 avg., .350 OBP, .567 SLG, .917 OPS, 17 runs, 26 hits, 6 HR, 12 XBH and 17 RBI...Made his first Opening Day roster, starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup...On April 12 at TOR, hit a pair of 2-run homers for the first multi-HR game of his career…his first homer reached the 500 Level at Rogers Centre, becoming the smallest player, by both height and weight, ever to homer to the 500 Level...His 6 HR in April were a club rookie record, passing Steven Souza Jr. (4) in 2015...In May 2 at KC, hit a 2-run homer in the 9th inning off Wily Peralta to give the Rays a 3-1 lead…the homer came just minutes after he was named the AL Rookie of the Month for April...On May 8 vs. ARI, struck out five times in a 13-inning loss, the first 5-SO game in club history…from May 8-10 vs. ARI/NYY, struck out in eight straight plate appearances to tie Tomás Pérez from April 28-30, 2006 for the club record...Hit safely in 12 consecutive games from April 22-May 8, one shy of tying the longest hitting streak by a rookie in franchise history...Won the Al Lopez Award, presented to the club's most outstanding rookie in spring training…led the Grapefruit League with 8 2B, ranked 2nd with 17 RBI, tied for 2nd with 11 XBH, tied for 3rd with 20 hits and ranked 3rd with 37 total bases…hit .377/.411/.698 (20-for-53) in 18 games...Added to the AL All-Star Team as an injury replacement for LAA Tommy La Stella, but did not play due to his own injury… despite his injury, went to Cleveland to enjoy the All-Star Game festivities and experience but endured an upsetting moment when veteran broadcaster Joe Buck mispronounced his name during pregame introductions...Became the fourth rookie in franchise history selected to the All-Star Team, joining Evan Longoria in 2008, Lance Carter in 2003 and Rolando Arrojo in 1998...Entered the AL Wild Card Game at OAK as a pinch-hitter in the 3rd inning and remained in the game at second base…started the first 4 games of the ALDS…in Game 1 at HOU, made a 5th-inning error leading to two unearned runs…in Game 3 vs. HOU, homered off Zack Greinke on the first pitch of the 4th inning...
2018
Selected from Triple-A Durham on Aug 4 and remained with the Rays through season's end, his first career major league action…appeared in 43 games and made 36 starts (24-2B, 7-LF, 5-RF)...Totaled 28 HR and 101 RBI between Double-A Montgomery, Durham and the Rays, compared to 16 HR and 100 RBI in 221 games over his first two minor league seasons (2016-17)...Hit 5 HR in 26 games (21 starts) in September, and all 6 HR came in his last 28 games…his last 3 HR came off left-handed pitchers...Hit .297/.391/.558 (113-for-380) with 31 2B, 22 HR and 76 RBI in 100 games between Montgomery and Durham, with a June 7 promotion to Triple-A…at the time of his selection to the majors, his 31 2B tied for 7th among full-season minor leaguers and his 54 XBH ranked 5th...Began his major league career hitless through 19 AB, 2nd-longest to begin a career in club history, behind Stephen Vogt (0-for-25) in 2012… after snapping the skid on Aug 15, hit .273/.357/ .527 (30-for-110) with 6 HR and 25 RBI in 37 games (30 starts) through season's end...On Aug 5 vs. CWS, became the second player since Baseball Reference data is available (1908) to play both left field and second base in his major league debut, following OAK Tyler Ladendorf on April 8, 2015 vs. TEX....On Aug 15 at NYY, recorded his first career hit, a 2nd-inning RBI single off Luis Cessa…on Aug 28 at ATL, connected for his first career home run, on a 2-2 pitch from Julio Teheran in the 6th inning...Homered in back-to-back games from Sep 1-2 at CLE, and three consecutive starts from Aug 28-Sep 2 at ATL/CLE...Began the season with Montgomery and was named to the Southern League midseason All-Star Team…ranked 2nd among Rays minor leaguers with 22 HR and tied for 4th with 76 RBI...Named to the Rays Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 93 overall prospect in the minors following the season...was the No. 8 prospect in the Rays system…named by the publication to its Triple-A All-Star Team.
2017
Became the first player in Stone Crabs history to win the Florida State League Most Valuable Player Award…named Most Valuable Player for Class-A Charlotte by the Rays Baseball Operations department...Selected to the FSL midseason All-Star Team… despite a stint on the injured list and an Aug 2 promotion to Montgomery, tied for the FSL lead with 34 2B and ranked 3rd with 46 XBH...Named the Rays Minor League Hitter of the Month for May, batting .308 (28-for-91) with 9 2B, 6 HR and 14 RBI...Played 16 games for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 16 prospect in the Rays system following the season.
