Footwork is a vital characteristic for many prospective athletes. In the case of Mets' third round draft choice Quinn Brodey, that attribute developed on the soccer field at Loyola High School in California and provided him with agility and a quick first step to play each outfield position.
Originally a 37th round selection by the Washington Nationals out of high school in 2014, Brodey opted to attend the University of Stanford and spent his freshman season as a two-way player, making ten relief appearances and had north of 100 at-bats as a position player. The decision to focus exclusively on the outfield came shortly after and helped accelerate his overall growth.
The most notable progression for Brodey came before his junior season in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .326 in 37 games with a .845 OPS. His experiences in the league eventually resulted in a spot on the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list as he emerged into one of the top hitters in the Pac-12 and subsequently led the Cardinal in every major offensive statistical category.
Since its inception, the Stanford Cardinal name transcends college baseball with 16 College World Series appearances and an alumni list which features individuals such as Mike Mussina and Jack McDowell who left their marks in the major leagues. The legacy endures with each passing season, and Brodey shared his Stanford tenure with highly touted products Tristan Beck and Matt Winaker, the latter of which also serves as his teammate with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
This past spring had a sentimental feeling for both Brodey, and the Stanford baseball program as the legendary head coach Mark Marquess retired after 40 seasons. Upon his retirement, Marquess ranks in the top ten in wins by a Division 1 head coach and is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame. Various alumni also paid visits to the school in tribute to the outgoing head coach.
The Mets selected Brodey in the third round of the 2017 draft before joining the Brooklyn Cyclones, which contain multiple Stanford alumni, including Winaker, pitcher Chris Viall, and hitting coach Sean Ratliff. The familiarity helped Brodey adapt to playing professional baseball 3,000 miles from home in a passionate environment.
Brodey made his Cyclones' debut on June 28 and became a constant presence in the middle of the batting order to help boost the team's offense with a mix of strong on-base skills and the ability to make consistent contact. In his first month as a pro, Brodey has a .266/.330/ .351 slash line and 33 total bases. On July 21, he hit a grand slam against the Connecticut Tigers for his first career home run and becomes more at ease in the batter's box.