Reigning Pitcher of the Year Cassedy Returns to Bethesda in a New Role

By Tim Wilcox

In 2023, Brandon Cassedy (Christopher Newport) led the Big Train’s pitching staff with a league-best 0.64 ERA to win the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League Most Outstanding Pitcher award. His consistent performance all season led Bethesda to their tenth CRSCBL Championship.

In all of his outings last season, Cassedy started. Now, returning for his second season, the Big Train will use him as a relief pitcher. After throwing 77 innings at Christopher Newport this spring, Big Train manager Sal Colangelo wants to be careful with Cassedy’s young arm.

A move to the bullpen does not alter his preparation, Cassedy said.

“The mindset is still the same,” Cassedy said. “You gotta go in there, you gotta have confidence on every pitch and you got to throw strikes, get the guys out. Nothing really changes no matter whether its a start, whether it's a close, it’s all kind of the same.”

Throughout his career, Cassedy has thrived wherever he has been. At Colgan High School (Va.), Cassedy was named first team All-District three times as he pitched to a 13-1 record and 0.54 ERA. Cassedy served as starting pitcher and closer with the Sharks, proving early that he could be a versatile arm.

Transitioning to college, Cassedy found an immediate role as a pitcher and third baseman at Christopher Newport. As a freshman, he again pitched as a starter and reliever while recording a 4.22 ERA. At the hot corner, Cassedy hit .231 and posted a .929 fielding percentage.

The start of the 2023 summer meant Cassedy, who usually faced Division III competition, was going to pitch against players from all different levels. As he arrived in Bethesda, Cassedy spoke with his Big Train teammates about their experiences to learn as much as he could.

“I was trying to gather as much information from our big name dudes, power 5 guys, and see what worked well for them and try to gather as much information as possible to see what helps me,” Cassedy said.

Soaking in knowledge proved beneficial as Cassedy earned CRSCBL Pitcher of the Week honors in the fourth week of the 2023 season. Cassedy developed against tougher competition by holding himself accountable, Big Train pitching coach Craig Lopez said.

“He's gonna pick peoples' brains but then he takes it a step further, he puts action behind what his thoughts are and that's how he gets better at it,” Lopez said.

Cassedy learned from Lopez, a former fifth round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles, to improve his mechanics and improve his pitches. As he continued to succeed, Cassedy completed his first collegiate summer season with a 3-0 record while tallying 32 strikeouts across 28 innings. He didn’t allow an earned run in five of his six regular season outings. His success led the Big Train to the league championship and brought him confidence entering his sophomore season of college.

“Coming in here as a smaller kid, there’s really nothing to lose,” Cassedy said. “You're coming in here, you're just continuing to do what you do, kind of tell them like ‘hey here it comes, if you're gonna beat me then go ahead and do it’ type of mindset.”

As a sophomore at Christopher Newport, Cassedy accepted a larger role as primarily a starter, pitching 34 more innings than his freshman season. Despite the increased workload, Cassedy finished second on the team with seven wins while posting a career-best 3.62 ERA. His strikeout numbers improved too – he whiffed 110 hitters in just 77 innings of work. 

In a different role with the Big Train this season, Cassedy has tried to refine his cutter and add a changeup to his repertoire. As a smaller pitcher – listed at 5’11”, 180 pounds – he wanted to create an advantage against opposing hitters with pitches that move in different directions, Cassedy said. 

“[Cassedy] is that type of guy where he has his stuff, he goes out and pitches and he's gonna learn little things that are gonna help complement those other pitches,” Lopez said.

When Cassedy was first tested as a reliever this season, he was ready. 

On June 4, the Big Train led the Thunderbolts 12-10 in the ninth inning when Cassedy took the mound. With two runners on and zero outs, Cassedy got the first batter to fly out, but the next batter reached on an error to load the bases. In response, Cassedy worked back-to-back strikeouts to strand the runners and record the save.

“(Cassedy) is a bulldog,” Colangelo said. “He wants to get out there and he wants to compete and give the team a chance to win every day he steps on the mound.”