By PAUL GOTHAM
Cory Brownsten‘s first experience on the Monroe Community College campus occurred in 2001. The then 7th grader from Lockport, N.Y. participated in the MCC Catcher’s Camp. Among his first memories was the opportunity to catch bullpens for former Tribune great and MLB draft pick Tim Redding.
Brownsten will join Redding in the school’s Sports Hall of Fame when Monroe CC inducts its newest class this Friday.
“It gives me chills,” he said. “I’m really honored to be included among the great names that have been a part of this program.”
Brownsten played on the ’07 MCC nine which advanced to the NJCAA World Series under Skip Bailey. The following year under first-year head coach Mike Kelly, Brownsten garnered first-team All-American and earned Junior College D2 Defensive-Player-of-the-Year honors to go with a Gold Glove for a Tribune squad which finished a program best third in the nation.
He hit .390 with seven home runs, 50 RBI and a slugging percentage of .615 that season.
Brownsten attended the University of Pittsburgh where earned All-Big East honors hitting .395 with 17 extra-base hits, including three home runs and 48 RBI.
The Atlanta Braves selected him in the 15th round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
“MCC made me the catcher that I was,” he said. “It made me better on and off the field. When I got to Pitt, I was ready to go. Little fixes here and there but baseball-wise, Pittsburgh didn’t fix me. It was MCC that got me to the next level.”
He played four years in the Braves system before returning to Monroe in 2015 where he has been an assistant since then under current head coach Dave Brust.
“Coach Brownsten teaches the game simply and patiently while maintaining a high level of sophistication,” Brust said. “As our pitching coach and defensive coordinator, Cory appears to see the game at a slower speed than most. He breaks down the opposing hitters instantaneously.
Of Monroe’s nine trips to the World Series, Brownsten has been part of four – two as a player and two now as an assistant under Brust.
“That’s the goal for every team is to make it as far as it can,” Brownsten said. “I’ve been very fortunate. That’s everyone’s goal and that’s an honor to get there.”
“He was a dominant defender who could take over a game with his brains and his arm,” said Brust who was an assistant coach with 2007 and ’08 World Series teams. “In my opinion, Cory’s athleticism, competiveness, steady leadership and defensive brilliance make him the best catcher in our program’s history.”
Along with Brust and Redding, Brownsten follows other former Tribune Hall of Famers such as Greg Keagle, Scott Delgatti and Eddie Lee (to name a few) who went on to play baseball at the professional level.
“They were all great baseball players at MCC and further on playing professional baseball. It’s exciting to be known as the newest member of that group.”
Brownsten joins Gurnal Jones (posthumously), Kristine Olijnyk and Rocky Delfino to be inducted at MCC’s Hall of Fame banquet on Oct. 5.
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