Brandon Cain Was a Hitter. Now He Throws 99 MPH for the Pirates

Alright, what's going on everybody? Welcome to North Shore Nine podcast presented by FanDuel. I'm Jim and joining me from Arizona at the Arizona Fall League is Pirates pitching prospect, Brandon Kane.

Brandon, welcome to the show. Thanks for joining us today.

Oh yeah, thank you. I'm happy to be here. Ready to get to work and tell the fans about me.

Love it. Love it. So I did some digging. I pulled up 2022 Baker High School. Found some receipts from your high school track career. In April, in April, your brother, Bryce, beats you in the 100 meter dash by 0.1 seconds.

Oh, we're bringing up receipt.

Has he ever put that down?

No, honestly, like everything growing up has been a competition, you know. So, he, we actually ran the race, like, it was the same race, he's next to me, next to me in the lane. So it was, it was a tough loss for sure.

Like, did you ever beat him or was that, like, the first time he had beaten you in a race? Like, No, honestly, like, growing up, like, my brother's always been, like, light and fast. So I've always been trying to, catch up to him. And honestly, like, that was the closest I've ever been to beating him.

Yeah. Okay. All right. So between you, him, and then, as I said, people may not know this, but your uncle is Lorenzo Kane.

Between the three of you, who's the best athlete in the family?

No, I don't want to say me, just because, ego. But, my brother is very, he's a very good athlete. Like, he's playing football at Auburn. And, that kid is, he's just, he's just very athletic, very twitchy, strong for his size. Like, I'd have to give it to my brother, even though I really don't want to.

He would make sure he doesn't see that, right? Yeah.

Yeah.

So you mentioned before, like, everything was, super competitive in your family. Like, that makes sense. Just looking at everybody that you grew up with. Just real quick, I don't want to make this, like, about your uncle or anything, but, like, how was that? Like, having, Uncle Lorenzo at family functions, 13-year-old major league veteran, two-time all-star, was he just, like, a regular guy at Thanksgiving? Or was it just like, hey, tell me about baseball?

Well, so, actually, Lorenzo, like, it's a common misconception. He's my cousin.

Okay. Oh, okay.

Yeah, so, on my dad's side. So, like, I didn't really, grow up with him being at family functions, but in recent history, Lorenzo was actually on my visit to go to Oklahoma, which is why, the main reason I committed there.

And, he's just a, prominent figure while I was at Oklahoma, and we would hang out, talk, just, I just pick his brain about, baseball and how the pro ball life was. And, he would give me great insight. But, it's just, it's a cool feeling when you have, big shoes to fill,.

But when you also have somebody in your corner that has done it before, especially at, that high of a level with, all the accolades, it's like, okay, like, whatever he tells me, I need to listen. Like, I need to pretty much follow in his footsteps along the way.

So, it's really cool. Like, and it's also pretty cool to hear, like, some of the guys say, oh, dang, that's pretty cool. Like, your cousin's Lorenzo's like, yeah, but it's at the same time, it's like, okay, like, we got big shoes to fill. Like, this can't just be like a, the ceiling for me, so.

Right. What's, like, the best piece of advice he's given you?

Just, like, just enjoy the process. Like, baseball is still a, it's still a fun game. And I feel like sometimes we lose track of, how fun, like, the game is. And, it becomes like a business.

But at the end of the day, you played baseball at a young age because you thought it was fun and you need to keep it that way. Like, just keep, just keep pushing through, persevere through, all the, obstacles that you're going to face on a day-to-day basis and just keep going.

So, yeah, I like, I like to take that on the heart, so.

Okay. Well, let's see. You went to junior college before Oklahoma. you were, you were a hitter there. You were, you were an outfielder. You were an infielder. You were swiping bags. You get drafted by the Pirates and, they make you a pitcher.

So, like, at what point did, like, someone officially, like, take your bat away from you? When did, when did that happen?

So, okay, going into, going into Oklahoma, I was a hitter only. Completely just a hitter only. I was not going anywhere near the mountain at Oklahoma.

And, had a great, had a great fall. Like, it was looking to be our opening day starter. And one of our outfitters just, he just was tearing it up in the spring when we came back.

Like, I was also, too. But, he was probably, I want to say, like, maybe eight for 10 with, like, five pumps. So, it was, it was just a tough, a tough spot and a tough battle for me.

But, so, anyway, he ends up starting opening day. And I get a few starts after that. But it just like, the morale there for me was like, down.

Like, I was barely getting any AVs. And it was just, it was just a hard battle to, overcome then because coming off the bench in the eighth, ninth against SEC pitching is not an easy task at all.

So, it's tough.

Yeah, it's very tough. So, fast forward, we're, I want to say we're probably in April or May. And I go to our head coach, Skip Johnson. I'm like, Skip, like, okay, I used to pitch back in the day. Like, I want to get on the mound. Like, I have to, try something out here. Like, I want to get on the field. I want to play. Like, I don't just want to be on the bench.

He's like, yeah. Like, okay, we'll start getting, you can throw today. Because, it's midweek, live AVs. Like, it's a Wednesday. And he's like, yeah, like, you can be the next person to pitch. I'm like, all right. Like, all right, let's make something happen.

So, I go out to the bullpen to warm up. And, from then on, like, I just, I was throwing, midweek live AVs on Wednesdays for, the remainder of the season.

And, the first time I got on the mound at Oklahoma, like, the VLO just jumped out of nowhere. So, it was more like a, all right, like, there's something here that you can't, like, ignore.

Like, the bat's just going to have to be taken out of your hand right now for obvious reasons.

So, eventually, I reached out to my agent and our assistant coaches and, all the guys there at Oklahoma were just helping me get to a good summer league, which is, the MLB draft league is where I ultimately ended up. And, I did my best there and now we're here.

Yeah. So, it sounds like it wasn't, it wasn't something that you were fighting. Like, it was, it was like, hey, I guess I'm a pitcher now.

Yeah, because my thing was, like, because going into your senior year in college, it's just super hard to get drafted out of there.

So, I was like, okay, my junior year, this is going to be my best bet. Like, I have to get out of here. I have to get on the field somehow.

I have to produce and, become a valuable asset on the field or, it's going to be super hard, the next year.

So, yeah, it wasn't like I was fighting it at all. Like, I still do miss hitting every day. And I still think I'm more than capable of doing it.

But, it was just more like, okay, like, this is, this is where I think, the career might last the longest at.

Yeah. Do you ever joke with your other pitchers that, you could, you could take them deep?

Yeah. 100%, especially like, my boys back home, they used to pitch.

They're like, they're like, dude, like, you're a better pitcher now. But, dude, I'm like, yeah, like, I'd still take you deep, though, even though I haven't, picked up a bat in, like, a year. So, but yeah, it's hilarious.

Who out there with you, would you give you, we give you one at bat against any pitcher out there? Who are, who are you picking?

Like anybody on my team or half?

Let's go any of the, any of the pirates that are out there.

Who do you want to step in the box against?

Honestly, give me Walsh. Give me Walsh.

Okay. All right.

Give me Walsh. Yeah, I feel like it'd be a competitive A.B. Walsh is, he's a great guy. He's very competitive. He's energetic on the mound. I think we can, we can definitely match like the tones there. So, that'd be, that'd be a pretty good A.B.

There we go.

All right. So, at Oklahoma, you majored in computer science. So, I guess, can you like actually code and stuff? Like, are we a nerd or like, what's going on there?

Deep into the nerd stuff for sure when it comes to computer science. I'm taking classes right now, actually, out of Oklahoma and it's still towards my major computer science. But the coding part is like, I can do it.

Like, I've been learning, but it's hard to do it abroad, honestly. Like, online, it's difficult. But we're grinding through it. We're learning. And yeah, I like different things like that.

Like, coming out of high school, I built my own computer, like, part by part.

Okay.

Because I just, I just wanted to get into it. And I also like, video games a lot. So, I was like, okay, like, Xbox is cool. PlayStation is cool.

But having, building your own PC and, being able to game on something you built is even cooler. So, why not try it?

So, what's your go-to game?

Go-to game right now? Still got to be Call of Duty. I like Warzone a lot. Like, the boys here, we're playing Black Ops 2 a little bit. And, we're getting back into it. So, Call of Duty for sure.

We at North Shore Nine, every once in a while, we'll hop on and play Call of Duty. And there's nothing more frustrating than, like, four kills, 24 deaths. And you get yelled at by, like, some 12-year-old kids in your year, like, telling you how much you suck. It's rough. It's rough, Brandon.

Yeah, it's brutal. Like, especially playing Nuketown. Like, if you're going up against some, sweaty kids, brother, you're going to get spawn trapped. It's going to be a bad day.

It's awful. It's the worst.

Terrible. Yeah, I get it.

So, North Shore Nine, we've got an app. We built an app. So, at some point, it may need to get you working on our app. I don't know if you've checked that out.

Oh, yeah. I can definitely look into it for sure. Like, yeah, see what's there. See what's there.

What's nerdier? Is it, like, coding or modern-day pitch design?

Wow. I want to say they both are, like, they both have their pros and cons as to which is more nerdier.

But, modern-day pitch design with all the analytics nowadays, it's pretty deep.

And I like diving deep into the numbers and, like, all the statistics and, like, the metrics.

So, I want to lean more towards the pitching side for this one.

Okay.

Yeah, I saw you hit 99. I saw you hit 99 in September. Have we at the triple digits yet? Were we there?

No, we're not at the triple digits yet. We're close. We're close. It's coming soon.

Yeah. So, go back to draft day, right? You get drafted by the Pirates. And I read that your immediate reaction was to jump into a swimming pool, fully clothed.

Yeah. Yeah. Fully clothed. Back clip, like, somersault into the pool. Fully clothed.

Is this your pool? Were you at someone's house or what?

No, it was my pool back in Alabama. And, we're watching the TV. I'm already like, I'm not, like, hyped, but I was, like, down.

Because I'm, like, ah, like, it's the 19th round. Like, there's not much time left.

Yeah.

And I get the call from my agent. He was, like, yeah, like, you want to go here? I'm, like, of course. Like, it shouldn't even be a question. Like, I just, want to get picked up. I got to get out of college ball.

And, sure enough, 19th round comes. It was, like, 500-something pick. And I'm, like, oh, yeah. Straight out the door. Like, before, like, the TV could even, like, actually display what was going on or anything like that. Yeah, I was already out the door.

Like, fully clothed, like, in the air.

Is there a video of this somewhere? We need a video.

There might be. Now I got to go check. But there's definitely a video of me, like, in the pool already. Like, dapping up, like, my stepdad. And then I think my mom and them jumping in the pool, too. So, yeah. Yeah, it was fun.

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So, this year, you spent the whole time being a pitcher. First, you're being a full-time pitcher.

What's something that you learned this year, being a full-time pitcher that you had no idea?

Yeah, so your body moving through space and time.

So, pretty much like being able to, being able to adjust how your body moves to where you can end up in the same spot.

Because you're not going to be able to perfect, the exact way you move every single time that you pitch.

But you can adjust and you can adapt through space and time to, create better direction towards the plate.

And create the same outcome, even though your movement isn't going to be the same every single time.

So, that is the biggest thing that I've, like, dug deep and, did, like, a deep dive into.

And, I'm learning more about it every day, and it's pretty cool.

What's, do you miss playing every day, being a pitcher?

Because, it's like, you've got your off days, right?

Yeah.

Like, we have off days or, like, down days when we're not even hot.

And it's like, dang.

Like, I miss being out there every day, like, knowing I'm in the lineup and, playing hard throughout the whole game.

Like, even whenever, like, in future, like, whenever I was, like, a two-way, there would be times where, okay, I'm not pitching this day, but, okay, I'm still hitting.

Or there would be days where I'm pitching and I'm hitting.

Like, I'm pitching and I'm, leading off the next inning.

So, I miss it.

And it's just like, I feel like it's easier now because my workload is less.

So, but, yeah, I miss it every single day.

Yeah.

What's, being in Arizona, what's, what are you trying to get better at these next six weeks?

Like, is there something specific you want to leave this ball knowing that you've accomplished?

100%.

Just being able to, attack, better competition because the competition here is, it's elevated, of course.

there's some AAA guys, like, trickled in here, AA guys, even some high-A and low-A guys, too.

But, there's big names here.

And if I can just learn how to pitch to them and get them out on a consistent basis, especially with the major league ball that we're using here, I feel like I'm just in a better spot.

And it's just accelerating the learning process for me.

And it's like I'm just being thrown into the fire.

And, I have to learn how to fend for myself and, just persevere out of it.

And I think that's the best way to learn, honestly.

Yeah, love it.

All right.

So, we're going to end with rapid-fire questions.

We're asking everybody the exact same questions.

All right.

So, think about all the Pirates teammates that you're with down there in Arizona.

All right.

Who's the funniest player in the AFL?

Funniest player in the AFL, hands down, Michael Walker.

All right.

That's a popular answer.

So, I'll have to take that, right?

You've got a six-hour road trip.

Yep.

Who are you absolutely not sitting next to?

Not sitting next to?

Not sitting next to.

Jeez.

That's a tough question.

Mena.

Brian.

Mena.

Why is that?

just loud on the phone.

Like, I don't want to hear that a whole road trip.

I just want to, just vibe.

Like, if I'm sitting next to the watch, it's going to be loud.

But at least I'm going to be cracking up and dying last the whole time.

All right.

Okay.

So, Ryan's a popular answer, too.

And that's great.

Which teammate do you trust least with your credit card?

With my credit card?

Yeah.

Probably Mena, too.

Like, I feel like this.

It might be, like, touche.

But, yeah.

Like, I would rather just not have him in possession of my credit card, honestly.

Out of all people, man.

Yeah.

How about biggest trash dog?

Biggest trash dog, yeah.

Maybe Easton, honestly.

Okay.

Yeah, Easton.

All right.

So, yeah, I got you now.

So, okay.

So, Easton's your call.

How about this?

How about which player are you absolutely refusing to control the aux in the clubhouse?

Mena cannot have the ox.

Mena cannot have the ox.

Because, sometimes, you want to just vibe chill, have music that you can cruise to, maybe some house music, something that's not going to be, super up-tempo, fast-paced, loud, like, in your face.

So, with our guys, it'll be some good music, some good music choices in there.

There might be some country flowing in there, house music flowing in there, maybe, like, some subtle rap in there, R&B.

Yeah.

Mena cannot be on the ox.

It just can't happen.

Love it.

Love it.

Love it.

Well, Brandon, hey, we got through the technical difficulties, so we're good there.

We did.

We did.

We did.

Really appreciate you coming on here.

Best of luck in Arizona the rest of this fall.

Can't wait to come see you in a couple weeks.

We'll be down there checking you guys out.

Oh, yeah.

Sounds good.

Can't wait to see y'all here.

Shout it up.

Shout it to y'all guys.

Absolutely.

So, yeah.

Appreciate you hopping on.

Yeah.

We'll talk later.

Okay?

Of course.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I'll just keep in touch.

Sounds good.

All right.

Thanks, Brandon.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

All right.

Hey, also, Mena, how's his English?

Because we didn't reach out to him to do one of these.

But, like, is his English okay to do this or no?

Honestly, like, Mena doesn't have, like, bad English.

Like, he can, like, Mena can speak.

Now, will he understand everything?

Probably not.

Okay.

So, I don't know.

But Mena can speak English.

Like, it's not bad at all.

Like, we can communicate without, any translator or Google Transit or anything.

So.

Okay.

I'm not sure.

I know last year.

Last year, I did this with Tony Blanco Jr. and his Merlin.

And Valdez was okay.

But Blanco, it was rough.

I don't know.

I don't know very much Spanish.

Yeah.

We were Google translating on the screen.

It was.

It was.

It didn't go good.

Ah, that's good.

But, yeah.

Yeah.

Honestly, yeah.

I think Mena.

Maybe.

Maybe.

I don't know.

That's like.

Yeah.

We'll wait till we get.

Yeah.

We'll talk to him when we get down there.

Yeah.

Sounds good.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Can't wait to see y'all here then.

That wraps up this episode of North Shore Nine.

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