Jay Bendlin

On the Path to a Record-Breaking Season – Brad Malm

3/21/2022 2:00:00 PM

ALBANY, N.Y. – A .413 batting average, 11 home runs, 72 total bases, 31 hits, 27 scored runs, and 25 RBIs. Brad Malm, a fifth-year senior and co-captain of the University at Albany baseball team, is having a start to the season many college players can only dream of, racking up these numbers in just 17 games. With about a third of the 2022 season played, the Medford, N.Y. native is on track to break multiple UAlbany records and achieve his dream – playing in the MLB.

Malm has gotten much attention across the nation over the last few weeks. He is averaging .65 home runs per game, the most of any player in the NCAA this year, and he’s tied for second with 11 total shots over the outfield fence. Additionally, he has collected the second most total bases (72) in the country and his current slugging percentage of .960 is good for fourth place in the NCAA. Nationwide, he’s also in the top 20 in scored runs (17th). Moreover, the redshirt senior is just two homers short of the single-season home run record for UAlbany, set by Mike Konstanty 14 years ago.

I really try to tone it out and just try to take one pitch at a time… I’m trying to do my thing, trying to do the best I can… I get nervous sometimes, I think everyone gets nervous, but when you’re in the batter’s box and see the ball, you just trust yourself.

Brad Malm

It’s easy to forget that Malm already played a stellar 2021 campaign, where he was named to the America East All-Conference First Team, All-Academic Team, and All-Tournament Team. He had 60 hits with four home runs, collected 39 RBIs, and tallied 35 runs. Despite his best season to that point, he decided to return for a fifth year with the Great Danes.

I made a commitment here to play baseball for four years, and that wasn’t done yet. I know Albany, I know the campus, I know the coaches, I know my position on the team, so it was just a really good fit to stay here.

Brad Malm

Malm is not just a powerhouse offensively; he also has great defensive abilities. Coming into UAlbany, he played third base, but last year, he was given more responsibility when he was moved to shortstop. In the field, he recorded just four errors in 2021 to go along with 16 double plays and 126 assists.

I think the big thing with him starts with his defense. The defense is where the attraction has always been for me in terms of evaluating him as an amateur player and obviously as a professional player. He can certainly defend at the next level. Now, he’s added his power component which, has really enhanced the stock as a potential draft pick.

Head Coach Jon Mueller

Malm knew he wanted to play professional baseball ever since he started picking up the sport in his backyard with his two older brothers, Brandan and Brett, who he points out as his role models. He says that “without them, I would not be the player I am today.” Although he remembers being talented, when the time came to take the next step and pick the right college, he didn’t receive as many offers as the other kids on his team. So, he took matters into his own hands.

I knew a lot of kids that played on my brothers’ team that came to UAlbany. So, I was like, that might be a good fit. I reached out to them, we scheduled a visit, and I got an offer.

Brad Malm

Malm’s current run is no coincidence. From taking thousands of ground balls in his backyard to getting up reps in the off-season, he has put in a lot of hard work and effort to become the player he is today. Coach Mueller credits him with being one of the hardest workers and the best player he has ever coached.

I’ve coached a lot of guys, I’ve played with a lot of guys, and he’s the best player I’ve ever coached. If I’m saying that, then that’s saying about all I can say about him… He puts a tremendous amount of work in, more than most people do, and now he’s seeing the fruits of his labor. He talks about trusting the process and part of the process, I believe, with Brad is an insane amount of work in the weight room and an insane amount of work in the cage... It’s a classic example of working your way into the position. He doesn’t ask me for anything, he doesn’t ask Coach [Jeff] Kaier for anything, he goes and does it. And now you get the result from someone’s incessantly hard work

Head Coach Jon Mueller

In preparation for his last season with UAlbany, Malm did the same things he has always done and trusted himself and the process. Instead of putting too much attention on individual stats, this year is all about enjoying the time on the field and winning as a team. The goal is clear: a conference championship and making it to NCAA Regionals.

I’ve always been a little caught up in stats but this year, my last year of baseball, I really came in just wanting to win. I wanted to enjoy my time on the field and my last time playing at all these schools. I want to win as much as possible, hit as good as I can, do everything right and put my team in a position to win and go to regionals.

Brad Malm

Conference play kicked off this past weekend, with the Great Danes taking two of three on the road against UMBC. Coach Mueller believes that the team is in a good spot to make a run and crown itself to the 2022 America East Champion.

The goal is to win an America East championship this year. It’s obviously the goal every year, but with the returning players we have and with a lot of the pieces that we do have, we’re fortunate. If we can stay healthy all year and make a run at it, I think that I feel good about our chances.

Head Coach Jon Mueller

Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on Twitter and Instagram and by using the hashtag #BeGreat.

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