Conversations with the Herd: Dasan Brown

By: Brian Frank

Bisons outfielder Dasan Brown grew up as a big Blue Jays fan in Oakville, Ontario, just outside Toronto. He remembers watching games at Rogers Centre and having his love for baseball sparked while watching his childhood heroes.

“I remember going to games as a young one and that’s kind of where I fell in love with the game, just watching some of my favorite players go about their work,” he said. “I vividly, remember going to Roy Halladay's last game as a Blue Jay. I got to see guys like Rajai Davis play in person. Some of the best memories I have growing up is watching those Blue Jays games.”

Brown is an Oakville, Ontario, native. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

Brown had many unique experiences as a young baseball player in Oakville. When he was 10 years old, he won Major League Baseball’s Pitch Hit & Run competition for the Blue Jays’ region and was rewarded with a trip to the Finals, which took place at the 2012 MLB All-Star Game at Kansas City’s Kaufman Stadium.

“I remember just being in awe seeing guys like Andrew McCutchen and Mike Trout in person,” Brown said. “In my head, those guys are superheroes. Now I'm standing in front of them. I can remember that being another time where I fell in love with the game, and you just want to keep working to get to that level.”

Brown not only attended. Blue Jays games at Rogers Centre growing up, but he was also able to play there — when he competed in Tournament T-12, a Canadian futures showcase held annually in Toronto.

“It was one of those things where you hear about all the guys older than you going and having a good time,” he remembered. “I remember the first time going, we got to see their locker room and got a tour. You're in awe as a kid. Getting to play there very young inspired me a lot.”

In 2019, when he was 18 years old, Brown played for the Canadian Junior Team in a spring training exhibition game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Florida. He had an amazing game, batting leadoff, playing center field, and going 3-for-4 with a home run.

“It felt like I was floating the whole day,” he recalled. “You wake up with your normal day, but it felt a little different. You're playing on TV in front of your boys back home. You kind of enter that flow state and you're just playing. I ran into a fastball, made a catch, and just had fun. I ended up showing some of my tools, and the Blue Jays took a chance on me.”

Later that same year, the Blue Jays selected Brown in the third round, 88th overall, in MLB’s June Amateur Draft, making him the highest selected Canadian player of that draft class.

“I was back home,” he remembered of the day he was drafted. “My dad actually let me take the day off school because our school year ended a little later in June. I was watching the TV. I got a call from my agent at 11:00. He said the Blue Jays are going to take you on day two. I just remember waiting and watching the TV because it wasn't official until they made the selection. When they picked, it was just a relief knowing. My dad was home with me, and he was excited. I told my mom and my brother. I just remember being really happy that day.”

Brown has stolen 149 bases in his professional career. Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bisons Baseball Club.

Even though he was drafted by the local team he grew up cheering for, Brown still had a decision to make. He’d already committed to playing college baseball at Texas A&M University. The Aggies were a college baseball powerhouse, making 13-consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, and advancing to the College World Series two seasons prior.

“You hear all the stories about pro ball and how uncertain it is for a lot of high school guys,” Brown said. “My dad was on board with me getting an education — but the Blue Jays took a chance on me, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I thought it was a no doubt (decision) to end up signing.”

Brown had another unique opportunity in 2023, when he had a chance to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. He appeared in two games at the WBC.

“I remember learning and just having my learning hat on,” he said of the experience. “Trying to take in as much information from big leaguers and high minor league guys as well. It was cool to just be able to be in that environment. You watch on TV, and you see the atmosphere on TV, but being there is totally different. It inspired a new love for the game as well.”

Brown is rated by Baseball America as the Blue Jays’ minor league system’s best athlete, best defensive outfielder, and fastest baserunner. He won a Minor League Gold Glove Award in 2024, when he spent time at both High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire.

“It just gave me a different type of confidence,” Brown said of being honored with the award. “Some of the goals you set out at the beginning of the year — one of my goals was to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award within the Blue Jays system. Getting the chance to win that on a minor league scale, it just gives me a different mindset of — I can do this at the highest level, and I have the ability to have a complete game. So, it was definitely an accomplishment, and I'm very proud of myself for that.”

Brown won a Minor League Gold Glove last season. Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bisons Baseball Club.

Brown has already stolen 149 bases in the minor leagues, including being successful in 36 out of 40 attempts during the 2025 season.

“One of my Double-A coaches, Delta Cleary, said, you’ve always got to be ready to run and then shut it down, versus kind of not being sure and then you get a bad jump,” Brown explained. “So, every pitch I'm trying to run, and if I don't get a good jump, I'll shut it down, or a few slide steps, I'll shut it down. Just knowing the times I can run and trusting my ability to get there in time. Just always be ready to go.”

“I had to bug Casey (Bisons manager Casey Candaele) to let me get the green light — but he ended up giving me that pass,” Brown chuckled.  “He just said, ‘Don't get thrown out.’”

The speedy outfielder, who celebrated his 24th birthday last week, made his Triple-A debut in early September after spending most of the season at Double-A New Hampshire. He earned the promotion by posting a .334 OBP and .712 OPS with 10 stolen bases for the Fisher Cats during the month of August, before playing 15 games in Buffalo to finish the season. He believes he’s learned a lot this .year.

“My biggest takeaway, especially in the higher minor leagues, it's just the ability to make adjustments — and consistency,” he said. “Going into this offseason knowing I have the ability to play at this level. Just putting the work in to have a clear mind, stepping into the box, stepping onto the field, and trusting my abilities. It's a game at the end of the day. Trying to create situations, trying to create pressure. It just didn't work for me this year. So, just trying to settle down and just play the game that I love.”

Brown believes making consistent hard contact is the key to elevating his game and taking it to the next level.

“I think it's just consistent hard contact on balls over the middle of the plate,” he said. “Obviously that's the key for every hitter — but just knowing my ability on the bases and on defense, getting on base is the key for me. So, finding ways to impact the baseball, to get on base. Swing at pitches that I like to swing at and allowing my natural ability to take over.”

Brown will likely begin next season with the Bisons, as he continues to learn and showcase his elite athleticism. His sights remain set on pushing forward in his baseball journey that began back in Oakville, Ontario, and ultimately returning to Rogers Centre — but this time, as a major leaguer playing for his hometown team.