University of British Columbia Athletics

UBC baseball, under the direction of Terry McKaig, has produced in a relatively short time several players who have been drafted by Major League baseball and who have ultimately played professionally. The best known is former major leaguer, UBC and BC Sports Hall of Famer, Jeff Francis. Next to Jeff, as of 2019, in terms of professional success is pitcher Brooks McNiven. Brooks, raised in Vernon BC and now a high school teacher and and coach of high school, academy and provincial baseball, played seven seasons of professional baseball reaching the AAA level, only the second Thunderbird to do so.

While at UBC from 2000 through 2003 his winning percentage as a Thunderbird was over 80% with a sparkling 2.25 earned run average – a vital cog in successful seasons for the team. In fact, he was considered as part of one the strongest starting rotation in the NAIA. In 2003, he was selected NAIA West Player of the Year (not just pitcher) in addition to being named to the NAIA All-Region 1 team in both 2002 and 2003. Accolades again second only to Francis in UBC Baseball.

Following his stellar 2003 season Brooks was selected it the 4^th round of the ’03 Major League draft by the San Francisco Giants. If one is drafted anywhere within the first 8 to 10 rounds his drafting team feels there is a good chance of success – the team has confidence in you. McNiven pitched in the Giants organization for seven seasons before retiring. Before retiring however, Brooks represented Canada at the 2007 Baseball World Cup, was on Canada’s baseball team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and again was on Canada’s team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic – clearly one of the best Canadian pitchers during that period of time.

Former UBC head coach and now GM of UBC baseball McKaig thinks very highly of his former star pitcher. Terry draws attention to the fact that Brooks today is giving back through is coaching locally, “and his assisting UBC baseball in the recruitment of top players from BC…this is one of the most accomplished UBC athletes ever…such a decorated career when you balance his UBC, professional and international careers.”