Hanging in the Minors with Matt Brazis

Over the weekend, we had a chance to sit down with our great friend, Matt Brazis, who is a rising star in the Chicago Cubs Minor League Organization. Matt gave us some insight into what it is like playing in the Minors:

Playing in the Cubs Organization has been a great experience, and one that I recognize not many people get the chance to go through. Being a part of such a storied franchise with incredible fans and great staff is all I could ask for.  The Cubs take great pride in their minor league system, and spare no expense at all the different levels leading up to the majors.

I've been playing baseball for as long as I can remember, so it's hard to imagine life without it. When I was younger, I remember going to the Little League with my dad, and trying to compete with my older brother who was always much better than I was. It was that competition that has paid off, as I continue to work as hard as I can to outwork “the other guy”.

I guess it might sound cliché, but what I love most about baseball is winning. For example, if someone turned on a random baseball game on TV, I wouldn't be too interested. However, drop me into that game, and the competitiveness in me fires up. The drive to succeed and win, especially in a one-on-one matchup with the hitter, is exhilarating. 

My offseason is a mixture of workouts, throwing, seeing friends, and odd jobs. My lifting and baseball workouts start at 9am and end around 3pm; this leaves me the rest of the day to relax or work. This offseason I've been giving pitching lessons to little leaguers, working as a bartender, hell, I've even sold some Neon Bandits on the side! I like to have a fair amount of balance in my offseason, which I consider as my time off.

Chicago Cubs


Neon Bandits aren't only a handsome-looking sock, but they're also a very practical fit for me. I'm constantly working out and being active, and the sock really reflects that lifestyle. Neon Bandits bold looks, colors and patterns are fantastic. They're incredibly comfortable and don't slide down your calves like most other similar socks do. Whether I'm squatting, lunging, or throwing a bullpen in my baseball cleats, I got my Neon Bandits on and ready to take on anything. 

We’ll be checking in with Matt throughout the season as he and his Neon Bandits collection take on Spring Training, and then hit the road to the majors. Stay tuned and in the meantime, #GrabAPair!

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