PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Senior catcher Matt Brandt signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League (CBL), one of the longest continually operated professional independent baseball leagues, earlier in May. The CBL housed at least 64 players with MLB and MiLB experience during the 2025 season.

In the opening 6 games of the CBL's 108th season, Brandt recorded 4 hits, including 2 home runs, and 2 RBI. Defensively, the Queensville, Ontario, Canada, native leads the Maple Leafs with 42 putouts, good for a .962 fielding percentage. Brandt's 2 home runs currently rank second on the team, tying him with former 2014 MLB All-Star Yasiel Puig. 

In his senior season with the purple and grey, Brandt appeared in all 44 games for the Cougars, who made their debut in the PAC tournament. He finished with a .250 batting average, recording 41 hits, including 8 extra-base hits (7 2B & 1 HR), and drove in 32 RBI while backstopping his way to a .982 fielding percentage and a 34.5 caught-stealing percentage.

Brandt becomes the first player in Cougars Baseball history to move on to the professional ranks.