LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When reached about his brother's electrifying ascension and sizable contribution to the Arizona Diamondbacks' improbable run to the World Series, Brett Pfaadt's initial response was unbridled and a concise summation of the joy of one of Bellarmine University's own performing wonders on a national stage.

"How freaking cool is this," Brett said of his older brother Brandon's rise to National League Championship Series hero and World Series participant in his rookie season.

Speaking for all of Knights Nation, it's very, very cool.

"Looking back to when I was at Bellarmine, this would've been farfetched," Brandon said in a correspondence with BU athletics. "Now, being here in the clubhouse, in the World Series, it's all a dream coming true. It feels surreal being in this situation my first year."

As for that first year: After a swift rise through the ranks of the minor leagues, the 2020 fifth-round draft pick made his Major League debut with the Diamondbacks in May against the Texas Rangers, who Arizona is now facing in the World Series. The righthander proceeded to make 18 starts in the regular season and logged 19 appearances overall.

Brandon has been a sensation in the postseason. In four starts, the Louisville native has struck out 22 batters in 16.2 innings pitched while carrying a 2.70 ERA. He tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in Arizona's series-clinching sweep of the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.

With the D-backs down 2-0 in the NLCS to the Phillies, Brandon was a catalyst for a series comeback after firing 5.2 shutout innings while fanning nine in Game 3, in the process becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to allow no runs and no walks in consecutive postseason starts. He was then handed the ball in Philadelphia in the decisive Game 7, piling up seven strikeouts while allowing two runs over 4.0 solid innings of work as the D-backs stunned the Phillies 4-2 in advancing to the World Series for the second time in franchise history.

"In the NLCS, it was intense when Game 7 came around," Brandon said. "With a winner-take-all game, I knew I had to come through for the team and just put my head down and leave it all out on the field. In Philly, with that atmosphere, it was something I've never experienced before, but at the end of the day it's still another game just with more on the line."

Brady, Brandon's older brother, and Brett were on hand for both of his NLCS starts, the first of which came in Arizona. Brady was an All-Region catcher and key member of multiple NCAA II Tournament teams at Bellarmine, while Brett was a starting shortstop for the Knights after the Division-I transition. Brandon was the bridge between the brothers, playing with both at BU.

"Everything was so surreal," Brady said of watching Brandon on the grand stage. "Brett and I on multiple occasions would just look at each other and ask, 'What are we even doing right now?' Or 'is this really happening?' Ever since we were kids, every one of us had this dream of playing in the big leagues, much less a World Series, but Brett and I always knew if anyone was really going to do it, it was going to be Brandon. Ever since he was a kid, he just stood out on the field as a guy that was just different from the rest."

"Personally, one of the best memories was after Game 7 in Philly," Brett said. "We were waiting on him to come out of the locker room. He came running out, SOAKED in beer, and came over to Brady and I and gave us the biggest hug. A memory I will never forget. The biggest smile was on his face and at that moment, it hit me that he is here to stay. He will be in the league a long time, and he will have the biggest fan base supporting him."

Just like his brothers, former teammates knowingly waited for Brandon's breakthrough. Matt Higgins, a former D2 and D1 All-American who was the 2022 ASUN Player of the Year, said he recognized it playing against Brandon in travel ball when they were only 11 years old.

"He threw me the first backdoor slider I've ever seen in my life and struck me out looking," Higgins recalled. "That introduced me to the first 'tip your cap' moment I experienced on a baseball field."

The two played together at Trinity High School in Louisville before their paths continued together at Bellarmine. Their career baseball paths may intersect again one day — Higgins is playing in the San Francisco Giants' farm system.

"What made me realize he was special was how he always rose to the occasion," Higgins said. "In high school and college, he always showed up in the big playoff games for us. His performance in the playoffs this year is not new to guys who have played with or against him because he's been a big-game pitcher his whole career."

Chris Gambert, a former D2 All-American at Bellarmine, would echo that. Like Brady, he was a catcher for the Knights during Brandon's tenure.

"Obviously, his stuff was really good, but his IQ was even better," Gambert said. "It was always a lot of fun talking to him in between innings about what he was seeing from opposing batters on the mound or how he's feeling that day. Then it was always fun calling his games because I knew I was catching a guy who was going to play at a high level. His stuff was elite and he had great command, so you could essentially call whatever you wanted in any count and keep the hitters guessing and clueless."

One of the great mysteries of Bellarmine athletics that's sure to endure is not only how much success the stacked 2020 squad would have achieved, but also the possibility of how monumental Brandon's season on the mound might have been. It was his junior year and sure to be his last in a Knights uniform after firmly being on MLB scouts' radars following an attention-grabbing stint in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.

Brandon was laying the foundation of a D2 All-American campaign and seemingly was the frontrunner for GLVC Pitcher of the Year — and possible D2 National Pitcher of the Year candidacy — when COVID-19 hit and wiped out the rest of the season. The righty was 3-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 26.0 innings pitched before the abrupt halt of the year.

"He had just come back from the Cape, and you could immediately tell he was a new kind of different," Gambert said. "He had a ton of confidence that season because he just had a great summer in the Cape playing against some of the best guys in the country and playing well. His stuff got even better, and his command was better, but his presence was what made him even better that year. That season was short, but it felt like every time he touched the ball that year that there was no chance we were going to lose. I still wish we would've gotten to play that year not only as a team, but to see what he would've been able to do."

"He looked like he knew he was the man, even though he's one of the most humble guys I know," Higgins said. "He was a man amongst boys that year."

Bellarmine Coach Chris Dominguez was an assistant with the Knights in 2020. Dominguez was a two-time All-American at the University of Louisville and followed with an 11-year pro career, including stints with the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

"I thought he was special on the mound and, as much as that, really approached and could do things like a professional," Dominguez said. "He definitely had the stuff to be a big leaguer."

Brandon, who as anticipated was drafted after his junior season, is scheduled to start Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night in Arizona. Brady said "a caravan" of family, friends, former teammates and coaches will be headed to The Grand Canyon State to watch their favorite rookie phenom.

Brady enjoys watching Brandon live as much for the distraction of the surroundings as anything. His brother is such a cool customer on the mound. The nervous wrecks are Brandon's family members, many of whom, like his brothers, were, not coincidentally, athletes themselves. For instance, Brian Pfaadt, Brandon's father, played soccer at Bellarmine; his grandfather, Bob Pfaadt, played baseball for the Knights; and his mother, Staci Pfaadt, was a basketball player at the University of Louisville.

"Watching his games on TV is much more stressful than being in person," Brady said. "When you are at the game, it is just so cool to see the fans cheering, or booing, for your little brother. His name being echoed throughout the stadium with fireworks going off is an experience I won't ever forget."

Humility is a word that frequently comes up in relation to Brandon. His brothers emphasized it. Gambert and Higgins referenced it more than once.

To all, it's as important an aspect of Brandon's success as a fastball that reaches 97 MPH.

"He deserves it. Plain and simple," Brett said. "If you know the kid, he is the most unselfish, humble, overall good guy you will ever meet. Pair that with his work ethic and mindset and that is why he is where he is."

With the World Series underway, Brandon said he fully appreciates the backing of Knights Nation.

"The support from back home goes a long way, more than anyone realizes," Brandon said. "To get in the locker room after the game with infinite text messages says it all. I don't think I'd be in this spot without everyone's support."

Brady, perhaps speaking for all of Knights Nation, had this parting shot for Brandon:

"GO GET YOURSELF A RING, B."

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