By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– Brody McMullen has had himself a nice little run coming out of West Salem High School.
After graduating from West in 2022, he headed to Linn-Benton Community College in Albany where he redshirted his first year of college. After that though, he really contributed towards the Roadrunners program that won NWAC Titles in 2024 and 2025.
During the 2023-2024 season, he was a reliever for the squad, compiling three saves in 11 games before assuming more of a starting role the following year where he went 5-1 in 12 appearances with an ERA of 1.83.
It set himself up for success in his next stop of his playing career, playing with Southeastern University in Florida this past Spring.
This past Spring, he was a reliever for the Fire, but adjusting to the grueling task of playing baseball at the four-year level. It made it easier that his older brother, Sprague-grad Brock McMullen, was there catching for the NAIA-based squad.
“Linn Benton getting those two NWAC Championships and competing for a National Title with Southeastern and with Brock too…and being able to contribute and help out the team, it’s a super great experience,” McMullen starts. “I had a great time in Florida, it was definitely a great group of guys and I got to share that experience with Brock and sharing that experience with Brock was a super cool opportunity. We had a lot of really cool moments too. I’m definitely happy that I got that opportunity to go do that.”
Southeastern finished fourth in the NAIA, reaching the NAIA World Series before falling to Tennessee Wesleyan University and finishing the year 45-18. McMullen went 3-1 on the year with three saves and struck out 39 batters in 19 appearances.
For McMullen, who’s been a starter and coming out of the bullpen since graduating college, it was something that he got used to. The preparation is the same, just sometimes he needs to make it quicker than at other times.
“When you start, you get that full routine in…coming out of the pin, you play catch before the game and you gotta throw your plyo’s and you got to get ready when the team needs you to get ready. It’s definitely different, but with all the experience that I’ve had through the years, it’s definitely something that’s not new,” said McMullen. “I’ve been there before, but I’m just enjoying every second of it.”
Southeastern’s season ended about three weeks ago, and after two weeks of a rest, McMullen was back to work. He joined his hometown Marion Berries last week and has already jumped into it as a reliever for the Berries.
In three games with the Berries, pitching against the Ridgeview Raptors, Corvallis Knights and the Yakima Valley Pippins. he pitched three-and-two-third innings with two strikeouts.
It’s the first-time he’s been back to Chemeketa since the renovations and he’s enjoying the environment thus far a few games into his Berries tenure.
“It’s super cool being back in Salem, they made a lot of updates at Chemeketa and it looks really good. So far I’m really enjoying the guys and I think we got a great group of guys here as well and I’m excited to see where the Summer goes.”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
