Brian Serven

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Brian Serven

|image = Brian Serven (52019289875).jpg

|caption = Serven with the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2022

|team = Detroit Tigers

|number =

|position = Catcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|5|5}}

|birth_place = Palm Desert, California, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 18

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Colorado Rockies

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .187

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 6

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 20

|teams =

Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2022}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2024}})

}}

Brian Nicholas Serven (born May 5, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Detroit Tigers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays. Serven was drafted by the Rockies in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2022.

Early life

Serven was born in Palm Desert, California. He is childhood friends with infielder Scott Burcham.{{Cite web |last=Grammer |first=Geoff |date=September 15, 2021 |title=The needling never ends for these Isotopes teammates |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2429251/the-needling-never-seems-to-end-for-these-isotopes-teammates.html |website=Albuquerque Journal}}{{Cite web |last=Wilcox |first=Mac |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Rocking the World: The Rockies and the World Baseball Classsic |url=https://www.purplerow.com/2022/9/26/23370129/colorado-rockies-world-baseball-classsic-kyle-freeland-austin-gomber-brendan-rodgers-brian-serven |website=Purple Row |publisher=SB Nation}} He attended Palm Desert High School where he led the Aztecs to the California Interscholastic Federation championship his junior year in 2012.

Serven played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils.{{Cite web |title=Brian Serven - Baseball |url=https://thesundevils.com/sports/baseball/roster/brian-serven/3209 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Arizona State University Athletics}} In 2014, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web |title=#13 Brian Serven |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=609660 |accessdate=May 19, 2022 |publisher=Pointstreak}} With the Sun Devils, he batted .280 with 97 RBI in 162 games over three seasons. He was named to the First-Team All-Pac-12 team in 2015, his sophomore season.

Career

=Colorado Rockies=

The Colorado Rockies selected Serven in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/baseball/2016/06/10/tyson-miller-brian-serven-both-chosen-mlb-draft/85705504/|title=MLB Draft: Tyson Miller, Brian Serven, Brooks Kriske all get the call|last=Powers|first=Shad|date=June 10, 2016|website=The Desert Sun|access-date=May 18, 2022}}

Serven did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=January 14, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Returning to action in 2021, Serven spent the year with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 73 games, he slashed .250/.308/.504 with 16 home runs and 38 RBI. He returned to Albuquerque to begin the 2022 season.

On May 17, 2022, Serven was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |title=Rockies' Brian Serven: Gets first career call-up |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-brian-serven-gets-first-career-call-up/amp/ |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=CBS Sports}} He made his MLB debut the next day on May 18.{{Cite web|url=https://cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-brian-serven-mlb-debut-wednesday/|title=Rockies' Brian Serven: MLB debut Wednesday|website=CBS Sports|date=May 18, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2022}} In his second game for the Rockies on May 21, 2022, Serven hit two home runs against the New York Mets, becoming the first player in major league history to record his first two career hits with two multiple-run home runs in the same game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brian-serven-homers-twice-for-first-two-mlb-hits|title=Before yesterday, no player in history had done...this|first=Manny|last=Randhawa|website=MLB.com|date=May 21, 2022|accessdate=May 22, 2022}} He finished his rookie season with a .203/.261/.332 slash line. Adjusting for playing in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, he was the third worst hitting catcher in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Major League Leaders Catchers 2022 |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?stats=bat&lg=all&type=8&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&pos=c&qual=200&sortcol=17&sortdir=asc&pagenum=1 |website=FanGraphs}}

Serven had limited playing time in 2023, catching only 11 games for the Rockies. He was sent down by Colorado for the final time on June 15, when the team acquired Jorge Alfaro.{{Cite web |title=Brian Serven Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/brian-serven-661531 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Rockies Select Jorge Alfaro, Designate Blair Calvo For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/rockies-select-jorge-alfaro-designate-blair-calvo-for-assignment.html |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} Later in the minors, Serven missed one week with a concussion, then two months with a sprained thumb on his catching hand. He hit .130 with one double and one RBI for the Rockies.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Cubs claim C Brian Serven off waivers |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-cubs-claim-c-brian-serven-off-waivers |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On January 5, 2024, Serven was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-brian-serven-claimed-by-chc|title=Cubs' Brian Serven: Claimed by CHC|website=CBS Sports|date=January 5, 2024 |access-date=January 5, 2024}} However, he was designated for assignment by the team on January 11.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/cubs-designate-brian-serven-for-assignment.html|title=Cubs Designate Brian Serven For Assignment|date=January 11, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} On January 16, Serven was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.{{Cite web |last=Connon |first=Sam |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Toronto Blue Jays Claim Former Colorado Rockies Catcher Brian Serven Off Waivers |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/toronto-blue-jays-claim-former-colorado-rockies-catcher-brian-serven-off-waivers-from-chicago-cubs |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=Fastball on FanNation |publisher=Sports Illustrated}} On January 29, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/blue-jays-outright-brian-serven.html | title=Blue Jays Outright Brian Serven | date=January 29, 2024 }} On March 23, the Blue Jays announced that Serven had made the Opening Day roster following a strong spring and an injury to Danny Jansen.{{Cite web|title=Catcher Brian Serven makes Blue Jays' Opening Day roster|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/catcher-brian-serven-makes-blue-jays-opening-day-roster/sn-amp/|access-date=March 23, 2024|website=sportsnet.ca|language=en}} The team selected his contract on March 28.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays finalize Opening Day roster, designate Yosver Zulueta for assignment|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/blue-jays-finalize-opening-day-roster-designate-yosver-zulueta-for-assignment/sn-amp/|access-date=March 28, 2024|website=sportsnet.ca|language=en}} In 28 games for Toronto, he slashed .159/.243/.222 with no home runs and three RBI. Serven was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on September 16.{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2024 |title=Blue Jays Claim Tyler Heineman, Designate Brian Serven |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/blue-jays-claim-tyler-heineman-designate-brian-serven.html |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Buffalo on September 19.{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2024 |title=Blue Jays Outright Brian Serven |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/blue-jays-outright-brian-serven-2.html |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=mlbtraderumors.com |language=en}} Serven elected free agency on October 1.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2024 |title=MiLB Transactions |url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-01/p-1 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=MiLB.com}}

=Detroit Tigers=

On December 13, 2024, Serven signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2024 |title=Tigers, Brian Serven Agree To Minor League Contract |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/tigers-brian-serven-agree-to-minor-league-contract.html |access-date=December 16, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}

Personal life

Serven's parents are Jim and Laura Serven. His brother, Jonathan played college baseball for Long Beach State.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Serven - Baseball |url=https://longbeachstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/jonathan-serven/144 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=Long Beach State University Athletics |language=en}} He also has a younger sister, Kristina. Their father Jim coached several sports teams at Palm Desert High School and was also the sole survivor of a plane crash in 1978 that killed three other teenagers.{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Shad |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Major moment: Palm Desert grad Brian Serven called up to big leagues by Colorado Rockies |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/baseball/2022/05/17/major-league-baseball-palm-desert-grad-brian-serven-gets-called-up-colorado-rockies/9803488002/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=The Desert Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Shad |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Palm Desert basketball coach Jim Serven steps down after six years at helm |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/02/26/palm-desert-basketball-coach-jim-serven-steps-down-after-six-years/4882843002/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=The Desert Sun}}{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Shad |date=February 21, 2015 |title=Palm Desert coach sole survivor of plane crash in 1978 |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/2015/02/21/palm-desert-coach-plane-crash/23815781/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250303095733/https://eu.desertsun.com/story/sports/2015/02/21/palm-desert-coach-plane-crash/23815781/ |archive-date=March 3, 2025 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=The Desert Sun}}

Serven also played basketball in high school. He was captain of the basketball team his senior season.