TMU Baseball is heartbroken to learn of the tragic passing of former player Brendan Grimes after a battle with cancer.  

Grimes was a member of the very first Baseball roster in 2013, which was a critical year for establishing the foundation of a program that still carries on today. TMU Baseball Founder and former Head Coach Ben Rich notes that Grimes was an integral part of that group. 

"Grimes was a solid defender at first base, and a steady offensive contributor at the plate," Rich said. "That first season was really about cementing Baseball as a legitimate program that could compete in the OUA. A flop season and the program could have folded. Grimes was absolutely a driver in the results we had, and I'm really thankful he was part of that initial group."

More than anything, Rich remarked on Grimes' attitude and work ethic. 

"Grimes always showed up at the park with a smile on his face. He was such a positive guy. He really loved being there, helping his teammates, and putting in the work to make himself better and improve the team." 



Toby Kerr, a pitcher and teammate from that 2013 year, has similar memories of Grimes. 

"Grimes and I were both original members of the program and first bonded playing catch and hitting off tees all winter in that tiny, secondary gym in Kerr Hall, long before we even played our first exhibition game," remembered Kerr. "He was unquestionably the guy at first base for us from the earliest indoor sessions through the jump to the OUA, locking down that position until he graduated with his engineering degree."

"Grimes was one of those teammates who no one ever had a single bad thing to say about," said Kerr. "It felt like he never had a bad day. He was just a lead-by-example player and person who I was lucky enough to stay close with for the decade-plus since we played together."

Rich also fondly recalled a regular part of Grimes' game-day process that helped put the team in a good mindset. 

"For his batting walk-up music, Grimes selected the Stone Cold Steve Austin entrance theme. So he'd be walking up to the plate, and you'd hear that distinctive glass breaking and hard baseline," said Rich. "He would have a bit of a smirk on his face as he went up there, and it always got the entire bench really fired up."

Grimes is survived by his loving wife Justine and adoring five-year-old daughter Boston. A GoFundMe page has been established to support his daughter's education. 

The complete obituary can be found here

Celebration of life details below:
Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Mount Albert Lions Community Centre
5057 Mt Albert Rd,
Mount Albert, Ontario L0G 1M0