Every bullpen has a fireman, but the Sylvan Lake Gulls have the top cop in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

While the fireman role typically sees relievers enter the game at crucial moments to put out fires, Brayden Stewart of the Gulls was handcuffing hitters all summer long.

As a result of his sworn duty to protect leads and maintain order on the scoreboard, Stewart has been named the 2026 Top Relief Pitcher in the WCBL.

“It's a great award to get. It was a very tough league this year, so I feel honoured to get that award,” said the 6-foot-3 righthander from Warsaw, Kentucky.

“When I go on the mound, I'm not going to think anyone else is better than me. So, I just went out there with that type of confidence and just believed that my stuff was better than what the hitter could do against it. So, I just trusted myself and my team that they're going to make plays for me and just go out there and do my thing.”

The results in the regular season saw Stewart produce a 1-2 record, five saves, a 2.32 earned run average (ERA) and 55 strikeouts over 31 innings pitched.

More than 20 voters – including head coaches and media who cover the WCBL – cast ballots to determine the league’s major regular season award winners and all-star selections.

Stewart beat WCBL saves leader Nathan Pisio, who closed out seven games for the Moose Jaw Miller Express, as well as Brooks Jones of the Saskatoon Berries and Lucas Huynh of the Lethbridge Bulls to capture the Top Relief Pitcher award.

“It means a lot. I kind of pride myself on being able to get the job done. I feel like I did a pretty decent job of that this year and I'm very grateful that everyone that gets to vote on this decided to give me this award,” said Stewart, who helped lead the Gulls to the WCBL championship series by picking up a win and a save in the postseason.

Sylvan Lake head coach Matt Hape was happy to see Stewart recognized for his successful campaign.

“Brayden pitched in virtually every high-leverage situation for us and was as reliable and consistent as a closer can be,” said Hape.

“His work ethic, bulldog mentality and plus stuff are the exact makeup you want in a guy who is closing games for you and he proved that on a consistent basis.”

Stewart was lured to Sylvan Lake by Wyatt McKnight, an assistant coach with the Gulls who worked with the pitcher at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis.

“When I was there, the whole time, he was just telling me how great it was and that I need to go,” recalled Stewart, who has worked as both a starting pitcher and a reliever throughout his collegiate career.

“And then I got up there and just loved every second of it. It was probably the best summer of my life … the way they talked about it, I couldn't believe it was going to be as good as it was, and it honestly exceeded the expectations”

Now a student at Gonzaga University, Stewart is rooming with Mickey McClaskey, who pitched for the Gulls in 2025 and was named the WCBL’s Top Relief Pitcher for his performance during that season.

“We talked about Sylvan a lot. I mean, he absolutely loved his time there as well,” noted Stewart.

“He said the same thing I did. It's the best summer he's had. And I mean, we've just talked about everything about it: the coaches, the organization, how the owners treat us. It's just amazing. The fans are great. And we just both love it there. Pretty much everyone that I've talked to that's been there absolutely loved their time there.”

Added Stewart: “I'm definitely hoping I can go back up to Sylvan. I genuinely love that place and I love everything they have going on there. So, if the opportunity comes to me, I'm most likely going to take that opportunity and head back up there and see what I can do for one more year.”