Originally signed as an undrafted free agent, Brandon Marklund started his professional baseball career in the Australian Baseball League as a 22-year old. The Vancouver native played his collegiate ball at Bryan College and primarily was a starter during his tenure there. In 2018, Marklund made 14 starts (18 appearances) and tossed 65.0 innings with 55 strikeouts, 30 walks and allowed 9 home runs, all to the tune of a lackluster 5.54 ERA.
Coming from Bryan College is tough enough to get scouts to look at you, but putting up those numbers is a good way to go undrafted so Marklund decided to pursue professional baseball with the Auckland Tuatara team.