Kyle Kipp’s 2025 season at Boston College didn’t go as planned. The right-hander struggled to an 8.48 ERA over 40.1 innings and, in his own words, called the performance “awful.” It was a blunt self-assessment—and a clear sign that something had to change if a junior-year turnaround was going to happen.

That turnaround would need to start somewhere—and there may be no better place than the Cape Cod Baseball League, where the nation’s top hitters punish every mistake and demand your best on every pitch.

When Kipp arrived in Brewster, he was on a temporary contract—just like many arms who pass through the Cape. Most are there briefly, part of a constant rotation that reshapes the pitching staff week to week. At first glance, Kipp looked like he might be one of them. But beneath the surface, he was already aiming to outlast the clock.

“In the beginning of the summer, I was only expecting to be here for like two weeks,” Kipp explained. “I wasn't sure how long that was gonna last. So I just thought, as I kept doing better and better, I thought I could stay longer and longer… keep stacking my good outings and try to stay out here as long as possible.”

Head coach Jamie Shevchik admitted he “had no idea what we were getting out of him,” especially with how late Kipp had joined the roster—added as recently as April. Like most temp players, he was brought in to bridge the early part of the season. Expectations were modest.

But slowly, something started to shift.

Kipp played a steady role during Brewster’s six-game win streak to open the season. He closed out a 3–2 win in his debut, but innings remained limited. His second outing came in Game 8 with another clean frame against Orleans, followed by a third straight scoreless inning in Game 11 vs. Wareham.

By then, the supposed “two-week” mark of his temporary contract was fast approaching. Three short appearances hadn’t exactly carved out a clear case to stick around.

Then came a turning point.

In a game against Orleans, with Brewster leading 8–2 in the seventh, Shevchik called on Kipp—what looked like another one-inning assignment. Instead, it became the outing that changed everything.

Kipp breezed through the seventh, striking out two in a perfect frame. He returned for the eighth and delivered more of the same—another one-two-three inning, still in full control. Then came the ninth, with Kipp now in position to earn a rare three-inning save. After giving up a single, he locked back in, striking out two more to finish the game.

Three innings, one hit, five strikeouts. Scoreless. Efficient. Dominant.

“I’d say after Orleans I definitely thought that's when I knew everything was clicking,” Kipp reflected. “It wasn’t random and lucky—just doing well every one inning I’d go out. I knew after that point, when I was able to stack three consecutive in one appearance, I was doing something right and on the right track.”

Around that time, Kipp sat down with pitching coach Brian Del Rosso to talk about the possibility of extending his stay. His work on the mound spoke volumes. “He’s done everything we’ve asked—and then some,” Del Rosso remarked. Kipp’s steady performance and quiet dedication made the decision easy. The only catch? He didn’t have a permanent place to crash.

“I knew if I kept pitching like I was, I’d be able to stay out here,” Kipp said. “The only real problem was figuring out the whole housing situation—getting a bed sorted. Once that was settled, I had the feeling I’d be here all summer.”

With that weight lifted, Kipp found his rhythm both on and off the field. He settled in mentally and physically, tossing 2.2 more scoreless innings before the All-Star break, quietly extending his streak without allowing an earned run.

The league took notice. On July 12th, Kipp was named an East Division All-Star, selected to represent Brewster.

He called it “kind of a surprise,” especially given his limited innings. But the recognition meant more than just a midseason nod—it was validation. Confidence was building, and being picked alongside some of the nation’s top collegiate arms confirmed what the summer had been hinting at: he belonged.

“It's definitely given me a lot more confidence,” Kipp admitted. “I knew coming into this summer, I just wanted to clean some stuff up, work on my command, not miss the middle of the plate, and then hope that would draw success—and it has.”

When he entered the All-Star Game in the sixth, Kipp did what he’d done all season—shut the door. One clean inning. One strikeout. A fitting moment for a pitcher who, weeks earlier, wasn’t sure if he’d even stick around.

From that point on, the rest is history.

Amid constant roster turnover—particularly on the mound, where many arms were new or had only logged a game or two—Kipp emerged as Brewster’s steadying force. Nicknamed Mr. Reliable, he pitched in the first two games after the All-Star break, four of the first five, and five of the first seven. Whenever Brewster needed a stopper, Kipp got the call.

Kipp’s latest outing came in a tight 2–2 game against the Bourne Braves, where he tossed two scoreless innings to keep things even. That extended his streak to 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, with 16 strikeouts along the way. As of now, no pitcher in the Cape League has thrown more innings this summer without giving up an earned run.

What started as a simple experiment—“let’s see if this guy can snag a few wins in June”—quickly became a demand: “can he pitch every other day in August and the playoffs?” Neither Shevchik nor anyone expected Kipp to become such a key piece, but here he is—one of the most valuable pitchers, if not players, on the roster. His confidence has grown steadily, and it shows every time he takes the mound.

“I wish we had more Kyle Kipps,” Shevchik said. “He's our go-to guy. He didn't start off that way, but he is the guy that stayed the longest—from here, from the beginning—and he's our go-to guy. He's Mr. Reliable. I don't want to eat those words at some point. Up to this point, he is just reliable, for sure.”

Title photo credit: Kayla McCullough.