The Brewers are planning to call up left-handed pitching prospect Aaron Ashby, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). The 23-year-old is expected to work out of the bullpen initially, Passan notes. He isn’t on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move is forthcoming.
Ashby is one of the game’s more exciting pitching prospects. Milwaukee selected him in the fourth round in 2018 out of Crowder Junior College, and his prospect status has steadily improved throughout his time in pro ball. Ashby had a strong couple months at Low-A during his draft year, and that continued the following season. Between Low-A and High-A in 2019, he worked to a 3.50 ERA with a strong 25.5% strikeout rate and an elevated 11.3% walk percentage.
Clearly, Ashby’s control can be an issue at times, but his low minors performance has impressed evaluators. Each of Baseball America, Keith Law of the Athletic and Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs ranked Ashby among Milwaukee’s top ten prospects entering the season. BA suggested he’d likely settle in as a back-of-the-rotation starter, while Law noted Ashby had mid-rotation raw stuff but needed to develop better control to reach that ceiling. Longenhagen was arguably the most bullish, placing Ashby at #127 in his top overall prospects list, praising his mid-90s fastball and pair of quality breaking pitches and calling the southpaw a potential impact multi-inning reliever.
It’s been more of the same for Ashby in 2021, which he’s spent at Triple-A Nashville. Through 38 innings, he’s managed a 4.50 ERA with a stellar 33.3% strikeout rate but a very high 14.3% walk rate. Milwaukee is clearly comfortable enough with his bat-missing prowess to tolerate some potential control issues, as he’ll be thrust into a tight division race. The Brewers lead the Cubs by four games in the National League Central. Milwaukee dealt a pair of relievers (Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen) in the Willy Adames trade last month, likely in anticipation of Ashby contributing at some point this season.
Even if he’s in the majors from here on out, Ashby won’t accrue a full season of MLB service. He’ll be controllable through 2027, and he’s unlikely to be eligible for arbitration until after 2024. Future optional assignments could obviously change that service time outlook.
Any relation to Andy or Alan?
Baseball Reference doesn’t mention any relation, so I wouldn’t think so.
BBREF doesnt usually have that for Minors players.
Andy’s nephew
I offer you rum and cigarettes jobu
I was wondering where his bartender was….he needs a refill
yep
Yes, Andy Ashby is Aaron Ashby’s uncle… I don’t think Alan Ashby has any kids.
andy’s nephew
Boog Schambi from the cubs broadcast team just said he’s the nephew of Andy
If I was Houser I would be a little nervous. With Lauer starting to show some signs of improvement. Just not sold on him in the bullpen for very long. Then you have Small close as well. With three dominant righties and mixing in two lefties I think the Brewers are set up to be well rounded going forward. Young and controllable for years bodes well for them.
Ethan Small is the guy I am very excited for. The kind of guy who gets overlooked because he only throws in the low 90s, but people don’t realize how good his fastball plays. Those K rates are unbelievable.
I’m just excited to have him in fantasy and watch him on TV melting down so I can say “You’re killing me Small”.
Ashby is going to be used out if the pen. He wasn’t brought up to be a starter. MIL intentionally had him work out of the pen this spring to prep him for this role. They’re kinda thinking he’ll take the Corbin Burnes route to the majors.
Hope he skips the 2019 growing pains Burnes went through.
The way the cubs are going he’ll have 12Ks in 5 IP
Barring any injuries which are bound to occur. Depth.
Another big arm starting out in the pen, that will eventually be transitioning to the rotation. This team is beyond loaded with SP options 2022-2024. Woodruff-Burnes-Peralta being controlled thru 24, 24, and 26 respectively, and right now, all among the top 15 SP’s in baseball. Adrian Houser, Lauer now coming into his own, Ashby and their 1st round draft pick Aaron Small just recently promoted to AAA. This team & the Marlins are absolutely loaded with controllable starting pitching. The Brewers starters are a little more developed, but the Marlins aren’t too far behind.
Wonder if the Marlins would be interested in trading one of their young guys already up and performing well for multiple prospects including one very similar? How about a Rogers from the Marlins for Small, Turang, and Houser? The Brewers are in a win now mode where as the Marlins are still a couple of years away. Maybe one more prospect from the Brewers to sweeten the deal
The Marlins are smartly building their young starting pitchers. It wouldn’t make any sense for them to trade a possible Rookie of the Year for three guys who might not be as good.
Because they don’t really have a top shortstop prospect, and I don’t think the Brewers will need him. Just my opinion.
Why would the brewers trade 2 of their top 3 prospects to upgrade their 4th starter? That makes no sense.
Uhm a 2.06 era. From a fourth starter.
They have other needs though. A 4th starter isnt going to make them much more of a WS contender.
BS. A fourth starter is exactly what you need. Especially one that is a talented left hander. Think about it for a second. Throw a lights out lefty in between the three of them.
I’m just saying the Brewers have three talented left handed pitching prospects and a shortstop that I just don’t see as being better then Adames. Why not use one of them and a top 100 shortstop prospect to upgrade the starting rotation. I just looked at the Marlins and know there a willing trade partner. You never know. Did anybody think they were going to trade Yelich?
By the way, they have to win a division first. Four pitchers with a era under three will help.
Would much rather go after a corner IF to put behind Yelich or a CF to replace JBJ than a 4th starter. I agree Turang is expendable, but Small is near ML ready and will be on some mid season T100s. As a small market team, that is a waste of resources for a position we have a ton of talent and depth. Houser is a good pitcher with years of control, he’s not some throw in.
Most teams use 3 starters in the post season. Occasionally a 4th starter makes a start. So yes it would help get them the division, but thats not an efficient way to help your post season roster
No way the Marlins give up the best LH starter in the game, let alone for that package of Brewers. Of course the Brewers do that deal if offered.
I can see the Brewers trading Yelich before his deal is done.
Aaron Ashby becomes the eighth current member of the MLB Chapter of AA:
Albert Abreu, Yankees
Austin Adams, Padres
Anthony Alford, Pirates
Abraham Almonte, Braves
Adbert Alzolay, Cubs
Aristedes Aquino, Reds
Aaron Ashby, Brewers
Alex Avila, Nationals
Did I miss someone?
Does Alex Anthropoulos count?
Austin Allen – A’s
Albert Almora count?
Ok now down to a very important question. What has happened to Front Row Amy ? Haven’t seen her at any Brewer games on TV.
Your priorities are in proper order. She is back at least to some extent. I saw her in one of the last couple games (looking as good as ever).
Didn’t look like she had the normal super cleavage display going on the other day, but when I saw her clapping with the pencil in her hand, I knew it was her…
She has to ease us back in. You can’t just go full super cleave without warming up in the bullpen first.
Looks like Ryan Braun just put on a pair of glasses.
Aaron Rodgers is the doppelganger of Ryan Braun. I can see a small resemblance of Ashby looking like Braun.
She was at the first two full capacity games on Friday and Saturday.
Holy cow this dude blows! 5 runs and only 1 out in the 1st. Great call Counsell to sit Burnes for this game
It happens. This is why he’s a bullpen arm