2:15PM: Brash’s contract has officially been selected. Right-hander Matt Andriese was designated for assignement in the corresponding move.
11:17AM: The Mariners will select the contract of pitching prospect Matt Brash before today’s game with the Athletics, assistant GM Justin Hollander said in an interview with ESPN 710 radio (hat tip to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times). The M’s have a space on their 40-man roster to accommodate Brash, though they’ll have to make another move to make room on the active roster.
Brash was seen yesterday working out with the Mariners, so speculation immediately arose that the 23-year-old right-hander was on the verge of his MLB debut. Brash is expected to pitch today in relief of scheduled starter Tyler Anderson, who is throwing on only two days’ rest.
Joining a team in the thick of a playoff race is quite the step for a pitcher who hasn’t even made an appearance at the Triple-A level, let alone the majors. Brash was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday but didn’t get a chance to pitch for Tacoma before getting the call to the Show.
A fourth-round pick for the Padres in the 2019 draft, Brash came to Seattle in the August 2020 trade deadline swap that saw Taylor Williams head to San Diego. His first year in the Mariners organization has been a successful one, as Brash has a 2.31 ERA and an outstanding 35.06% strikeout rate over 97 1/3 innings (42 1/3 IP at High-A ball, 55 IP at Double-A), starting 19 of his 20 games. Control is a bit of a red flag, as Brash has an 11.85% walk rate this season.
Baseball America and MLB Pipeline each rank Brash within the Mariners’ top 10 prospects, with BA placing Brash ninth and Pipeline putting him right at the #10 spot. Brash’s slider has taken steps forward this year but his fastball is his top pitch, clocking “up to 99 mph with high spin rates,” according to Baseball America’s scouting report. That same report also notes that Brash drew some trade attention from other teams, so the Canadian’s breakout year has impressed evaluators beyond just Seattle’s organization.
The Mariners enter today’s action just 1.5 games back of the second AL wild card slot. The Yankees hold the first wild card position and are a game ahead of the Red Sox, while the Blue Jays sit a game behind Boston (and a half-game ahead of Seattle). The A’s are also still in the mix, 3.5 games back of Boston and with two remaining games in this series with the M’s. This division rivalry has become surprisingly one-sided, however, as Seattle is 13-4 against Oakland this season.
With the postseason race this tight, the Mariners are turning to all available arms to help, even inexperienced youngsters like Brash. Yusei Kikuchi had been the scheduled starter for today’s game, but Kikuchi has been so inconsistent over the last two months that the M’s are instead opting with the Anderson/Brash combination. If Brash is able, he might be in line for more than one multi-inning appearance down the stretch (or, the Mariners hope, into the playoffs).
THE FUTURE IS NOW. Lol…. if the M’s actually get in and win a wild card game I might cry
I love it, two months ago Seattle media and the prospect industry focused on the progression of Logan Gilbert’s fellow No 1 draft picks- Kirby and Hancock.
My first day off in 2 weeks and I can’t wait for it to be over so I can watch his debut tonight!!
Only 3rd 2019 draftee to debut this year I believe. Andrew Vaughn and Henoah both 1st rounders have made the show.
I thought Brash wouldn’t be postseason eligible at this time of year? Excited to see him pitch, regardless. His slider is absolute filth when it’s on.
As long as a player is in the organization on August 31, he is eligible. You can’t sign a free agent and have him be eligible, but all of your minor league players are eligible.
Has to be on the 40 by then (11:59, August 31st.), but they can request permission for qualification if there’s an injury.
This isn’t really a concern for Seattle, though. They’re just trying to get to that wild card game. They could go to a 4-man rotation if they get in and advance.
A Brash move on the M’s part, to be sure.
there it is
Top 10 name for a pitcher right there. Matt Brash- that name carries just as much weight as his heavy FB!
His AA manager Colin Cowgill (who faces him at the plate in practice,) described his pitches as bowling balls!
Cowgill is already managing at the AA level? impressive.
2016 Indians opening day starting outfielder Collin Cowgill
Definitely pretty quick considering he was playing not too long ago
Believe.
Ya just gotta! What a fun run by the Mariners!
Love this move by the FO. Shades of Bobby Wolcott! (1995 to you newbies lol)
Good old Bobby! Will never forget his loading the bases in the 1st vs. Cleveland in the ALCS! And still getting the W!
Are Padre fans still trying to tell us “Preller hasn’t traded anyone significant” with a straight face?
Re: Preller trading anyone significant- 4th rd pick Matt Brash’s rise through the Mariners farm system is definitely not insignificant. However until he proves he can get hitters out at the ML level in the show he (MB) hasn’t provided any value or significant impact other than a motivational lift.
I’m as excited as anyone to see if Brash can transfer those MiLB K/o rates to the show but the Mariners (and most MLB teams) have had plenty of pitchers with dynamic stuff who fizzled out in the show because they couldn’t keep their pitches in the K-zone. Their explosive run and movement on the ball frequently got them into trouble. In fact two M’s pitchers already on the team have shown inconsistency from being wild- Yohan Ramirez and ironically the man who Matt Brash is ‘replacing’ ……Yusei Kikuchi!
If Matt Brash finishes 2022 in the rotation- well, that’s another story! Haha
Man this team came out of nowhere… last nights game was so fun, really hope Anderson and brash can keep it going!
To your point- the M’s lost both series (AZ and BOS) on the previous home stand to fall 4g behind the WC standing on that Mid Sept day they left on their (final) 10 day road trip. Almost dead and buried they went onto win 12 of the next 13g including a 9-1 road trip. This young team is very different from its predecessors over the last 2 decades. It is actually performing when it matters most: those were clutch Wins over Bassitt and Montas the last 2 nights.
They need a little more help from the 3 AL East teams in the 4 team chase for the WC but this Sept is definitely looking more and more like a September to remember. Cmon boys- give us a new story to tell. I’m tired of listening to the annual narrative of the 95 season.
Why does the top part of the story say Anderson was the scheduled starter and the Bottom say Kikuchi? Which is it
It says Kikuchi is the SCHEDULED starter but has been so inconsistent that they are using Anderson/Brash today instead.
Kikuchi had originally been schedule to start but they are starting Anderson instead on 2 days rest and bringing in Brash to follow. Kikuchi is struggling and as long as M’s are still in the hunt, he won’t be in the rotation this final week
Maybe??? Just maybe!
Mariners must have realized that Andriese had actually pitched well since they got him, and figured that they’d better get rid of him before he inevitably blows up.
They knew last night would likely be the peak of his Mariners career. Good job by the Mariners being a step ahead.
Ah ok didn’t realize it was a combo with Anderson
I have to admit that I didn’t see this season play out like it has, so many guys producing at one time or another, its been impressive.
Dipoto will have to do some heavy lifting this offseason to capitalize on this momentum.
Unforuntinately, based on player management, they will not.
Example, Fraley gets on base 3 times and drives in 3 the other day and then sits. I get the lefty lefty considerations but momentum shouldn’t be stopped as soon as it starts. We’ve seen what happens, slumps.
These words, from Dipoto (every year since he’s been here), We are going to look for someone who can help us (during the offseason) and then when the offseason is about over he’ll say, well, we tried.
Its just so predictable, but the worrisome part is by slow playing next year you could lose that momentum and things can go sideways.
If you’re a boxer and you just knocked your opponent down are you going to back off and bide your time or are you going to pounce?
Excellent Point Tony.
Cora did it with Dalbec and the result wasn’t good.
Man , what a final week it shall be.