Red Sox: Ryan Brasier possible AAA bullpen call up?
The Boston Red Sox bullpen is always in search of another arm and one is in Pawtucket doing rather well. The reality is righty Ryan Brasier is a long-shot at best.
I have not followed the trials and tribulations of the 2018 Pawtucket Red Sox as I have in the past. The stadium issue has garnered a bit more attention than the players despite the PawSox performing at a better than expected .500 clip. But sometimes an interesting name appears.
This season it is a 30-year-old journeyman right-hander named Ryan Brasier who the Red Sox signed in March as a reinforcement for the Triple-A bullpen. And there’s always the possibility that a major league – meaning primarily Boston – opening could potentially surface. The Red Sox have had a few relief pitchers enjoying the scenic I-95 ride with the most recent being Robby Scott. Just maybe?
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This season Brasier has ten saves and has not been scored upon in his last 15 appearances. That’s a remarkable accomplishment in any league. The statistical minutia is impressive – 35 innings, 25 hits, 2.1 BB/9, 9.5 K/9 1.55 ERA, and 0.94 WHIP. Has Brasier suddenly discovered success or is it just a hot streak?
Brasier was originally a 2007 sixth-round pick by the Angels and made a cup of coffee visit to the bigs in 2013. In his seven games, Brasier allowed a pair of earned runs in nine innings. He never returned. Brasier was originally a starter, but since 2010 has made only one start – concentrating on the bullpen. But success is fleeting.
After a release by the Angels, Brasier was signed by Oakland and eventually sold to the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese Central League for a one and done. That put Boston in the picture and so far the results have been promising.
According to Sox Prospects Brasier has a mid-90s fastball complemented by a change and curve. Nothing spectacular is envisioned via the scouting report. But maybe the experience of age and Japan have refined Brasier’s pitching.
The chances of a Boston visit are slim since that would require roster manipulation. And Boston has shown little interest in redefining the roster, especially for a pitcher best classified as borderline. The caveat – of course – is performance. If 2018 is no anomaly the Red Sox could have a pitching version of Daniel Nava. It may take another month to see if the gloss is removed.
Next: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts return to lineup
The other possibility is outside the system where a team may be more prone to risk-taking – meaning they are dead in the water and going nowhere. Sometimes the potential for risk-reward is a worthy option. So – as stated above – Brasier is a long – very long – shot at best.