Ryan Brasier

The Angels selected him in the sixth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.[1] From 2007 through 2013, Brasier pitched for various Angels farm teams, starting with the Rookie League Orem Owlz and reaching the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. He made a career-high 55 appearances (all in relief) with the Bees in 2012, recording 13 saves along with a 7–3 record, 54 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 59+2⁄3 innings pitched.

The Angels promoted Brasier to the major leagues for the first time on May 1, 2013.[2] He made his MLB debut the next day, pitching an inning of relief against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing two runs on two hits.[3] After making one additional appearance in May, he returned to the minors and was recalled in September when the major league rosters expanded; he made five appearances during the month. Overall, with the 2013 Angels, Brasier made seven appearances, striking out seven and walking four in nine innings pitched with a 2.00 ERA.[4] Brasier was outrighted off of the Angels 40-man roster on October 28, 2014.[5]

On July 7, 2015, Brasier signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics.[6] He spent 2015 and 2016 in Oakland's farm system, including 46 relief appearances with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in 2016, recording a 3.56 ERA in 60+2⁄3 innings.

The Athletics sold his contract to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball on December 14, 2016.[7] With the Carp in 2017, Brasier made 26 relief appearances; in 30 innings of work he struck out 19, walked eight, and had a 3.00 ERA.

On March 4, 2018, Brasier signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox.[8] Pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Triple-A International League, he was selected to appear in the Triple-A All-Star Game.[9] The Red Sox promoted Brasier to the major leagues on July 8;[10] he made his Boston debut the next day, pitching one inning against the Texas Rangers and retiring the side in order.[11] On August 30, Brasier recorded his first MLB win, pitching an inning of scoreless relief in a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago White Sox.[12] Brasier proved to be a consistent reliever down the stretch, finishing with a 1.60 ERA in 34 appearances, and was the recipient of the Red Sox' Lou Gorman Award.[13] Brasier was included on Boston's postseason roster, making a total of nine appearances and allowing one earned run in 8+2⁄3 innings, as Boston went on to win the World Series.[14]

Brasier was included on Boston's Opening Day roster to start the 2019 season.[15] On April 3, Brasier recorded his first major league save in closing out a 6–3 win over the Athletics.[16][17] He was placed on the bereavement/family medical emergency list on June 11,[18] and re-activated on June 17.[19] Brasier was optioned to Pawtucket on July 16,[20] and recalled to Boston on August 17.[21] Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Brasier appeared in 62 games, compiling a 2–4 record with seven saves, along with a 4.85 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 55+2⁄3 innings.[22]

With the 2020 Red Sox, Brasier appeared in 25 games (one start), compiling a 1–0 record with 3.96 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.[22] In early December 2020, Brasier and the Red Sox reached a one-year deal for the 2021 season.[23] Before appearing in a 2021 game, Brasier was placed on the 60-day injured list with a calf injury on May 3.[24] On June 3, he was hospitalized after being hit in the head by a line drive during a simulated game at Boston's training complex in Fort Myers, Florida.[25] Brasier returned to the Red Sox on September 1,[26] was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on September 17,[27] and recalled on September 21.[26] Overall during the 2021 regular season, Brasier made 13 appearances with Boston, all in relief, compiling a 1.50 ERA and 1–1 record while striking out nine batters in 12 innings.[22] He also made seven relief appearances in the postseason, as the Red Sox advanced to the American League Championship Series.[22] On November 30, the Red Sox agreed to terms with Brasier on a one-year contract for 2022, reportedly worth $1.4 million.[28]

Brasier began the 2022 season as a member of Boston's bullpen. On May 20, with a 6.28 ERA in 18 appearances, he was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.[29] He was recalled to Boston on May 28.[30] In 68 relief appearances with the Red Sox, Brasier posted an 0–3 record with a 5.78 ERA and one save while striking out 64 batters in 62+1⁄3 innings.[22]

On January 13, 2023, the Red Sox and Brasier reached agreement on a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.[31] His struggles continued in 2023, as he worked to a 7.29 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 20 relief appearances. On May 14, Brasier was designated for assignment by Boston, hours after he allowed three runs in a relief appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park.[32][33] Following the roster move, Brasier told reporters, "Honestly, a new start might not be bad. Obviously getting to play at Fenway every day is a dream come true. Two parks you want to play at growing up are Yankee Stadium and Fenway. And I got to do both a lot. So grateful.”[34] He was released by the team on May 21.[35]

On June 5, 2023, Brasier signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.[36] Brasier made two scoreless appearances for the Triple–A Oklahoma City Dodgers before he was selected to the major league roster on June 20.[37] He pitched in 38+2⁄3 innings over 39 games, with an 0.70 ERA.[22]