Drayer: Who is Mariners rookie pitcher Matt Brash? Here’s what you need to know

Here are some quick hits on Matt Brash, who should debut Tuesday night out of the bullpen for the Mariners against the Oakland Athletics.

For more on Brash’s promotion, read this story from assistant general manager Justin Hollander’s interview Tuesday morning on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Mike Salk Show.

Note: This article includes information from an interview of Brash by Mariners Radio Network producer/engineer/play-by-play announcer Gary Hill from Episode 743 of the official Seattle Mariners Podcast.

• Brash, 23, was a 2019 fourth-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres. He was acquired by the Mariners as the player to be named for a 2020 MLB trade deadline deal that sent reliever Taylor Williams to the Padres.

• Is the No. 10 Mariners prospect as ranked on MLB Pipeline. For a snapshot of how impressive he has been in 2021, MLB Pipeline lists his expected time of arrival in the big leagues as 2024.

• Native of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and was all baseball growing up. He claims to be the only Canadian who cannot skate.

• Utilizes an overhead windup that comes from watching his favorite pitcher as a child, Roy Halladay. Yes, he was a Blue Jays fan.

• Attended Niagara University in New York. Was discovered at a high school showcase where he was playing shortstop. Niagara put him on the mound.

• Throws a high velocity fastball, hard slider, hard curve and changeup. Slider is the out pitch.

• This:

Matt Brash's Disgusting Stuff. 🤮

What in the name of Kerry Wood is this Filth? pic.twitter.com/QuORpXkHuM

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 3, 2021

• Has started 20 games in the minors, with 150 strikeouts in 102.2 innings. That’s good for 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He also averaged 3.13 strikeouts to every walk in the minors.

• Has shown increased velocity this year, which he credits to committing to put on 15-20 pounds of “good weight” and extra arm work while unable to face competition during the COVID year.

• Went 3-2 with a 2.13 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 80 strikeouts in 19 starts and 20 total appearances (55 innings) with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers this year. He also had one complete game and one save for Arkansas. Prior to his promotion to Double-A, he went 3-2 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.323 WHIP and 62 strikeouts in nine starts and 10 total games (42.1 innings) with the Single-A Everett AquaSox. He was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma last Friday, though the move was procedural to make it possible for Seattle to add him to its MLB roster.

• Was the starting pitcher in a combined no-hitter thrown by Double-A Arkansas on Sept. 2 against the Wichita Wind Surge. He was perfect into the sixth inning and finished with six innings of no-hit ball, allowing just one walk and striking out 11 before handing the game over to the bullpen.

History for @ARTravs!

Matt Brash was perfect into the seventh, then @Nate_Fish18 and Dayeison Arias brought it home for the combined no-no 🙌 #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/IFNMHwCORd

— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) September 3, 2021

• Famous friends. Brash has been the roommate of fellow M’s pitching prospect Brandon Williamson. “What he did in High-A I’ve never seen before,” Brash said of Williamson. “He was just unhittable and he’s carried it into Double-A, as well.” He has also been lockermate of top Mariners prospect Julio Rodriguez. “Dude just works hard and loves to play ball,” Brash said. “He’s loud, energetic, fun to have around. He’s just really good at baseball, for sure. He’s just really good. That’s all I can put it as.”

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