Mariners spring training ends with Matt Brash back on mound

Games don’t get much more throwaway than those played the last day of spring training. Trucks are packed, buses are warmed up and ready to head for the airport. Big leaguers often get one at-bat then head to the dugout, grab their stuff and trot out of the the stadium, duffel bags over shoulders, waving to the fans.

For one Seattle Mariners player, however, this game meant everything.

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Monday’s game brought to a close over a year of rest, rehab and – ultimately – elbow surgery, which was followed by months more of rehab and lonely throwing at the Mariners’ complex in Peoria with others who were going through the same thing. Monday in Peoria was different for Matt Brash, as he was cleared to throw in a game.

As luck would have it, Mondays are off days for the minor leagues, which perhaps would have been Brash’s first stop in game action. He didn’t want to wait until Tuesday, however, and asked if could perhaps throw in the big league game. When he was told yes Sunday night, the butterflies kicked into gear.

“It was even a little bit last night just thinking about it,” he said. “And then this morning when I got here, I got breakfast. And then after that, it’s kind of like that waiting game, which I haven’t had to do in a while. Like waiting to get ready before the game. And once that starts happening, you just start thinking about stuff and just the anticipation is there. I got it right away.”

Word got out shortly before the start of the Mariners’ game against the Padres that Brash could pitch. All eyes were on the bullpen as it appeared Bryan Woo’s outing could be coming to an end. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Brash could be seen stretching. In the top of the sixth, he stepped on the mound. It was clear he would be coming in the next inning, but he would have to wait a while longer as the Mariners would score three runs and force a pitching change before out No. 3 was finally recorded.

Seconds later, Brash stepped onto the field from the bullpen and jogged to the mound. He took his warmup pitches, then threw strike 1 to San Diego’s Braedon Karpathios. A 98 mph fastball for a called strike. Brash followed it with another that came in at 96.4 mph, and got him on the next pitch, a slider.

Three pitches and a strikeout.

“I was super pumped to be in there,” Brash said. “Got all those emotions and butterflies and all that back, and got my adrenaline going. So just super happy. Everything felt good and it went well.”

Brash struck out the next batter he faced and walked the third before manager Dan Wilson came out of the dugout to get him, his 12-pitch outing over. Brash had accomplished what he had hoped to accomplish, even with the walk.

Matt Brash first pitch since surgery a 98 mph strike. K’s 2, walks 1, 12 pitches thrown. pic.twitter.com/B2wOfrnqsO

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 24, 2025

“I feel like kind of once I got back out there, you kind of just get in the game mode,” he said. “Even like the first two hitters, I was in it. The second guy, I don’t even know what happened. I kind of just took it all in and I was like, ‘Wow, this is it. I’m back,’ and then I end up walking a guy. But yeah, just going out there and feeling good and being with the guys. And everyone here supporting me, it’s really cool.”

As for the stuff and what he saw?

“I was pretty smooth. I’m not trying harder than I have. It came out nice,” he said. “The stuff’s there.”

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Of course Brash wouldn’t be a Mariners pitcher if there wasn’t a twist, even coming off rehab. Brash doesn’t have a new pitch, but in his time down he has spent some time focusing on using a pitch in a new way.

“I threw a lot of sinkers today to lefties, which is not something I have done in the past,” he said. “I feel it just frees me up. I know the pitch moves a lot and it feels good in my hand. I feel like I can just rip it middle kind of like my slider.”

So what’s next for Brash? The first step will be to make sure he comes out of Monday’s outing OK. He himself admitted the recovery-from-throwing part of a comeback after surgery can often be the biggest hurdle. That has not been a problem for him to date.

If Brash checks out fine on Tuesday, he is scheduled to throw on the backfields in Peoria later this week. After that, the next step is Tacoma for rehab outings.

“We’re getting close,” Brash said. “I just can’t wait to be in a big league game again. Once I’m ready I will be back with the team. It’s going to happen fast and I am excited for it.”

Seattle Mariners news and analysis

• ‘I got so much better’: Colt Emerson relishes spring experience
• Mariners prospect Jonny Farmelo eager to make return
• Seattle Mariners release veteran OF Mitch Haniger
• Insider: How Seattle Mariners stack up in wide-open AL West
• Seattle Mariners’ George Kirby takes important first step toward return

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