When the Cincinnati Reds called up right-hander Brad Brach from the minor leagues Friday, they knew they had about a week before Brach turned to his backup plan.
Brach was hoping that he would receive another opportunity in the big leagues this month, but he kept his options open. The 35-year-old relief pitcher was on the Team USA provisional roster for an Olympic qualifier, which starts next week.
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“If I didn’t have a chance at the Major Leagues, what better opportunity than to represent your country, even if it was an Olympic qualifier,” Brach said. “My first and foremost thing was to help a team in the big leagues, and if I got that opportunity, that’s why I am playing the game. Obviously, that was a good backup plan. But I’m definitely glad to be back up here.”
Brach was pitching well at Triple-A Louisville, striking out 12 and walking one in 6 2/3 innings. He permitted only four hits and one unearned run.
His velocity, which took a major dip in the 2020 season, rebounded to his usual mid-90s. When he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Friday’s 9-4 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers, he topped out at 95 mph.
“It was just kind of getting back to what I had done in years past, pre-probably 2018,” Brach said. “I just kind of worked on that stuff since spring training, being back in the strike zone, going right after the hitters. It’s not any mystery. But for me, walks are really where my ERA goes up. I know if I keep that down, I have more than enough weapons to get Major League hitters out. I just got really aggressive in the zone down there and attacked the hitters.”
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Walks have been an issue for the 6-foot-6 Brach in his last two seasons. In 2019, he had a 6.13 ERA in 42 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs. He struck out 45 and walked 28 in 39 2/3 innings.
Then there was a rough 2020 season with the New York Mets when his average velocity fastball sat at 90 mph. He had 14 strikeouts and 14 walks in 12 1/3 innings, posting a 5.84 ERA across his 14 relief appearances. No pitchers can survive walking that many batters.
Brach, in his 11th big-league season, was with the Kansas City Royals in spring training on a minor-league contract. He was designated for assignment on April 24 and released a couple of days later.
When the minor-league season started on May 4, he was on Louisville’s roster. He just wanted a chance to prove himself and Reds general manager Nick Krall thought there was an opportunity for him to crack the roster.
“(Krall) basically said there is opportunity here,” Brach said. “If you’re pitching well, we’ll find a spot for you. That’s really all you can ask for, an opportunity when you come to the team to help the team win. That’s all I want to do, go out there and basically prove myself again every day in the Major Leagues.
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“You kind of have to prove your worth to the team every day and perform, especially as a reliever. That’s kind of what I pride myself in, one outing at a time and hopefully put together a good season.”
Brach, who lives in the Nashville area, met Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson a few times when he was throwing bullpen sessions at Vanderbilt. “I’ve heard nothing but good things,” he said.
The Reds, looking to shore up their bullpen, need relievers like Heath Hembree, Michael Feliz or Brach to step up in high-leverage situations for them. None of those three pitchers were in camp with the club, but they have big-league track records.
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For a guy like Brach, a longtime MLB veteran, it wasn’t easy being back in the minor leagues and in a position where he had to prove himself. But the Reds were impressed by the way he responded to it, earning a chance in the Reds’ bullpen.
“Definitely excited,” Brach said. “It almost feels as good as the first time. Any time that you have to go and spend time in the minors after being up here for so long, it’s definitely really exciting. I’m just glad to be here and I hope I can help the team win some games and get us back into contention here. I’m excited to be here. It feels like the first time all over again.”
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