Recently Released Red Sox Pitcher Makes Strong Debut With New Team
Boston Red Sox fans spent most of their energy early in the season sharing their disdain for one of the worst players Boston has had in recent memory.
That player was right-hander Ryan Brasier.
Entering this season, the 35-year-old righty somehow remained as one of just three players left from the 2018 World Series title team despite having a 5.78 ERA in 2022 and a very rough start to his 2023 campaign. On May 21st, the fanbase's wish was granted. The Red Sox released Brasier.
On our very own ITM Podcast, we probably were a bit too excited when the Sox designated the struggling righty for assignment. But this was the move we had been waiting for, so it's ok to let your feelings fly when the move finally happens. Or at least that's what I'll keep telling myself.
Just two weeks later, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Brasier to a minor league deal in an attempt to bolster their troubled bullpen.
After a couple of scoreless appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Brasier was called up to the big league club on Tuesday.
The Dodgers didn't take long getting the former Red Sox hurler some work as he was thrown into a game in the sixth inning on Wednesday night with a slim 1-0 lead on the Los Angeles Angels. The Halos were 11-4 in their prior 15 games leading up to last night, and two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani was on the mound, so safe to say this was a big moment for Brasier's Dodgers debut.
He quickly got the last out of the sixth inning and had a clean seventh inning as well. 1 1/3 hitless innings pitched for the reliever that all of Red Sox Nation, myself included, couldn't wait to let go.
Now of course it's only one outing, but for some context, the last time Brasier pitched over an inning and allowed no hits in an outing was September 13, 2020. His best appearance in nearly three years comes with his new squad.
It would be something if Brasier is a legitimate bullpen arm for the Dodgers by the time they visit Fenway Park in late August. I fully don't expect that to be the case, but crazier things have happened.
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