Track Record: A native of Kingston, Ontario, Brash pitched three years in Niagara's rotation and won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's pitcher of the year honors after he set the conference and school records for strikeouts in a single season in 2019. The Padres drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $512,400, then traded him to the Mariners as the player to be named later for reliever Taylor Williams following the 2020 season. Brash broke out beyond all expectations in 2021. He finished ninth in the minors with 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings and rocketed from High-A to the majors, where he received a callup in the season's final week but didn't pitch.
Scouting Report: Brash was limited by shoulder tenderness when the Mariners acquired him, but his stuff jumped exponentially with full health. His high-spin, 93-97 mph fastball collects swings and misses in bunches and his dastardly, mid-80s slider with power sweep and sharp dive is a plus-plus pitch that some observers grade an 80. He throws both pitches in any count and can finish batters with either of them. Brash complements his power offerings with an average knuckle curveball he lands for strikes and a changeup that flashes plus, although it is inconsistent. Brash has some effort to his delivery and his control can be scattered, leading to differing opinions whether he projects best as a starter or reliever. He holds his stuff deep into outings and improved his control as last season progressed.
The Future: Brash's stuff gives him a chance to be a frontline starter if he keeps improving his control. Otherwise, his fastball and slider give him closer potential in relief.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 70. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 45.
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