Braxton Ashcraft has blossomed big league arm since receiving his late-May promotion, even if his workload has changed since he came up to Pittsburgh.
Used mostly as a reliever in the big leagues, it was the first time Ashcraft had been routinely brought out from the bullpen in his professional career. On the farm, Ashcraft was a starter. The second round pick in 2018 rose through the ranks of Pittsburgh’s system as a starter the whole way.
Last season, Ashcraft started the year in Double-A, pitching to a 3.69 ERA, 1.099 WHIP, and an incredible 7.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 53.2 innings. After he was elevated to Triple-A midway through the summer, Ashcraft tossed five games and 19.1 innings for Indianapolis, with a 0.47 ERA, 0.983 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts.
In 16 total games between the two levels, 14 of them were starts. The two “relief” appearances saw him throw multiple innings.
This season, starting in Indianapolis, he made ten starts with a 5.03 ERA, 1.490 WHIP, and 2.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio before he was promoted.
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