Ryan Brasier

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #11 prospect in 2014
  It's been a slow climb for Brasier, a high school catcher turned junior college pitcher who joined the system in 2007, when Bill Stoneman was still the general manager. He entered the system as a reliever but moved to a starting role in 2009 to see if he would develop his secondary pitches. Even though Brasier threw a no-hitter in 2010, the move to the rotation never really took, and his secondary stuff didn't get much better. But he did make the big leagues for the first time in 2013. Brasier's success is based on his 93-97 mph four-seam fastball, a true 70 pitch that seems to take off as it nears the plate. He throws a fringy 86-88 mph slider that is better as a surprise pitch early in the count than something he can use to generate a strikeout with two strikes. He'll also throw a below-average changeup to lefthanders every now and then. Brasier has never dominated, but his double-plus fastball makes him a potentially useful low-leverage reliever. He'll head to spring training with a shot at the big league bullpen.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #25 prospect in 2013
  A high school catcher, Brasier moved to the mound when he got to Weatherford (Texas) JC. He pitched his way into the sixth round of the 2007 draft and began his pro career as a reliever. The Angels tried to make him a starter in 2009-10, but he was ill-suited for the role and moved back to the bullpen in 2011. While Brasier has yet to dominate as a pro, he does have a fastball that can range from 92-96 mph with late hop and run. His secondary pitches are what hold him back. He flashes an average slider, but it doesn't have a lot of depth so he doesn't miss many bats. His changeup is well below-average, and he throws it only occasionally against lefthanders. Brasier has a stocky build, stabs in the back of his arm action and has effort in his delivery, so his command never has been a strong suit. He'll need a more consistent slider and better location for his pitches before he's ready for a big league callup, which could come this season. The Angels added him to the 40-man roster in November.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #29 prospect in 2012
  Brasier converted from high school catcher to junior college pitcher at Weatherford (Texas) JC, and the Angels made him a sixth-round pick and signed him for $123,000 in 2007. He worked as a starter in the second half of 2009 and in 2010, throwing a no-hitter in the latter season, but he has spent the bulk of his time in pro ball lighting up radar guns out of the bullpen. Brasier ranges from 92-96 mph and attacks batters with a tailing, sinking fastball that he delivers from a short, quick arm stroke. Brasier did a better job of extending through the front side of his delivery in 2011, getting better location down in the zone. Brasier also has a power slider that often features short, late break away from the sweet spot of opponents' bats. He seldom throws his below-average changeup and doesn't need it in relief. While he finds the strike zone frequently, Brasier still misses his spots often enough to limit his ceiling to that of middle reliever. He'll open the season back in Salt Lake.