Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Evan Brabrand’s Professional Debut

Evan Brabrand made his professional debut with the Marlins this season after getting chosen in the ninth round.

Turning 24-year-old today, the right-handed Marlins reliever had racked up a 1.831 WHIP over his first four collegiate season, three with the North Carolina State Wolfpack and one with the Liberty University Flames.

Evan Brabrand‘s fifth collegiate season would see him turn a corner pitching with Liberty. In 57 2/3 innings out of the bullpen over 24 games, he struck out 62 and held the opposition to a 0.971 WHIP. Brabrand was 4-2 with a 1.56 ERA in his final season with the Flames. When the Marlins came up in the ninth round with the 261st overall pick, they took a flyer on the 6-foot-3 northpaw. Although the 261st overall selection had a slot value of $157,600, Brabrand inked a deal with a signing bonus of just $1,000.

After signing, the Marlins assigned Brabrand to the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League. He was electric in his short look, saving 13 games in his 20 overall appearances. He was 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA and a 1.190 WHIP in 21 innings, along with 25 strikeouts. According to Baseball America (subscription required), he’s got an 89-92 MPH fastball that can occasionally touch 95 on the gun, with a solid breaking ball.

At 24, most prospects that are Brabrand’s age are sitting a little closer to the majors, but he got a late start, after all. If his performance holds up, look for him to progress through the Marlins minor league affiliate feeder system faster than most, likely sometime during the 2022 season.

Other Marlins Birthdays

Right-handed pitcher Barry Parisotto (52) was a ninth round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1989 draft. In 1993, he played a season for the High Desert Mavericks in the High-A California League. Over 118 1/3 innings was 6-5 with a 4.03 ERA, a 1.445 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts.

Right fielder Ryan McGuire (48) was taken in the third round of the 1993 draft by the Boston Red Sox. He eventually played in six major league seasons for four different teams, and played in 48 games for the 2001 Florida Marlins. He was 10-for-54 with eight RBI.

RHP Aaron Small (48) was taken in the 22nd round of the 1989 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He eventually spent parts of nine seasons in the majors between six different teams. He played for the Marlins in 1995 and again in 2004, going 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA and 13 K’s in 22 2/3 innings.

More from Marlins Prospects

• Miami Marlins: Checking in on prospects from the 2022 Arizona Fall League
• Miami Marlins: How top 2022 MLB Draft picks performed this season
• What’s wrong with Kahlil Watson?
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1

Zach Lerch (37) was taken in the 42nd round of the 2002 draft by the Marlins. He would go on to spend 2004 and 2005 in the lower parts of the Marlins minor league system, splitting his time between the Jamestown Jammers in the short-season-A New York-Penn League, the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the Middle-A South Atlantic League, and the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League. He was 12-9 with a 5.22 ERA in total, with 112 K’s and a 1.414 WHIP in 157 innings of work.

Right-handed reliever Chase Williams (27) was Miami’s 37th round pick in the 2014 draft, but never signed. Later, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and spent 2016 through 2018 in their system.

Centerfielder Daniel Paulino (21) has slashed .291/.377/.379 in three seasons of rookie-level ball for the Marlins. Between the DSL and GCL squads, he’s knocked in 45 and stolen 23 bases.