Baltimore Orioles: 2014 Season Grades – Relief Pitchers

Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brad Brach (35) pitches in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals in game two of the 2014 ALCS game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Man, you have to love the story of a guy like Brad Brach – a 42^nd round draft pick by the Padres in 2008. The Baltimore Orioles acquired him in a Thanksgiving trade last year for Devin Jones – you remember him, right? Didn’t think so.

Brad Brach had a 10-2 record pitching this year. What? Really? No!! Yes, he did. He was 7-1 with the Orioles and 3-1 with the Norfolk Tides, where he pitched 23.1 innings beyond the 62.1 thrown for Baltimore.

In those 62.1 innings for the O’s – often appearing for more than an inning at a time – Brach only gave up 48 base hits, but 25 walks for a WHIP of 1.17 and ERA of 3.18.

But the value that Brach brought to the Orioles is a bit more intangible than pure statistics present. Multiple times he bridged gaps from the starters to the late innings relievers, limiting the damage and giving the team a chance to win the game. The evidence of this is seen in the seven wins accumulated.

At a salary of $509,500 … well, Brach is a bargain for sure. We’ll give him an “A-” grade.