Braxton Ashcraft
Braxton Ashcraft
Position: RHP
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 10/05/1999
High School: Robinson (TX) HS
How Acquired: Draft 2nd Round, 51st Overall, 2018
Bonus: $1,825,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
Ashcraft is very athletic; he also played wide receiver in high school, catching 37 touchdowns and 204 passes for over 2,090 yards his junior year. His stock rose in 2018, as he saw a velocity increase that led to him sitting at 89-93 MPH, touching as high as 95. His fastball has movement and sinking action, due to the high angle from his tall frame. When he returned from Tommy John surgery in 2023, he was averaging 95 mph with his fastball. He adds a slider, curve and cutter, all of which have become above-average pitches. Ashcraft had a commitment to Baylor but signed two and a half weeks after the draft. He got $1.825M, well above the slot amount of $1,382,400.
2018-20
Ashcraft signed in time to make five GCL starts, working his way up to five innings in his last start. In 2019, he and Mike Burrows went to the New York-Penn League rather than Bristol, which was where the Pirates usually sent prep pitchers for their first full seasons. Ashcraft didn’t have an easy time, although he did better than the 5.77 ERA implies. Opponents had a 239/319/390 line against him, which except for the slugging was close to league average. Things seemed to go south with runners on base: opponents had a .527 OPS against him with nobody on, but battered him to the tune of .934 with runners on base. He also had trouble with left-handed hitters, as they had an .847 OPS against him, compared to .614 by right-handed hitters. Ashcraft may have been impacted by an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. He said in an interview during fall instructionals that his left shoulder was healthy for the first time in a long time. He didn’t pitch, though, during the pandemic season.
2021-22
The Pirates moved Ashcraft up to Greensboro and he pitched very well through his first four starts. After that, he started struggling. After ten starts total, he went on the injured list and ultimately had Tommy John surgery, which kept him out through all of 2022.
2023-24
Ashcraft stayed healthy in 2023 and worked his way quickly up through three levels. He made 19 starts, two for Bradenton, nine for Greensboro and eight for Altoona, all of them on restrictive pitch counts, so he totaled only 52.2 IP. Ashcraft pitched well for the Hoppers, then was outstanding for the Curve. In 20 innings, he allowed just 14 hits and five walks, and fanned 23. For the season, he had a 1.9 BB/9 and 10.4 K/9, which is exceptional for a pitcher coming off Tommy John. The Pirates added Ashcraft to the 40-man roster after the season.
In 2024, the injury issues returned, as Ashcraft went on the injured list three separate times with elbow inflammation. The longest stint ran for six weeks, until the end of August, and the Pirates said the injury was not structural and just required rest. At that point, Ashcraft returned to throw one inning, then went back on the IL. There hasn’t been any further explanation about the problem When Ashcraft pitched, he continued to look very promising. He opened the season with Altoona and scuffled for the first month. Through five appearances, he had a 6.64 ERA. From that point through early June, his ERA was 1.89 and he fanned 46 in 33.1 IP. The Pirates promoted him to Indianapolis and he allowed just one run in 18.1 IP, until his final IL placement. On the season, Ashcraft walked just 1.5 per nine innings and had a WHIP of 1.07.
Stats
Transactions
June 4, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round, 51st overall pick; signed on June 22.
November 14, 2023: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.