Braxton Ashcraft best usage is in the rotation, for now
After another fantastic outing, a look into the usage of Braxton Ashcraft for the rest of the season.
After an initial rough start to the season, it’s been hard to find a starting pitcher playing better in the Pirates’ system than right-hander Braxton Ashcraft.
In four appearances during April, Ashcraft posted a 6.91 ERA, with just 12 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched.
Since the calendar has rolled over to May, he has 51 strikeouts—with just six walks—in 29.1 innings pitched while posting a 2.51 ERA. Facing Richmond on Thursday, Ashcraft struck out a career-high 12 batters across seven innings pitched.
He was able to pitch deep despite allowing three runs in the first inning, and it was the second time he had completed seven frames this season—he reached double-digit strikeouts in both.
Where the Pirates turn with Ashcraft next will be interesting.
Double-A is clearly starting to not push him enough, and at 24 years old, a promotion is certainly warranted to Triple-A.
He’s already on the 40-man roster, and with Quinn Priester now going on the injured list, the Pirates will need a fifth starter. With Ashcraft pitching on Thursday, that takes him out of the running for Saturday, when the Pirates would need another starter.
Another option that has been thrown out there is to put Ashcraft into the bullpen, especially with the struggles they’ve had recently. With the Pirates thinning on starters, that doesn’t seem to be the best idea right now.
That could be an option, later in the season. Last year was his first back from Tommy Johns surgery, and they took caution on the innings he threw. After his start against Richmond, Ashcraft has already surpassed his 2023 total.
We aren’t sure what kind of limit is going to be put on Ashcraft, if one at all.
Once the season starts to wind down, and Ashcraft has accomplished what the Pirates hoped he would, then making this kind of move makes more sense.
In the meantime, the efficiency that Ashcraft shows with his ability to throw strikes brings more value as a starter, compared to as a reliever currently.
Ashcraft has continued to emerge as a legitimate prospect in the Pirates’ system. Despite not pitching above Double-A, there’s an easy argument to make that he is the most major league ready pitcher in the organization not with the Pirates.
The easy, quick fix, answer would be to throw him into the bullpen. As a starter, however, he can help solidify the team’s strength, and take pressure off of the bullpen, as his efficiency and ability to throw strikes should allow him to continue to pitch deeper into games.
There’s a lot to digest here, but maybe the only solid answer is that Ashcraft has pitched his way out of Double-A by now. A promotion and continued success could even get him a look as a starter in Pittsburgh by the end of the year.
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I think Richard Ramirez is my new favorite prospect. Just hit one out, didn’t even swing especially hard. OPS is 1.033.
I'm full boat on your last paragraph. IMO he potentially is too valuable to push him to the bullpen now and mess up any further development as a starter. If the plan is if he gets to some innings limit move him to the pen late in the year and the MLB team still needs help then by all means push him to the majors. Net: Whatever is the plan to get him developed as a major league starter, there is nothing IMO (even major league team need) that would make me want to deviate from that at the current time. I'm even opposed to a spot start at MLB on his normal rest just in case he overthrows / gets away from his current mojo, although I will not fight that vehemently.