Bucs Beat Q&A: Long before 1st MLB win, Braxton Ashcraft took an honest look in mirror

Bucs Beat Q&A: Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft

How did it feel to get your first MLB win?

It’s something you work for your entire career, especially growing up, you fantasize about being on this stage. To be able to put in all the work, battle the injuries I’ve dealt with and get to this point in my career to be able to have the opportunity to do that is pretty cool.

What was it like for the skies to open up and rain on you to finish off a sweep of the Phillies?

It’s Pittsburgh. It’s something we expect here. You’ve got to deal with elements in some capacity wherever you are. That’s something we deal with consistently here. Everyone talks about sports being romantic. You finish the first series sweep of the year. It’s part of the tradition of getting your first big-league win. All the guys celebrate with you. It’s something to cherish, something you’ll never forget.

Who was your first phone call?

I have a pretty big support system. I called my fiancée (Cassidy) and talked through it. It’s all fun to share the really big moments in your life, no matter what it is. I celebrated that with her. Unfortunately, it was over the phone because she headed back to Texas. Then I called my parents (Tony and Karen). It’s a big moment in a career, so you want to cherish it and share it with the people who mean the most to you.

Did you ever worry whether you would get to that moment?

Absolutely. Most people in this game would be remiss to say that they didn’t have doubt at some point in their career. There’s a lot of reflection that came when I found I had a torn UCL, about the player I was at the time and the work that I put in to be the player that I was at the time. I look at myself in the mirror at that point and didn’t really see myself being a big leaguer. The work that I was putting in and the things I was doing on a daily basis to achieve this goal, it was a really hard thing to look in the mirror and realize to myself. I decided that I was going to dominate the rehab and come out on the other side of it and see what type of player that I am. I came out the player that I am today, that I’ve been able to build upon. That doubt was probably created then, and it was alleviated in bulk when I came back and threw my first game in 2023. It was emotional because I was a different player, a different pitcher and the way I went about my work was different. It was cool to see that growth within myself translate to the player I was on the field.

What was the greatest lesson your learned about yourself?

A lot of people put this game as the most important thing in the world. For me, where I was able to begin my ascent to the player that I have become now, baseball had to be No. 2. The person that I was, the pride that I took and the things that I did had to come first. That trickles into what the game is. The way that you are able to reflect and be honest with yourself and become your biggest critic and your biggest fan. Being able to do that and realize that I have to really be comfortable with who I am and be able to look at myself in the mirror and be proud of the person I am in all aspects, that was what I’ve been able to identify as what made this game easier to commit to. It’s hard at 18 years old coming in, being from a small town. I got drafted out of high school pretty high. I was the best player in my area. Then I got to the complex, and I wasn’t even close. That’s a lot of humility that’s put on you really fast. It’s something that I thought I was ready for; looking back now, I don’t think that I was. I think I was ready for the hope of it, but I wasn’t ready for the realization of it. It’s a tough game, man.

Did that work help you cope with transition from starter to reliever?

That was the conversations we had over this offseason. They were pretty frequent. I was like, ‘Look, I’ve been around for awhile. I’ve pitched in short spurts, and I’ve pitched deep into games.’ My thought process on it had to be that it doesn’t matter where you’re at, the goal is: Everybody that’s pitching wants to be a starter. But, more than that, everybody that’s pitching wants to be in the big leagues. It’s already extremely hard to get here but to try and pick and choose a role in a sea of really, really, really talented players makes your chances a lot slimmer. What is my main goal? My main goal is to be a long-term big leaguer. It made it easy to be confident in what I’m doing to come here and make the transition from what my role was in Triple-A and what it has been my entire career to what it is now. But it’s the goal. The goal is to be a big leaguer, and a successful big leaguer at that. Any way that I can do that and help the team win. It’s fun to get wins in the minor leagues, but it doesn’t hold a candle to getting wins in the big leagues. To be part of that and contribute to that, that’s the goal.

Do you still have your sights set on being a starter or are you open to a bullpen role?

I’m open to everything. My long-term goal is to pitch my way back into the first inning and to create value there. But if my value is higher somewhere else, that’s where I’ll be comfortable. I don’t think it’s ever really good to be comfortable in whatever role you’re in. … Yeah, I want to be a starting pitcher. That’s the ultimate goal. Again, I want to contribute to wins in any way I can, whether that’s pitching in leverage roles or being a fireman or closing. Whatever that may be, I’m game for it.