Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft adjusting seamlessly to relief role as big-league career begins

If Braxton Ashcraft has any unease about beginning his big-league career as a reliever, compared to coming up through the minor leagues as a starter, he isn’t showing it.

In fact, through three relief outings, Ashcraft has looked like he belongs.

To be sure, there are differences in preparation as a starter versus a reliever, but for Ashcraft, the only part of his job title that he emphasizes is “pitcher.”

“This is our job, and our job is to ultimately get outs, whether it’s in the first inning or the sixth or the eighth — whatever it is,” he said. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what inning I go in the game and it doesn’t matter what role I have. When I step on the mound, it’s time to get outs. The game doesn’t change. The only thing that changes is how you come into the game.”

Following two scoreless outings to begin his major-league career, Ashcraft inherited a 3-0 lead Wednesday evening at home in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros.

While it was not exactly the highest of leverage situations, Ashcraft still had a lead to protect and he played his part well, delivering two scoreless frames.

In the seventh, Ashcraft allowed a one-out single to Jake Meyers before punching out Cam Smith and Jacob Melton to end the frame.

Then, in the eighth, Ashcraft faced the top of Houston’s lineup, retiring Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve in order.

Over his two innings, he struck out three, throwing 21 of his 32 pitches for strikes.

Braxton Ashcraft with some filthy stuff ????‍???? pic.twitter.com/7zsF1fMeT5

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) June 5, 2025

“Unreal. Coming in, three-run lead in the seventh inning — to go seventh and eighth there and throw strikes, mix in the fastball, slider — the slider was electric,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “I think it hit 93 (mph), maybe 94. He did an awesome job, especially in that type of situation.”

While he’s taking on an unfamiliar role, Ashcraft seeks out higher-stakes scenarios.

“If you’re coming out of the ’pen, that’s where you want to be,” he said. “You want to be in a situation where every single pitch counts a little bit more. My whole career as a starter, you know what your role is and it’s to get as deep into the game as you can with as little runs as you can.

“But in that situation, in a 3-0 game, every single run, every single pitch and every single at-bat counts a little bit more. There’s not many innings to make up ground, so it was a cool situation to be put into, especially in my third outing in the big leagues.”

So can we talk about Braxton Ashcraft?

Showing off his ridiculous slider and curveball tonight for a couple strikeouts

He also has a 0.00 ERA in 5.0 IP pic.twitter.com/1pk0oFZCGZ

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) June 5, 2025

Through three MLB games, Ashcraft has pitched six scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out six with a walk, allowing three total hits.

Sandwiched between Wednesday and his big-league debut May 26, when he gave the Pirates three innings on the road at Arizona in relief of Mike Burrows, Ashcraft pitched a clean inning in relief June 1 against San Diego.

Prior to being recalled by the Pirates, 69 of Ashcraft’s 71 minor-league appearances had been starts.

As the Pirates’ No. 7 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, Ashcraft’s long-term future most likely will entail a spot in the rotation at some point.

Judging by his stuff, with a fastball that touches the upper-90s and a curveball and slider that Baseball America ranked as the best in the Pirates’ system entering 2025, Ashcraft may wind up having the most impact starting games.

Kelly isn’t ruling that out, but for the time being, Ashcraft is giving the Pirates a boost out of the bullpen.

“We’re trying to win the game and find ways to utilize not just him, (but) everybody in the right situation,” Kelly said. “(Wednesday), for him to be able to go two, pitch bulk, it ended up being leverage and he did a fantastic job. I think looking at it, trying to find the best role for him as far as getting him bulk innings.

“Not saying down the road he may (not) be a starter again. Just trying to put him in the best situation for him and also for the team.”