Ashcraft Productive Pitching Addition to Pirates’ Staff

Since his call-up to the Pittsburgh Pirates in May, Braxton Ashcraft hasn’t disappointed in the 11 games that he’s appeared in.

This is one MLB All-Star break that Ashcraft must be really enjoying. The rookie Pirates’ right-hander will probably have watched some or all the Midsummer Classic from Atlanta. Braxton’s fellow Buccos’ pitcher Paul Skenes was the starting pitcher for the National League. But, for the first time since signing with Pittsburgh in 2018, Ashcraft can relax.

This coming weekend, the Chicago White Sox are coming to PNC Park for a three-game series, followed by three with the visiting Detroit Tigers, and completing the homestand with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. When baseball gets back to business on Friday, Ashcraft knows he is still a Pirate, and ready to contribute.

When speaking with the 25-year-old from Robinson, Texas (southeast of Waco) early this past February at the beginning of spring training, it was obvious to me the confidence that Ashcraft had in making his MLB debut this season. I also found him to be on the quiet side. However, when I asked Ashcraft, who began his professional career in Bradenton during the 2018 season in the Gulf Coast League about life in Robinson, a lightbulb turned on. Clearly, he was interested in talking about his hometown.

“Not much happens there (Robinson), but it’s a great place to live. That’s where I learned to play the game. First, I played shortstop. I also learned how important it is to have fun when you're playing, and to watch as much as you can that’s going on around you,” Ashcraft said.

The dedication needed to improve his game as an infielder and pitching kept Ashcraft on the move. He recalled summer tournaments keeping his schedule busy, and a few “away” games had his family taking him on drives of 90 minutes or longer.

I also witnessed Ashcraft having an enjoyable time representing the Pirates, in Bradenton, in his participating in the annual block party this past February. The welcoming of the Pirates back to their “Southern Home” this past February downtown had Ashcraft as one of the players greeting fans at the autograph table.

The way Ashcraft presented himself to those who lined up early for the meet-and-greet, you could tell he was the consummate professional. There was an air about him that he already belonged on the big-league roster. Last season, Ashcraft made the jump from Double-A Altoona, Pa. to Triple-A Indianapolis, Ind. His spring work did all the talking necessary to get the call-up on May 26, when the Pirates were playing at Chase Field in Arizona for a series with the Diamondbacks.

The promotion to Pittsburgh was well deserved. While at Indianapolis this season, Ashcraft appeared in 10 games, throwing 48 innings and collecting 56 strikeouts. Ashcraft didn’t just make it to the Pirates; he has remained part of manager Don Kelly and pitching coach Oscar Marin’s plans.

So far, so good for Ashcraft. 22 innings in the 11 games he’s pitched in, and given up only five earned runs, has 19 strikeouts, and boasts an impressive 2.05 ERA. Ashcraft has come of age. It’s been an eight-year journey in the Pirates’ system, but so far, its mission accomplished for him.

Ashcraft has found his pitching groove. Called upon primarily in relief, he has also started one game. As much as Ashcraft had high hopes of making it to big-leagues this season during spring training, he never outwardly displayed anything resembling over confidence.

It was during spring training that Ashcraft, who missed all the 2022 season due to injury, spoke of summer vacations with his three siblings as a child. Simple times seem important to who Ashcraft is. He tells of rooting for the Texas Rangers as a kid, who play home games in Arlington just over 100 miles from Robinson, and calling former Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg his favorite to have followed as a fan.

Letting his work doing his talking for him, Ashcraft continues to do everything in his power to make a case that he belongs with the Pirates without any reason for being optioned back to the Indianapolis Indians. He’s just too good to ignore.