One player making a world tour and playing in his third professional baseball league this season would be starting pitcher Ben Braymer. According to CPBL broadcaster Wang Yi-Hsuan, Braymer is close to finalizing a deal with an unnamed CPBL team. Sources close to the league believe it could be the Fubon Guardians or TSG Hawks in the running for the southpaw.
The Washington Nationals drafted the 30-year-old left-hander in the 18th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He made his MLB Debut in 2020, throwing in three games and making one start. He collected his first big league victory that season, posting a 1.23 ERA in seven and a third innings, walking five and striking out eight batters. Braymer would then spend the next two years with the Nationals, pitching the entirety of the year with Triple-A Rochester, pitching to an ERA above five in both seasons.
After the 2022 season concluded, he became a free agent. Gaining no MLB interest, Braymer signed in the Atlantic League with the High Point Rockers for the 2023 campaign. Making four starts with the Rockers, he would go 2-0, posting a 1.16 ERA in 23 innings, only walking four batters and striking out 23. After showing his dominance, he signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies, where he reported to Triple-A Albuquerque. He would struggle mightily in 15 starts, recording a 1-7 record with a 9.75 ERA. He would become a free agent at the end of the year.
Once again, Braymer signed with the High Point Rockers to begin the 2024 season. This time, after seven starts, Braymer had a 3-2 record, posting a 3.55 ERA and striking out 34 batters within 33 innings of work. After posting these stats, Braymer was picked up by the Toros de Tijuana in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
Braymer threw some of his best baseball in Mexico. Only making three starts, he recorded a 2-0 record, a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings, punching out 23 batters, only allowing three walks. Now, Braymer is set to join his third team this season, ready to make an impact and add more dominance to his 2024 season resume.
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WBN CPBL: https://worldbaseball.com/?s=CPBL
Photo Credit: Ben Braymer #59 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch during the fifth inning of the spring training game against the Miami Marlins at The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on March 3, 2021 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
