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Hiller Brault set for ML debut for Bucs

EastCountySports.com staff report

 

ST. LOUIS — The Pittsburgh Pirates will promote left-hander STEVEN BRAULT from Class AAA Indianapolis and he will make his major league debut on Tuesday at St. Louis, it was announced Monday afternoon.

Brault, 24, will replace impressive young right-hander Jameson Taillon, who will head to the 15-day disabled list because of right shoulder fatigue, further thinning a rotation already suffering due to Gerrit Cole’s injury.

Brault joined the Bucs’ organization as the player to be named later in the Travis Snider trade with the Baltimore Orioles in January 2015.

He had a 2.70 ERA in six starts before straining his left hamstring running the bases May 8. After one rehabilitation start at short-season West Virginia June 20, Brault has made two starts for Indianapolis and pitched five scoreless innings Thursday in his most recent start.

The Pirates must clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Brault when he reaches St. Louis and is activated.

Brault owns an excellent 2.57 ERA for Triple-A Indianapolis, but he has walked 15 batters in 35 innings and will need better control to replicate those results in the majors. He has a 44/15 K/BB ratio in 35 innings over eight starts with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Brault was rated as the 15th-best minor leaguer in Pittsburgh’s system by the 2016 Baseball America Prospect Handbook.

He was credited with having excellent command and an ability to limit homers and induce grounders, which helps counter an “ordinary” changeup and curve, and a fastball in the 89-91 mph range.

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Brault delivers a pitch in 2010 as a member of the Grossmont Foothillers.

Brault was a first-team All-East County performer and second-team All-San Diego CIF selection in his senior season at Grossmont in 2010, as the Foothillers won the Division II section championships. He was 8-1 with a 2.56 ERA that season.

While at Grossmont, where he carries a 4.1 GPA, Brault acted in the Junior Theater and Captain Hook Theater — both directed by Mark Arapostathis, who is now the Mayor of La Mesa. He also spent time developing his musical talents. Many of his Grossmont teammates at that time thought that music could be his career choice.

However, he attended Regis University in Denver, where he continued his education and his baseball career. He will be the first player from Regis to ever play in a major league game.
Brault was 8-3 with a 2.63 ERA for the Rangers and also hit .397 at the plate in 2013, his junior season. He only made six mound appearances in 2012 for Regis, but his .291 as a full-time position player. He stole 24 bases over the two seasons combined. His 11.78 Ks/9 is the all-time Regis program record.
He was drafted in the 11th round by the Orioles in 2013.
Brault’s minor league career has spanned four seasons, compiling a 27-17 record with a 2.51 ERA.

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