Pittsburgh Pirates 2021 Previews: LHP Braeden Ogle
If there is one thing the Neil Huntington era was known for, it was its love of raw talented high school players. Guys like Jameson Taillon, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and even Andrew McCutchen all came from the high school ranks into the Pirates system. The thought process was if you get them when they are young, they can develop the way you like them to before becoming contributing players on the Big League club. One of these raw talented high school draft picks was a left-handed pitcher named Braeden Ogle. When the Pirates drafted Ogle, he was one of the best high school arms in the state of Florida. However, injuries have deterred his development and changed his outlook from starting pitcher to the bullpen.
After getting his career started as a starting pitcher, Ogle was putting up good numbers in Rookie Ball. He posted a 2.60 ERA over his first eight professional starts, but his career came to a sudden halt when he had to undergo Tommy John Surgery. He came back in the latter part of the 2017 season and would combine to make just 14 starts the next two seasons thanks to shoulder injuries. With so many problems with his throwing shoulder, it looked like Ogle's days as a starting pitcher were over. So, the Pirates transitioned him to the bullpen to see what he could do. He picked up the role quickly and was having success in Low-A and Advanced-A Ball as a swingman. He is now looking to make the jump to the next level and show he can be that top-notch arm that the Pirates drafted back in 2016.
Making The Most of Relief
While starting is what Ogle had done since he was in high school, he was ready to make the transition to the bullpen to continue his career. He began the 2019 season with Low-A Greensboro and moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. Ogle got roughed up in his first three appearances, giving up six earned runs in nine innings of work, but he would straighten things out. He would go on to put up a zero in six of his next eight outings and started to settle in as a middle reliever. However, the month of June would be his biggest month as he put up four straight scoreless outings and was promoted to Advanced-A Bradenton.
Even though Ogle was advancing to the next level, he seemed to step up his game and did even better than he did in Low-A. He lowered his ERA to 3.18 and went 2-1 in seven relief appearances. He allowed one earned run or less in six of those seven outings, working one inning each time. The biggest success that Ogle found from moving to the bullpen was his heightened strikeout rate. In 11.1 innings of work in the Florida State League, Ogle ended up striking out 10 batters during that time. Opponents hit just .200 against him and he showed good control with just three walks. It was a strong showing for the 22-year-old, and he was ready to make the jump to Double-A Altoona.
However, that progress was stopped when the pandemic came in and shut down the Minor League season. Ogle would end up moving to the Pirates alternate training site and working with Pirates coaches on continuing his progress. He got his velocity up into the upper nineties and continued to show good control. Now that he is entering his age 23 season, he finally has that chance to move to Double-A Altoona and compete in the Eastern League. His career has already seen its fair share of ups and downs, but this Minor League season stoppage is just another obstacle that the Pirate left-hander will have to overcome to make the Major Leagues.
First Big League Spring Training
When Braeden Ogle got the invite to Big League camp, it was a big stretch in his young career. It was the first time he has participated in Big League camp, and he has put up good numbers. He has appeared in three games so far for the Pirates and posted a 3.86 ERA in three innings of work. Two of those three appearances have been scoreless outings, including his spring debut on March 5th. It came against the Detroit Tigers as he lasted one inning and allowed one hit while walking one and striking out two batters. He has struck out at least one batter in all three of his appearances and has only walked one so far.
The strikeouts are a good sign for Ogle as he continues to make a name for himself in the bullpen. In his three Spring Training innings pitched this season, Ogle has gone to set down five batters on strikes. He has an opponent batting average of just .222 and has been one of the best young relievers featured in camp this season. After starting his career as a starter, Ogle seems to have thrived in this new short-relief role and it may be what the Pirates need. There are many starting pitching prospects in the Pirates system, but the bullpen lacks that star power. Ogle can be that guy the Pirates turn to when they need a star out of the pen.
As for where Ogle will be for the 2021 season, he will most likely start the year in Double-A Altoona. The Curve have several back-ends of the bullpen arms on their roster, but Ogle will help fill the middle relief role. If Ogle performs well, he could see himself in Triple-A by the end of the season. He will live on his strikeout ability, and if he is able to consistently strikeout batters, that will be his ticket to the Big Leagues. His shoulder injuries at the beginning of his career may have slowed his development as a starter, but they helped him reach his potential as a reliever. 2021 will give Ogle a chance to show just how far he has come as a relief pitching prospect.
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