PEORIA, Ariz. -- Nothing like a little drama in the last innings of the last Spring Training game.
And it had nothing to do with the scoreboard.
Matt Brash, working his way back from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season, made a surprise return to the mound Monday in the Mariners’ Spring Training finale, a 7-7 tie with the Padres. It will go down in the box score as two-thirds of an inning from the fourth of eight pitchers in a Spring Training game, but for Brash, it was much more.
The right-hander jogged in from the left field bullpen to open the bottom of the sixth inning. His first offering hit 98 mph to Braedon Karpathios, who promptly struck out swinging on three pitches before Brash froze Trenton Brooks on a 97 mph sinker to catch him looking.
It was a lot to take in.
“After I struck out the second guy I was like … I don’t know what happened,” Brash said. “I kind of just took it all in. I’m back.”
Brash then walked Jake Snider on four straight out of the strike zone, but his four-seam fastball hit 97 three times.
After 12 pitches, he was gone as quickly as he’d arrived. Manager Dan Wilson walked to the mound to end the brief return, and the Peoria Sports Complex crowd offered a huge ovation to Brash, knowing just how big the moment was.
“To see Matty come out there, after what he’s been through and seeing him in the side sessions, I know there was a lot riding on today,” Wilson said. “For him to look as sharp as he did coming out of the gate? Really good sign. It was a big smile on his face.”
Brash’s last appearance came Sept. 30, 2023, when he pitched one inning with a strikeout while allowing two walks and an earned run against the Rangers. His return had been targeted for either late April or early May.
But in reality, he had been talking with the coaches about pitching in an outing ever since his last live BP session, like every other step in his rehab, went well. While trying to find a game environment with live at-bats, since there weren’t any Minor League games at the Mariners complex Monday, the big league opportunity in the Spring Training finale seemed to fit the bill.
“Super pumped to be in there,” Brash said. “I got all those emotions and butterflies and all that back and got my adrenaline going.”
With velocity topping out at 92 and 93 during the offseason, seeing 98 on Monday was yet another step on the 26-year-old’s road to recovery.
“This was a big one for me,” he said. “I’m really glad I got to get in there on the last day just to get that feeling back. I’m right on track where I want to be. Everything feels good.”
More rehab outings for Brash will follow his Monday appearance, with a stint in Triple-A Tacoma likely until he’s ready to rejoin the Mariners.
If Monday was any indication, he knows better than anyone.
“It’s gonna happen fast and I’m excited,” he said.