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Ben Brown (baseball)

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Ben Brown
Chicago Cubs – No. 32
Pitcher
Born: (1999-09-09) September 9, 1999 (age 25)
East Setauket, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 30, 2024, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record1–3
Earned run average3.58
Strikeouts64
Teams

Benjamin Brown (born September 9, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Early life and amateur career

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Brown attended Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York. At 17 years old, after getting off to a strong start in his junior baseball season,[1] he suffered a ruptured appendix, was hospitalized for a week and lost 30 pounds (14 kg). After his hospitalization and weight loss, at least five college baseball programs withdrew their scholarship offers to Brown. Nonetheless, he added back 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of muscle and finished his senior year with a 1.18 earned run average.[2] His fastball topped out at 92 miles per hour (148 km/h) as a senior and he committed to play college baseball at Siena.[1]

Professional career

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Philadelphia Phillies

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The Philadelphia Phillies selected Brown in the 33rd round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[1][2] He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Phillies and pitched 2018 with the Gulf Coast Phillies and Williamsport Crosscutters.[3] He started the 2019 season with the Lakewood BlueClaws before suffering an injury which caused him to undergo Tommy John surgery.[4][5][6] Brown returned from the injury in 2021 to pitch for the Florida Complex League Phillies and was on the Opening Day roster of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.[7] He began the 2022 season with Jersey Shore.[7][8]

Chicago Cubs

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On August 2, 2022, the Phillies traded Brown to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher David Robertson.[9] At the end of the 2022 season, Brown was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.[7]

On November 15, 2022, the Cubs added Brown to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10] He was optioned to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies to begin the 2023 season, then joined the Iowa Cubs in May.[11] Brown missed a portion of the 2023 season due to an oblique injury.[12] In 26 games split between Tennessee and Iowa, he accumulated an 8–8 record and 4.27 ERA with 100 strikeouts across 72+2⁄3 innings pitched. Brown was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2024 season.[13]

Following an injury to Justin Steele, Brown was called up to the major leagues on March 30, 2024.[14] In his debut, Brown allowed five hits and two walks which yielded six runs in 1+2⁄3 innings pitched along with one strikeout against the Texas Rangers.[15][16] On April 9, Brown made his first start, giving up three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4+2⁄3 innings in a win against the San Diego Padres.[17][18] In his sixth career start, Brown tossed seven no–hit innings with a career–high ten strikeouts against the Milwaukee Brewers.[19] On June 9, Brown was placed on the injured list with a left neck strain, an injury that was later revealed to be a stress fracture in his neck.[20]

Personal life

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As a child, Brown was a fan of the Boston Red Sox.[21] Brown's favorite players included Ben Zobrist, Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Keegan, Desirée (June 21, 2017). "Ward Melville's Ben Brown drafted by Philadelphia Phillies". TBR News Media. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Uda, Rachel (June 30, 2017). "Ben Brown, drafted by Phillies, credits friendship with success". Newsday. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Sarra, Gregg (August 11, 2018). "Ward Melville's Brown living the pro baseball life". Newsday. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "LI prospect Ben Brown hoping to go far in Phillies system". Newsday. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Mooney, Patrick (May 14, 2023). "Cubs' Ben Brown is quickly emerging as the pitching prospect they've been waiting for". The Athletic. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Montemurro, Meghan (September 29, 2022). "After overcoming physical and mental hurdles, Chicago Cubs prospect Ben Brown sets his sights on greatness: 'I'm not looking to just skate by'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Ben Brown Named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year". November 9, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Coffey, Alex (July 15, 2022). "Brotherhood of the mound: Phillies pitching prospects at Jersey Shore root for one another". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "Cubs acquire minor league RHP Ben Brown from Phillies". MLB.com.
  10. ^ "Cubs add Kevin Alcántara, Ben Brown, Brennen Davis and Ryan Jensen to 40-man roster". bleedcubbieblue.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Birch, Tommy (May 1, 2023). "Why Iowa Cubs pitcher Ben Brown was so happy to be traded to the Chicago Cubs". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  12. ^ Birch, Tommy (March 29, 2024). ""I'm back and I'm ready to go." Iowa Cubs pitcher Ben Brown hopeful for huge 2024 season". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  13. ^ Birch, Tommy (March 29, 2024). "A look at the Iowa Cubs' opening-day roster, by the numbers". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Cubs' Justin Steele (hamstring strain) out at least one month". ESPN.com. March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  15. ^ Montemurro, Meghan (March 30, 2024). "With Justin Steele sidelined at least through April, Chicago Cubs call up hard-throwing Ben Brown". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  16. ^ Bastian, Jordan (March 30, 2024). "'I belong here': Brown eager to thrive after long journey to bigs". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ben Brown tosses 4 2/3 shutout innings in his 1st MLB start — and it was enough for a 5–1 Chicago Cubs win". The Chicago Tribune. April 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Red Sox Hall of Famer Claims Chicago Cubs Have 'Something Special' in Young Pitcher". Sports Illustrated. April 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Brown dominates with 7 no-hit frames, helped by Bellinger's incredible robbery". mlb.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "Cubs expected to be without rookie standout Ben Brown for a while due to 'rare' injury". marqueesportsnetwork.com. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Laurila, David (March 13, 2024). "Analytically Inclined, Ben Brown Boasts a Power Arsenal". Fangraphs. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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