Mariners Recall RHP George Kirby from Triple-A Tacoma

RHP Matt Brash Optioned to Triple-A Tacoma

SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today the following roster moves:

• George Kirby, RHP, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
• Matt Brash, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma (post-game July 25).

Kirby, 24, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on July 9. He made one appearance during his stint with the Rainiers, tossing 2.0 innings on July 16. The right-hander has made 12 starts with Seattle in his debut season, going 2–3 with a 3.78 ERA (27 ER, 64.1 IP) with 9 walks and 62 strikeouts. He became the first pitcher in Mariners franchise history to throw 6.0+ scoreless innings in a Major League debut when he made his first start on May 8 vs. Tampa Bay. Kirby’s strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.89) is 2nd-highest in Major League history through a pitcher’s first 12 career starts (excluding openers).

Kirby was originally drafted by the Mariners in the 1st round (20th overall) of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Elon University (NC). The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander has appeared in 3 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization (2019, 2021–22), going 7–3 with a 2.34 ERA (30 ER, 115.1 IP) with 20 walks and 137 strikeouts in 29 career games (28 starts). The righty was rated as the №11 overall prospect by Baseball America and the №2 prospect in the Mariners organization coming into the 2022 season.

Brash, 24, was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on July 9. During most recent stint with Seattle, Brash pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, going 1–0 with a 3.38 ERA (2 ER, 5.1 IP) with 6 strikeouts and 4 walks. He made his MLB debut earlier this season, starting the Mariners fifth game of the season on April 12 at the Chicago White Sox (5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO). Overall, in 10 games (5 starts) with the Mariners this season, Brash is 2–3 with a 6.75 ERA (19 ER, 25.1 IP) with 25 strikeouts and 21 walks.

The Kingston, Ontario native has appeared in 22 games with Tacoma this season, going 0–1 with a 3.46 ERA (10 ER, 26.0 IP) with 14 walks and 41 strikeouts. In 2021, Brash went 6–4 with 1 save and a 2.31 ERA (25 ER, 97.1 IP) with 48 walks and 142 strikeouts in 20 games (19 starts) between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas.

Brash is ranked as the #71 prospect (Baseball America) in the Majors. The 6-foot-1 righty was acquired by Seattle from San Diego on Sept. 17, 2020 as the player to be named later in a trade that sent RHP Taylor Williams to the Padres. Brash was originally selected by San Diego in the 4th round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Niagara University (Lewiston, NY).