Brandon Maurer

Brandon Eugene Maurer

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 215 lbs.
• High School Orange Lutheran High School
• Debut April 4, 2013
• Final Game September 25, 2018
• Born July 3, 1990 in Newport Beach, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Brandon Maurer made his major league debut in 2013.

The Seattle Mariners took him in the 23rd round of the 2008 amateur draft; Tim Reynolds was the scout. He was 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA for the 2008 AZL Mariners, fanning 25 in 23 1/3 IP. Seattle named him the team's Pitcher of the Year. With the 2009 Pulaski Mariners, he was 3-4 with a 3.61 ERA. He was again named his team's top pitcher. He missed almost all of 2010 with right elbow tendonitis, appearing for the AZL Mariners (0-1, 1.64, 14 K in 11 IP) and Clinton Lumber Kings (0-1, 2.08, 6 K in 4 1/3 IP). In 2011, he was with Clinton (1-3, 3.41) and the High Desert Mavericks (2-4, 6.38), again missing significant time with elbow injuries (over half of June, almost half of July and all of August).

Healthy, Maurer starred for the 2012 Jackson Generals at 9-2, 3.20. He was among the Southern League leaders in wins (tied for 4th), strikeouts (117, tied for 7th with Gary Moran and Allen Webster) and ERA (5th, between Nick Struck and Sean Gilmartin). He was named to the SL All-Star team as the top righty (Gilmartin as the lefty and Carter Capps as a reliever were the other pitchers selected). He also took home the league's Most Oustanding Pitcher.

He made the major league roster of the Seattle Mariners out of spring training in 2013 as the club's fourth starter, having never played higher than AA ball. He made his first appearance as the M's starter against the Oakland Athletics on April 4th, but he gave up 6 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings to be charged with the 8-2 loss. He ended up making 14 starts among his 22 appearances that season, ending up with a record of 5-8, 6.30 and pitching only 90 innings. The Mariners were disappointed, and in 2014 decided to move him to the bullpen after some unconvincing appearances as a starter. In the new role, his ERA was 2.17 in 31 appearances, although his struggles in 7 starts meant that his overall record was 1-4, 4.58. On December 30th, he was traded straight up to the San Diego Padres for OF Seth Smith.

Maurer pitched very well for the Padres in 2015, going 7-4, 3.00 in 53 games and logging 51 innings as a middle reliever. In 2016, the Padres struggled badly and experimented with various pitchers in the closer role after trading Fernando Rodney in mid-year. Brandon ended up winning the job and saved 13 games down the stretch after not having recorded a single save prior to that season. His record was 0-5, but he did strike out 72 batters in 69 2/3 innings, although his ERA was high at 4.52. He kept the closer's job in 2017, although he was not pitching well. Still he had racked up 20 saves by July 24th, with a 1-4 record and a 5-72 ERA, when he was traded to the Kansas City Royals alongside Ps Ryan Buchter and Trevor Cahill in return for Ps Matt Strahm and Travis Wood and minor league infielder Esteury Ruiz. It was clear that he would not be closing games in Kansas City, however.

Notable Achievements

• 2012 Pitcher of the Year Southern League Jackson Generals

Related Sites

• Brandon Maurer on mlb.com