Aaron Ashby had a tough 2022 campaign for the Brewers during which he posted a 2–10 record and a 4.44 ERA. In advance of spring training the next year, the southpaw hurt his left shoulder and a projected three-to-six week hiatus turned into him missing the entire season and undergoing surgery. It was an inauspicious opening act for an arm Milwaukee saw enough potential in to use a fourth-round pick on in the 2018 draft. But it also created an opportunity for both player and organization to pivot, and the results spoke for themselves.
Ashby returned as a reliever, making 12 of his 14 appearances out of the bullpen in '24 while turning in a 2.86 ERA and limiting opponents' power as a lefty-on-lefty option. His stuff plays against both sides of the plate, though. Ashby brings a sinking fastball at or near triple digits and pairs that with a darting changeup. His most visually captivating pitch, though, is a curveball that can find Clayton Kershaw-type planes. He is a brutal at-bat for any batters who fall behind and through the first few weeks of the season he's show himself to be in command.
