The Twins have signed reliever Austin Brice to a minor league deal, based on an announcement from their Double-A workforce in Wichita (X hyperlink). It’s the second time Brice has landed with the Minnesota group. He completed final season with their Triple-A membership in St. Paul.
Brice by no means acquired a serious league name from the Twins. He returned to minor league free company at the beginning of final offseason and inked a non-roster take care of the Phillies. The 31-year-old solely pitched twice within the Philadelphia group earlier than he was launched on April 7. He lands one other alternative a month later, though he’ll not less than start his second Minnesota stint in Double-A.
A former ninth-round decide of the Marlins, Brice has pitched in components of seven MLB seasons. His finest 12 months got here in 2019, when he turned in a 3.43 ERA with a league common 23.1% strikeout fee in a career-high 44 2/3 innings. Brice elevated his strikeouts the next season after being traded to the Purple Sox. But his walks additionally spiked and he allowed almost six earned runs per 9 innings. Brice struggled once more the next season and was twice despatched via waivers.
His most up-to-date MLB motion got here through a four-game stint with the Pirates in 2022. He spent all of final season in Triple-A between the Arizona and Minnesota organizations. Brice struggled on the high minor league degree, permitting a near-7.00 ERA. A few of that harm got here in a disastrous three video games for the D-Backs’ affiliate in Reno — one of many hardest locations to pitch in affiliated ball — however he additionally managed solely a 5.54 mark over 37 1/3 frames for St. Paul.
