JT Brubaker went to college at the Univerity of Akron–near my hometown–so I was very happy when he was drafted by the Pirates in the 6th round of the 2015 draft. I wrote to him in college but never got anything, but I was able to get him in 2015 while he was in the low minors. I was over the moon to get it.
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Brubaker was a 6th round pick, so clearly he was a well-regarded prospect, but it took a couple of seasons for his tools to materialize and put him clearly on the path to the major leagues. He made the majors in 2020 and held his own: 1-3 over 47.1 innings, starting 9 games and ending the season with a 4.94 ERA/1.137 WHIP/92 ERA+. Coming into the 2021 season he was rated the organization’s #16 prospect and opened the year in the Pirates rotation. He is having a fine campaign so far: 3-3 over 44 innings, with a 3.27 ERA/1.227 WHIP/125 ERA+
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Oh, if you are wondering what the bar is for Brubaker if he wants to be the best player ever drafted out of the University of Akron, the answer is current Oakland Athletic Chris Bassitt. Bassit was drafted out of Akron by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 draft, and currently has a career WAR total of around 7. So Brubaker has a way to go still.