Bruhert attended Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, Queens where he won only one game as a pitcher in four seasons.[2] After high school, he worked scooping ice cream at a local Carvel and played for a local sandlot team. Bruhert found enough success in the Queens-Nassau Summer League[3] to land a tryout at Shea Stadium, after which he signed with the New York Mets.[4]
Shortly after joining the Mets, he began dating Gil Hodges' daughter, Irene. The two were engaged by the time Bruhert was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Rule 5 draft on November 27, 1972.[5] Following Spring training1973, he was returned to the Mets.
After seven seasons in the Mets' farm system, in which he went 38–51 with a 3.69 earned run average, Bruhert made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader with the Montreal Expos on April 9, 1978. He pitched six strong innings, allowing only one earned run (two unearned), however, he took the loss.[6] He earned his first win in his next start against the St. Louis Cardinals.[7] His finest performance was a complete gameshutout of the Phillies on September 17, in which he struck out five and allowed just four hits.
For the season, Bruhert went 4–11 with a 4.78 ERA and 56 strikeouts. He was traded to the Texas Rangers in 1979 along with Bob Myrick for star pitcher Dock Ellis. Bruhert went 9–10 with a 5.58 ERA in the Rangers' farm system, but never reached the majors.
