The Angels promoted Brasier to the major leagues for the first time on May 1, 2013.[5] He made his MLB debut the next day, pitching an inning of relief against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing two runs on two hits.[6] His first MLB strikeout was of Ryan Flaherty.[7] After making one additional appearance in May, he returned to the minors and was recalled in September when the major league rosters expanded; he made five appearances during the month.[8] Overall, with the 2013 Angels, Brasier made seven appearances, striking out seven and walking four in nine innings pitched with a 2.00 ERA.[9] Brasier missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery[10] and was outrighted off of the Angels 40-man roster on October 28, 2014.[11]
Oakland Athletics
On July 7, 2015, Brasier signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics[12] and spent the 2015 season rehabbing from the surgery,[10] only appearing in six rehab games in the minors.[4] In 2016, he made 46 relief appearances with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, recording a 3.56 ERA in 60+2⁄3 innings.[4]
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Brasier was invited to major league spring training by the Athletics in 2017 but took the opportunity to make more money overseas and agreed to have his contract sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball on December 14, 2016.[13][10] With the Carp, he made 26 relief appearances; in 30 innings of work he struck out 19, walked eight, and had a 3.00 ERA.[4] He would later credit his time in Japan with helping him improve his pitching mechanics.[10]
Boston Red Sox
Brasier staged a showcase for major league teams in January 2018 with the hopes of signing a contract before spring training began but did not get any takers until signing a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on March 4, 2018.[10][14] He was assigned to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Triple-A International League, where he pitched in 46 games with a 3.71 ERA and 70 strikeouts[4] and was selected to appear in the Triple-A All-Star Game.[15] The Red Sox promoted him to the major leagues on July 8[16] and he made his Boston debut the next day, pitching one inning against the Texas Rangers and retiring the side in order.[17] On August 30, Brasier recorded his first MLB win, pitching an inning of scoreless relief in a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago White Sox.[18] He proved to be a consistent reliever down the stretch, finishing with a 1.60 ERA in 34 appearances, and was the recipient of the Red Sox' Lou Gorman Award.[19] Brasier was included on Boston's postseason roster, making a total of nine appearances and allowing one earned run in 8+2⁄3 innings, as Boston went on to win the World Series.[20]
Brasier was included on Boston's Opening Day roster to start the 2019 season[21] and on April 3, he recorded his first major league save in closing out a win over the Athletics.[22][23] Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Brasier appeared in 62 games, compiling a 2–4 record with seven saves, along with a 4.85 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 55+2⁄3 innings.[24]
During the COVID-19 shortened[25]2020 season, Brasier appeared in 25 games (one start), compiling a 1–0 record with 3.96 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.[24] In early December 2020, he reached a one-year deal with the Red Sox for the 2021 season, avoiding salary arbitration.[26] Before appearing in a 2021 game, Brasier was placed on the 60-day injured list with a calf injury on May 3[27] and while rehabbing, on June 3, he was hospitalized after being hit in the head by a line drive during a simulated game at Boston's training complex in Fort Myers, Florida.[28] Brasier returned to the Red Sox on September 1.[29] Overall during the 2021 regular season, he made 13 appearances with Boston, all in relief, compiling a 1.50 ERA and 1–1 record while striking out nine batters in 12 innings.[24] He also made seven relief appearances in the postseason, as the Red Sox advanced to the American League Championship Series.[24] On November 30, the Red Sox agreed to terms with him (in his second season of arbitration) on a one-year contract for 2022, reportedly worth $1.4 million.[30]
Brasier began the 2022 season as a member of Boston's bullpen. In 68 relief appearances with the Red Sox, Brasier posted an 0–3 record with a 5.78 ERA and one save while striking out 64 batters in 62+1⁄3 innings.[24]
On January 13, 2023, the Red Sox and Brasier reached agreement on another one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.[31] He struggled in 2023, as he worked to a 7.29 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 20 relief appearances.[24] On May 14, Brasier was designated for assignment by Boston, hours after he allowed three runs in a relief appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park.[32][33] Following the roster move, Brasier told reporters, "Honestly, a new start might not be bad. Obviously getting to play at Fenway every day is a dream come true. Two parks you want to play at growing up are Yankee Stadium and Fenway. And I got to do both a lot. So grateful.”[34] He was released by the team on May 21.[35]
Los Angeles Dodgers
On June 5, 2023, Brasier signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.[36] He made two scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers before he was selected to the major league roster on June 20.[37] In the majors, he pitched in 38+2⁄3 innings over 39 games, with an 0.70 ERA[24] while also allowing one run in 2+1⁄3 innings in the 2023 NLDS.[24]
The Dodgers re-signed Brasier to a two-year, $9 million contract on February 8, 2024.[38][39] He posted a 4.63 ERA in 12 games before he was placed on the injured list with a right calf strain on April 29.[40] Brasier was transferred to the 60–day injured list on June 13,[41] and activated on August 17.[42] Overall he pitched in 29 games, with a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings.[24] Brasier allowed two runs in 3+2⁄3 innings in the 2024 NLDS, two runs in 3+1⁄3 innings in the 2024 NLCS and one run in two innings in the 2024 World Series, which the Dodgers won.[24]
