Former Freehold Township/Monmouth University standout Brad Brach, a reliever, realized a dream late on Tuesday night when he was called up to the San Diego Padres from Class AAA Tucson (Ariz.). Brach beat the odds as he was a 42nd-round pick of the Padres out of Monmouth in 2008. He is flying to Los Angeles from Tacoma (Wash.) to join the Padres in their series against the Dodgers, which continues on Wednesday night.
Brach has excelled as the top closer in San Diego’s system. Between AA and AAA this season, Brach was 3-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 67 appearances and 94 strikeouts over 71 2/3 innings with 34 saves, one of the top totals in the minors. Brach is one of two members of his family in professional baseball, as his younger brother, Brett, also a pitcher, was drafted the Indians in the 10th round in 2009.
Brach becomes the second former Shore Conference player to reach the big leagues this season, joining former Toms River South/Rutgers star Todd Frazier, who has played 27 games at third base thus far for the Cincinnati Reds.
Tags: Brad Brach, Freehold Township, Padres
