Colten Brewer

Colten Bradley Brewer (born October 29, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. Listed at 230 lb and 6 ft, Brewer both throws and bats right-handed.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Brewer attended Canton High School in Canton, Texas. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Brewer in the fourth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed. Brewer made his professional debut in 2012 with the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Pirates, where he had a 1–3 win–loss record with a 3.24 earned run average (ERA) in eight games played (six games started). He began 2013 with the Low–A Jamestown Jammers, but played in only three games due to injury, and subsequently missed all of the 2014 season. In 2015, Brewer pitched for the Single–A West Virginia Power where he was 5–9 with a 4.90 ERA in 22 starts. In 2016, he played with the High–A Bradenton Marauders where he pitched to a 3–7 record with a 4.09 ERA in 18 games (13 starts).

New York Yankees
On December 6, 2016, the New York Yankees selected Brewer from the Pirates in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He split the 2017 season between the High–A Tampa Yankees, Double–A Trenton Thunder, and Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. In 41 relief appearances between the three affiliates, Brewer was 3–1 with a 2.82 ERA and 69 strikeouts in $62 2⁄3$ innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.

San Diego Padres
On November 22, 2017, Brewer signed a major league contract with the San Diego Padres. He began 2018 with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego called up Brewer to the major leagues on April 12, 2018, and he made his debut that same night at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants. He was optioned back to El Paso the next day, and made additional appearances with the Padres during the latter half of the season. Overall, Brewer made 11 relief appearances for San Diego, recording a 1–0 record with 5.59 ERA and 10 strikeouts in $9 2/3$ innings.

Boston Red Sox
On November 20, 2018, the Padres traded Brewer to the Boston Red Sox for Esteban Quiroz. Brewer was included on Boston's Opening Day roster to start the 2019 season. On May 26, Brewer was optioned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox; to that point in the season, he had made 20 relief appearances, recording a 5.32 ERA and 0–2 record with 21 strikeouts in 22 innings. He was recalled to Boston on May 29, spending all of June and July with the Red Sox, until being optioned back to Pawtucket on August 4. Brewer was recalled to Boston on September 4, following the end of the Triple-A season. Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Brewer appeared in 58 games, compiling a 1–2 record with 4.12 ERA and 52 strikeouts in $54 2/3$ innings.

On March 26, 2020, the team optioned Brewer to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He was recalled to Boston on July 23, in advance of the delayed start of the season. Brewer was placed on the 10-day injured list on September 3; he was transferred to the 45-day injured list on September 11. With the 2020 Red Sox, Brewer appeared in 11 games (four starts), compiling an 0–3 record with 5.61 ERA while striking out 25 batters in $25 2/3$ innings.

In March 2021, Brewer was optioned to Boston's alternate training site near the end of spring training. After opening the season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox, he was added to Boston's active roster on May 28. In one appearance with Boston, Brewer allowed four runs in one inning pitched. On June 3, he was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster for Brandon Workman. Brewer was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester on June 7. In 11 relief appearances with Worcester, he had a 4.00 ERA while striking out 18 batters in 18 innings. Brewer became a free agent following the season.

Kansas City Royals
On January 24, 2022, Brewer signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He was released on August 3, 2022.

New York Yankees (second stint)
On December 15, 2022, Brewer signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

The New York Yankees acquired Brewer from the Rays for cash considerations on March 30, 2023, and added him to the active roster on April 1. He made 3 appearances for New York, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts in 8$1⁄3$ innings pitched. The Yankees designated Brewer for assignment on April 14. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on April 17. In 15 games for Scranton, he logged a 1.35 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched. Brewer was released by the Yankees organization on July 7, so he could sign with a team in Japan.

Hanshin Tigers
On July 9, 2023, Brewer signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 13 games for Hanshin, Brewer pitched to a 2.38 ERA with 14 strikeouts across $11 1⁄3$ innings of work.

Chicago Cubs
On December 31, 2023, Brewer signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs. He was assigned to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, for whom he posted a 1.17 ERA in 6 games. On April 17, 2024, the Cubs added Brewer to their major league roster. In 16 games, he logged a 5.66 ERA with 22 strikeouts. He punched the dugout wall in frustration and suffered a left hand fracture after allowing three runs (one earned), two hits, two walks and a hit batter in a $2/3$-inning relief outing in a 7–0 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels on July 6. He was placed on the 60–day injured list the following day.

Personal life
On December 11, 2020, Brewer married Theresa. On March 14, 2022, Brewer's son Case Bradley was born. On June 26, 2023, Brewer's son Beaux Hoss was born.