Rex Brothers
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1987)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Rex Brothers
|image = Rex Brothers 49 Pitching Set.jpg
|image_size = 250
|caption = Brothers with the Colorado Rockies
|team =
|number =
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|12|18}}
|birth_place = Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = June 6
|debutyear = 2011
|debutteam = Colorado Rockies
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate = September 30
|finalyear = 2021
|finalteam = Chicago Cubs
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 23–16
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 4.08
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 394
|teams =
- Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2015}})
- Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2018}})
- Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})
}}
Rex Colman Brothers (born December 18, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. After playing college baseball at Lipscomb University, Brothers was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 2009 MLB draft. He debuted with the Rockies in 2011 and played for them until 2015. He also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
College
After graduating from Shelbyville Central High School in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Brothers played baseball for Lipscomb University. In 2007, he was named conference Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore in 2008, he helped the team make its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.Young, Travis. [http://www.lipscombsports.com/baseball/news/2010-11/6380/bisons-in-the-pros-rex-brothers/ "Bisons in the pros; Rex Brothers"]. lipscombsports.com. May 16, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2013. The following season, he had a school-record 132 strikeouts.[http://www.lipscomb.edu/www/Filter/Item/0/15799 "Brothers selected by Rockies in MLB draft"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123131312/http://www.lipscomb.edu/www/filter/item/0/15799 |date=November 23, 2015 }}. lipscomb.edu. Retrieved March 28, 2013. In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 2008 to play for the Falmouth Commodores.{{Cite web |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2007&T=cotuit%20kettleers |title=2007 Cotuit Kettleers |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |access-date=September 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2008&T=Falmouth_Commodores |title=2008 Falmouth Commodores |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |access-date=September 23, 2021}}
Professional career
=Colorado Rockies=
Brothers was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft, and he signed with the team on July 9.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brothre01.shtml "Rex Brothers Statistics and History"]. baseball-reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013. He then spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons in the minor leagues.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brothe001rex "Rex Brothers Minor League Statistics & History"]. baseball-reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013. In 2011, Brothers made his major league debut with the Rockies on June 6. He finished the season with a 1–2 win–loss record, a 2.88 earned run average (ERA), and 59 strikeouts in {{frac|40|2|3}} innings in the majors. In 2012, he went 8–2 with a 3.86 ERA and 83 strikeouts in {{frac|67|2|3}} innings.
On June 14, 2014, in a 5–4 win over the San Francisco Giants, Brothers struck out all three batters of the eighth inning on nine total pitches, becoming the 71st pitcher in major-league history to throw an immaculate inning.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml|title=Immaculate Innings: 9 Pitches – 9 Strikes – 3 Outs|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=April 28, 2013}} It was also the first immaculate inning in Rockies franchise history and the first at AT&T Park.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} In 2014, he went 4–6 with a 5.59 ERA and 55 strikeouts in {{frac|56|1|3}} innings.
Brothers was designated for assignment by the Rockies on November 20, 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=14180920 |title=Rockies designate Axford, Rosario for assignment |date=November 20, 2015 |access-date=November 21, 2015 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}
=Chicago Cubs=
On November 25, 2015, Brothers was traded to the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Wander Cabrera.{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2015/11/25/rex-brothers-traded-by-rockies-to-cubs-for-teen-prospect/ |title=Rex Brothers traded by Rockies to Cubs for teen prospect |last=Groke |first=Nick |date=November 25, 2016 |work=Denver Post |access-date=February 6, 2017}} He was released on March 10, 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-release-reliever-rex-brothers-20160310-story.html |title=Cubs release reliever Rex Brothers |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=March 10, 2016 |website=chicagotribune.com |access-date=March 12, 2016}}
=Atlanta Braves=
On February 3, 2017, after not pitching in baseball in 2016, Brothers signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.{{cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-sign-lefty-rex-brothers-minor-league-contract/PjQnZUXPGDLdCF7u9WBnOL/ |title=Braves sign lefty Rex Brothers to minor league contract |last=O'Brien |first=David |date=February 3, 2017 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=February 6, 2017}} On June 29, the Braves promoted Brothers to the major leagues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19768092/atlanta-braves-designate-bartolo-colon-assignment|title=Braves designate Colon, 44, for assignment|date=29 June 2017}} He made 27 appearances, accumulating an ERA of 7.23 in {{frac|23|2|3}} innings. He agreed to a one-year deal with the Braves for the 2018 season in November 2017.{{cite news |url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/262672894/braves-sign-rex-brothers-to-1-year-deal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201172021/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/262672894/braves-sign-rex-brothers-to-1-year-deal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |title=Brothers agrees to 1-year deal with Braves |last=DiComo |first=Anthony |date=December 2, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |work=MLB.com}} He was outrighted to the Gwinnett Stripers on April 25, 2018. He became a free agent at the end of the season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/10/players-electing-free-agency.html |title=Players Electing Free Agency |last=Todd |first=Jeff |date=October 8, 2018 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |access-date=October 9, 2018}}
=New York Yankees=
On December 17, 2018, Brothers signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2018/12/18/yankees-take-flier-on-rex-brothers-as-bullpen-wild-card/ |title=Yankees take flier on Rex Brothers as bullpen wild card |last=Sanchez |first=Mark |date=December 18, 2018 |work=New York Post |access-date=December 18, 2018}} He received an invitation to spring training in 2019 as a non-roster player in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/new-york-yankees-invite-estevan-florial-to-spring-training-camp-303432554|title = Yankees invite Florial to spring camp}} In 36 appearances split between the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Low–A Staten Island Yankees, he accumulated a 4.62 ERA with 88 strikeouts across {{fraction|48|2|3}} innings pitched. Brothers elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/ |title=Minor League Free Agents 2019 |last=Matt Eddy |date=November 7, 2019 |website=Baseball America |access-date=November 7, 2019}}
=Chicago Cubs (second stint)=
On December 18, 2019, Brothers signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. On July 23, 2020 the Cubs selected Brothers's contract, adding him to their active roster.{{Cite web|title=Cubs Select Phegley & Brothers, Designate Robel Garcia; Zaguns Opts Out|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/07/cubs-select-phegley-zaguns-opts-out.html|access-date=November 7, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 23, 2020 |language=en}} In 3 games, he struggled to an 8.10 ERA with 8 strikeouts over {{fraction|3|1|3}} innings pitched. On October 30, Brothers was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 10/30/20|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/minor-mlb-transactions-103020.html|access-date=November 7, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=October 30, 2020 |language=en}}
Later in the offseason, Brothers re-signed with the Cubs organization on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/cubs-sign-rex-brothers-joe-biagini-nick-martini.html|title = Cubs Sign Rex Brothers, Joe Biagini, Nick Martini| date=February 4, 2021 }} On March 28, 2021, Brothers was selected to the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/cubs-select-three-contracts-designate-ildemaro-vargas.html|title = Cubs Select Three Contracts, Designate Ildemaro Vargas| date=March 28, 2021 }} In 57 games for the Cubs, Brothers posted a 5.26 ERA/4.87 FIP, struck out 75 batters, and earned one save across 53 innings. He was outrighted by the team on November 5, and elected free agency.{{Cite tweet| user=M_Montemurro |last=Montemurro |first=Meghan |number=1457510412686090242 |title = Yeah they're at 35. Brothers was outrighted and elected free agency Friday. It's not updated yet on Cubs site}}
=Milwaukee Brewers=
On December 1, 2021, Brothers signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.{{cite news|title=Brewers Sign Rex Brothers To Minor League Deal|last=McDonald|first=Darragh|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/brewers-sign-rex-brothers-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=December 1, 2021|date=December 1, 2021|publisher=MLB Trade Rumors}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to begin the 2022 season. Brothers struggled immensely to the tune of a 17.36 ERA in 7 appearances for Nashville before he was released by the Brewers on May 3, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/rex-brothers-571521|title=Rex Brothers Stats, Fantasy & News|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 3, 2022}}
On February 9, 2023, Brothers announced his retirement from professional baseball via his Instagram.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cod2rgqO8ZA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= | title=REX BROTHERS on Instagram: ""It's been quite a party ain't it?" - Lonesome Dove I will always love the game of baseball." }}
Personal life
Brothers has one brother, Hunter, and one sister, Cortney. Hunter also pitched at Lipscomb and was drafted by the Rockies in the 30th round of the 2014 MLB draft, playing two seasons in the minor leagues.{{Cite web|url=https://lipscombsports.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-brothers/2117|title = Hunter Brothers - 2014 - Baseball}}
Brothers and his wife, Jill, have three sons and a daughter, and reside in Tennessee during the off-season.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CRwzxqGhxX4/ | title=Jill Brothers on Instagram: "Happy 🌞Sunday 🤍🤟🏼 ⚾️" }}{{cite tweet|number=651843879445073921|user=RexCBrothers|title=You know you're home when your wife orders sweet tea and fried pickles! #Tennessee|date=7 October 2015}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=571521|espn=31083|br=b/brothre01|fangraphs=9794|brm=brothe001rex}}
{{2009 MLB Draft}}
{{Colorado Rockies first-round draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brothers, Rex}}
Category:Baseball players from Tennessee
Category:Sportspeople from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Colorado Rockies players
Category:Atlanta Braves players
Category:Lipscomb Bisons baseball players
Category:Cotuit Kettleers players
Category:Falmouth Commodores players
Category:Tri-City Dust Devils players
Category:Asheville Tourists players
Category:Scottsdale Scorpions players
Category:Tulsa Drillers players
Category:Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Category:Albuquerque Isotopes players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Mississippi Braves players
Category:Gwinnett Braves players
Category:Gwinnett Stripers players