After long road, the left-handed Brady Feigl finally finds way to majors with Pirates

As Brady Feigl got familiar with his locker in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse, the 33-year-old left-handed reliever couldn’t explain how his journey finally brought him to the major leagues.

Feigl is famous for having a namesake who looks nearly identical but is more of a mirror image. They are almost the same size, but the other Brady is five years younger and a right-handed pitcher.

“It’s just a wild story, the fact that we both have the same name,” Feigl said. “I used to have a red beard, red hair, wear glasses. So, it’s just a weird thing.”

This Feigl is a 6-foot-4, 195-pounder who pitched in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers and spent two seasons playing independent baseball to keep his dream alive.

On Sunday, it came true as the Pirates selected Feigl’s contract from Triple-A Indianapolis. They needed a bullpen arm to replace right-hander Hunter Stratton, who ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee in Saturday’s 10-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park and was placed on the 60-day injured list.

“I think just knowing that when I was with the Braves and the Rangers, just knowing how close I was and just remembering how close I was and knowing I still have the ability to do it,” Feigl said. “Here I am.”

Feigl was 7-2 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.24 WHIP while averaging 10.8 strikeouts and 2.3 walks per nine innings in 51 2/3 innings over 33 appearances, including one start, at Indianapolis this season. In seven games this month, he had an 0.82 ERA and .167 batting average against with 14 strikeouts and three walks, though two were intentional.

“I feel like I get both lefties and righties out. I can go length. I can go short,” Feigl said. “Whatever I can do to help the team win.”

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mount St. Mary’s in 2013, Feigl has taken a long road to the majors. He went to spring training with the Braves in 2015 but stated the season in Triple-A and injured his elbow in his season debut and underwent Tommy John surgery.

Feigl was traded to the Rangers in December 2016 for Luke Jackson and pitched in their minor-league system before being selected by the San Diego Padres in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft. But he missed the 2020 season because of the covid pandemic and the following season because of injuries, then played in the independent Atlantic League, first for the Long Island Ducks then Frederick and Lexington.

Feigl was playing for Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League when the Pirates signed him to a minor-league contract in late January. Now he’s on the brink of making his major-league debut.

“Absolutely. That’s the cool thing about baseball. There’s no direct path,” Feigl said. “Everyone has their own different story. I’m just lucky to still be here.”

Feigl is hoping to prove to the Pirates that he was worth the wait.

“Just that I belong here,” Feigl said. “I’m going to try to make the most of my opportunity and do whatever I can to help this team win.”