JT Brubaker Discusses the Short Memory Needed in the Majors

ST. PETERSBURG – Between his time in college and his time in the minors, JT Brubaker earned a reputation as a big game pitcher.

Opening day starts. Championship games.

Now, he finds himself in the majors, where every game is a big game.

This is Brubaker’s third year as a starter in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation. In 15 starts so far, he has a 4.14 ERA, which is the best mark of his career, and in line with his career xFIP.

While covering the Pirates/Rays series last weekend, I had a chance to see Brubaker put up a quality start, giving up three runs in six innings. Brubaker did a great job of limiting damage and preventing things from spiraling out of control.

That’s what you’d expect from someone who showed a calm demeanor in the highest pressure situations in the minors.

“It’s short memory, and then its on to the next pitch,” Brubaker said of that “big game” ability. “I’ve always had to bring myself back, and not get too far ahead on a hitter, on how many pitches ahead I need to be.”

Brubaker gave the example of wanting to put a hitter away with a slider. Rather than focusing on the slider at the end of the plan, Brubaker almost forgets the slider, and focuses on each individual offering.

“I’ve got to focus on that one pitch, and then force him to make a decision,” said Brubaker. “And then if I do get to two strikes, I can go to the slider, or whatever I want to go to. It’s really moment by moment.”

Brubaker has had a few difficult outings this year, but he’s largely been consistent, going five or more innings on a routine basis. Some of those outings had him bouncing back from bad innings to quickly forget and give the Pirates a few more frames.

That is the type of starter you want filling out a rotation. Someone who will give you top of the rotation starts on a regular basis, and who also won’t blow up your bullpen when he has a bad outing.

In each case, Brubaker works with a short memory, and trust in his stuff.

“Really what it is, is you trusting your stuff. That’s what it comes down to,” said Brubaker. “Trust that the ball is going to do what the ball is supposed to do.”