Aaron Ashby made his spring training debut in the Milwaukee Brewers' 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers, pitching two scoreless innings. The 27-year-old left-hander, who served as an opener in last year's playoffs, emphasized his willingness to fill any role on the staff this season. With the Brewers' rotation lacking experience, flexibility is key for pitchers like Ashby.
In Surprise, Arizona, Aaron Ashby took the mound early in the Brewers' spring training schedule, marking his debut in Thursday's game against the Rangers at Surprise Stadium. He allowed three hits and a walk but kept the score off the board over two innings, contributing to the 5-1 win.
Ashby, who appeared in seven of the Brewers' nine postseason games last October during the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs and the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, reflected on his playoff experience. He started Games 1 and 3 against the Dodgers and relieved in Game 2. "It was a learning experience," Ashby said. "I don’t think that I executed to the ability that I could have, or that the team needed me to. That part sticks out the most to me."
Facing challenges like Shohei Ohtani in the NLCS, Ashby noted the value of high-pressure preparation. "But knowing what that feels like when it’s the biggest moment of the season, that helps me control the emotions of it," he added. "You know how to dial it in. Just, like, not doing too much, but falling back on your preparation instead."
The Brewers' pitching staff enters 2026 with limited veteran starters, as Brandon Woodruff is the only rotation candidate with at least two years of Major League service. Ashby, who has shifted between starting and relieving due to injuries—including an oblique issue last year—provided length in 27 of his 43 outings last season, with his longest stint at 3 2/3 innings.
Manager Pat Murphy praised Ashby's adaptability. "He’s a super valuable guy," Murphy said. "And he loves to throw. Building him up [this spring] is necessary because he could be an insertion [to the starting rotation] at any time. When he’s opening a game, you don’t know whether he’s going to go three innings or if he’s going to go one."
The team has adopted a cautious approach to early spring workloads, prioritizing simulated games for key arms like Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski. Ashby appreciated the strategy: "We have less game reps," he said. "But not less reps."
Having honed a reliever's routine—ready to pitch in as little as 90 seconds—Ashby underscored the importance of depth. "I think last year we saw that you need starting pitching," he said. "We had an abundance of starting pitchers last year, and then you get to the middle of the season, and, holy [bleep], we don’t have any starting pitching. So it’s always extraordinarily valuable to have guys built up."
Ashby remains open to any assignment, stating his body feels good and recovery is strong.
