Jacob Steven Brentz (born September 14, 1994) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

who is a free agent. He was drafted in the 11th round of the

2013 MLB draft The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. Each team received one selection per round, going in reverse order of t ...

by the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

and made his

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) debut in 2021 for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

Career

Toronto Blue Jays

Brentz attended Parkway South High School in

Manchester, Missouri Manchester is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 18,333 at the 2020 census. History Manchester was named by an English settler after Manchester, England. It was incorporated as a village in 1950 and then r ...

. The

drafted him in the 11th round of the

2013 Major League Baseball draft The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. Each team received one selection per round, going in reverse order of ...

. On July 12, 2013, Brentz signed with the Blue Jays. Brentz made his professional season with the rookie-level

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays The Florida Complex League Blue Jays are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. The team plays its ...

Seattle Mariners

On July 31, 2015, the Blue Jays traded Brentz, Rob Rasmussen, and Nick Wells to the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

in exchange for

Mark Lowe Mark Christopher Lowe (born June 7, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, ...

. He finished the season with the Low-A

Everett AquaSox The Everett AquaSox are a Minor League Baseball team in Everett, Washington. The team is a member of the Northwest League and is the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The AquaSox play their home games at Funko Field, which has a seatin ...

. In 2016, Brentz split the season between Everett and the Single-A

Clinton LumberKings The Clinton LumberKings are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Clinton, Iowa, and play their home games at NelsonCorp Field. From 1956 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Midwest Leag ...

, also appearing in two games for the Triple-A

Tacoma Rainiers The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, ...

. In 20 appearances (7 starts) for the three affiliates, he posted a cumulative 4-2 record and 5.32 ERA with 50 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On September 1, 2016, the Mariners traded Brentz and Pedro Vasquez to the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

in exchange for

Arquimedes Caminero Arquímedes Euclides Caminero Ordóñez (born June 16, 1987) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, and Seattle Mariners. He also played in Nippo ...

. Brentz split the 2017 and 2018 season between the High-A

Bradenton Marauders The Bradenton Marauders are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Bradenton, Florida, and play their home games at LECOM Park, which also serves as the ...

and Double-A

Altoona Curve The Altoona Curve are a Minor League Baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve (but also alluding to the curveball, a type of pitch). The team plays in the Eastern League and is the Double-A affiliate of ...

. Brentz started the 2019 season with Altoona before being promoted to the Triple-A

Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...

. On August 16, 2019, the Pirates released Brentz.

Kansas City Royals

On August 20, 2019, Brentz signed a minor league contract with the

organization. He finished the 2019 season with the Double-A

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas, Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. T ...

, hurling innings of 3.38 ERA ball with 8.4 K/9. On July 19, 2020, Brentz was added to the Royals 60-man player pool, a replacement for the minor leagues due to the cancellation of the

Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

season because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. Brentz was invited to spring training for the Royals in 2021. On April 1, 2021, Brentz had his contract selected to the

40-man roster A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, an ...

, and it was announced that he had made the Royals

Opening Day Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent year ...

roster. On April 3, Brentz made his MLB debut in relief against the Texas Rangers, pitching a scoreless 2/3 inning and notching his first major league strikeout, striking out Rangers first baseman

Nathaniel Lowe David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. ( ; born July 7, 1995) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers. He made his ...

. Brentz began the 2022 season with Kansas City, posting a 0–3 record and 23.63 ERA with nine strikeouts in eight appearances. On June 12, 2022, Brentz was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left flexor strain. He underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...

on July 21, ending his season. On November 15, Brentz was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

by the Royals. On November 18, it was announced that the Royals would not tender Brentz a contract for the 2023 season, making him a free agent. On March 16, 2023, Brentz signed a two-year contract with the Royals. On August 14, he began a rehab assignment with the rookie–level

Arizona Complex League Royals The Arizona Complex League Royals are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. The team is compose ...

. On August 22, his assignment was moved to Double–A, however he was removed three days later for an unspecified reason. The same day, Brentz was diagnosed with a left lat strain that would end his season prematurely. Brentz began the 2024 season in the minor leagues, and struggled to a 12.71 ERA in 20 appearances split between Northwest Arkansas and the Triple–A

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...

. He was

by the Royals on June 24, 2024. Brentz cleared waivers and was sent outright to Omaha on June 28. He elected free agency on October 11.

Kansas City Monarchs

On December 7, 2024, Brentz signed a minor league contract with the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

. He was released prior to the start of the season on March 13, 2025. On April 15, 2025, Brentz signed with the

Kansas City Monarchs The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri, and owned by J. L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 193 ...

of the

American Association of Professional Baseball The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor ...

. In 13 appearances for the Monarchs, Brentz logged a 1-1 record and 4.38 ERA with 17 strikeouts and one save across innings pitched.

Chicago Cubs

On June 15, 2025, Brentz's contract was purchased by the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

organization. He was released on July 28.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-07-28

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brentz, Jake 1994 births Living people Altoona Curve players Arizona Complex League Cubs players Arizona Complex League Royals players Baseball players from St. Louis County, Missouri Bluefield Blue Jays players Bradenton Marauders players 21st-century American sportsmen Clinton LumberKings players Everett AquaSox players Gulf Coast Blue Jays players Indianapolis Indians players Kansas City Monarchs (American Association) players Kansas City Royals players Knoxville Smokies players Major League Baseball pitchers Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Omaha Storm Chasers players People from Ballwin, Missouri Tacoma Rainiers players