John Brebbia

John Fulboam Brebbia (born May 30, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, and Atlanta Braves.

Brebbia played college baseball for Elon University. The New York Yankees selected Brebbia in the 30th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut for the Cardinals in 2017, and pitched for them through 2019. He had Tommy John surgery in 2020. He played for the Giants from 2021 to 2023.

Early life and amateur career

Brebbia grew up in Sharon, Massachusetts and attended Sharon High School through his junior year. He transferred to Wellington High School in Wellington, Florida for his senior year to improve his chances of earning a college baseball scholarship. As a senior at Wellington, he had a 10–1 win–loss record, a 0.83 earned run average (ERA), and recorded an 18-strikeout game.

After high school, Brebbia attended Elon University where he was a pitcher for the Elon Phoenix. During his freshman year, Brebbia helped the Phoenix secure an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. In 2011, his junior year, he went 7–1 with a 1.76 ERA in 27 relief appearances. He was named First Team All-Southern Conference. In 2010 and 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Professional career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected Brebbia in the 30th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He signed and made his professional debut that same season with the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York-Penn League, where he was 0–1 with a 0.00 ERA in eight innings. He spent the 2012 season with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League and pitched to a 3–1 record with two saves and a 2.96 ERA in innings over 29 relief appearances. He spent 2013 with Charleston and the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League; he was a combined 0–5 with one save and a 4.06 ERA in innings pitched in relief. He was released by the organization on December 13, 2013.

Sioux Falls Canaries

On January 7, 2014, Brebbia signed with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. In 34 games with the Canaries, he pitched to a 3–2 record with one save and a 3.31 ERA, while striking out 10.5 batters/9 IP (5th-best in the league). Brebbia later said he rediscovered his love for the sport while pitching in the independent leagues. He also began growing his beard in 2014.

Laredo Lemurs

On December 22, 2014, Brebbia was traded to the Laredo Lemurs alongside AJ Kirby-Jones and Joe Testa for Byron Minnich, Harrison Kain, Jeremy Strawn, Josh Strawn, Tyler Pearson, Gerardo Avila, and cash. In 2015 with Laredo, Brebbia had a 7–2 record with a 0.98 ERA (second-best in the league), in 51 games (third-most), with 19 saves (third-best), an 0.762 WHIP (second-lowest), 4.8 hits per 9 innings (second-best), and 11.1 strikeouts per 9 innings (fourth-best).

St. Louis Cardinals

On September 21, 2015, Brebbia signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to the Double-A Mobile BayBears.

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Brebbia from the Diamondbacks in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the December 2015 Winter Meetings. In 2016, Brebbia played with both the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League and Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He was 5–5 with a 5.03 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 68 innings over 43 games.

Brebbia began the 2017 season with Memphis. There he was 1–1 with three saves, a 1.69 ERA and 29 strikeouts in innings pitched when the Cardinals promoted him to the major league on May 27, 2017. He made his major league debut against the Colorado Rockies on May 28 and remained with the Cardinals for the rest of the season. He finished his 2017 rookie campaign with a 2.44 ERA, 11 walks and 51 strikeouts in innings, and a 0.929 WHIP, leading all Major League rookie relievers in ERA and WHIP.

He began 2018 with Memphis but was recalled to St. Louis and optioned back to Memphis multiple times during the season. For Memphis, he was 2–0 with two saves, a 4.61 ERA and 24 strikeouts in innings. In 45 relief appearances for St. Louis, he was 3–3 with two saves and a 3.20 ERA, striking out 60 batters in innings pitched. On October 29, 2018, Brebbia was selected to the MLB All-Star team at the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series, pitching in three games in the series.

Brebbia returned to St. Louis' bullpen for in 2019. Over 66 appearances during the regular season he went 3–4 with a 3.59 ERA, striking out 87 batters over relief innings.

After first trying platelet-rich injection ( PRP) treatment for a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Brebbia underwent Tommy John surgery on June 1, 2020, causing him to miss the 2020 season. On December 2, Brebbia was non-tendered by the Cardinals. In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Brebbia had a 3.14 ERA, and 10.2 K/9.

San Francisco Giants

On December 21, 2020, Brebbia signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants. On February 17, 2021, Brebbia was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery. He was activated off of the injured list on June 20, recovering from Tommy John surgery faster than the normal 13–15 month recovery timeframe.

In the 2021 regular season for the Giants, Brebbia was 0–1 with a 5.89 ERA. He pitched 18.1 innings over 18 games. For the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he was 3–0 with a 2.93 ERA in 17 games (two starts) in which he pitched 15.1 innings. On November 30, Brebbia signed a $838,000 contract with the Giants, avoiding salary arbitration.

In 2022 with the Giants, Brebbia was 6–2 with a 3.18 ERA in 68 innings, as he pitched in a league-leading 76 games (11 starts).

On January 13, 2023, Brebbia agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million contract with the Giants, avoiding salary arbitration. He pitched in 29 games for San Francisco, posting a 3.14 ERA with 36 strikeouts, before he was placed on the injured list with a Grade 2 lat strain on June 17. On July 31, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Brebbia was activated from the injured list on September 5.

Chicago White Sox

On January 26, 2024, Brebbia signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. In 54 appearances for Chicago, he struggled to an 0–6 record and 6.29 ERA with 58 strikeouts over innings pitched. Brebbia was designated for assignment by the White Sox on August 27. He was released two days later.

Atlanta Braves

On August 31, 2024, Brebbia signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. The next day, he was subsequently selected to the team's major league roster. In 5 games for Atlanta, Brebbia posted a 2.70 ERA with 9 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Detroit Tigers

On February 12, 2025, Brebbia signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. He started the season with a 1.00 ERA in 8 appearances before being placed on the injured list on April 19 with a right forearm strain. In 19 appearances for Detroit, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with 20 strikeouts across innings pitched. On June 15, Brebbia was designated for assignment by the Tigers.

Pitching style

Brebbia throws a mid-90s fastball, an 80 mph slider, and occasionally a changeup.

Personal life

Brebbia's wife, Amanda, gave birth to their son in June 2019. They live in Smyrna, Georgia.

Brebbia enjoys using spreadsheets.

Brebbia shaves prior to each baseball season, then grows his beard during the season. He shaved off his beard in stages during the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brebbia, John
1990 births
Living people
Arizona Complex League Giants players
Atlanta Braves players
Baseball players from Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Charleston RiverDogs players
Charlotte Knights players
Chicago White Sox players
Detroit Tigers players
Elon Phoenix baseball players
Laredo Lemurs players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Mankato MoonDogs players
Memphis Redbirds players
Orleans Firebirds players
People from Sharon, Massachusetts
Sacramento River Cats players
San Francisco Giants players
Sioux Falls Canaries players
Springfield Cardinals players
St. Louis Cardinals players
Staten Island Yankees players
Tampa Yankees players
Toledo Mud Hens players