In what was likely his final appearance of the 2024 season twenty-five year old LHP Braeden Fausnaught capped off what has been a very successful year with six scoreless innings for Reading on Tuesday night (9/11) against the Harrisburg Senators allowing just five hits to post his first AA level W.
It’s been a whirlwind past ten months of baseball for Braeden. He pitched for the Adelaide Giants in December and January in the Australian Baseball League producing a 4-2 regular season record along with a 2.53 ERA in 10 games (32 IP) helping the club win it’s second consecutive league championship (Braeden also pitched in two post season games - 4 scoreless frames). He broke spring training camp in March as a member of the High A level Jersey Shore BlueClaws and went 8-3 in 19 appearances (18 starts) recording a 3.65 ERA in 98.2 IP with 90 K’s and 32 walks. On 8/13/24 he was promoted to AA Reading and finished the season making five starts (27.1 IP) posting a 3.27 ERA with 32 K’s and 8 walks for the Fightins. From December thru September (Adelaide,Jersey Shore & Reading) he accumulated 162 innings pitched while posting a 14-8 win loss record and a 3.36 ERA with 159 strikeouts and 60 walks. 👀
Braeden was signed by the Phillies on 8/1/22 as an un-drafted free agent from West Chester University. He was pitching in the MLB Draft League for the Trenton Thunder when invited by the club to attend a workout - it went well and after the draft he was offered a contract. He’s from Danville, PA and grew up as a Phillies fan. I first met him at Carpenter Complex shortly after he signed, it was evident from our first conversation to those we’ve had thereafter that he is someone who works hard, takes nothing for granted and puts in a full effort to climb the ladder. He’s also got a great sense of humor and is a well regarded teammate.
His first appearance as a member of the organization was with the FCL Phillies where he appeared in two games in the 2022 season. The next spring he broke camp as a member of the Clearwater Threshers, in early May of ‘23 we saw him back at the complex working with the rehab group after being placed on the IL. Fortunately it was a short stint as he was reactivated on June 3rd and finished the year with the Threshers appearing in 24 games and posting a 4.57 ERA in 63 innings pitched.
Braeden is a battler on the mound - he features a fastball, cutter, slider and change-up. He is a pitch to contact hurler who produces outs with mix, consistency of delivery and arm slot along with good differentials in both pitch shape and velocity. A throwback to the “crafty left hander” description. He’s not intimidated by any situation and has both started and pitched in bulk relief. He told me this summer “my biggest learning as a pro is that you are never out of a count and making pitch to pitch adjustments is huge. I try to take it one pitch and game at a time and make the right adjustments as needed.”
I asked Braeden a few questions this morning - here’s our correspondence.
We share an alma mater in West Chester University - your journey to there was unique in that you were intending to go to Lee University in Tennessee after a stint at Hartford Community College - can you share how you got to West Chester?
“Getting to West Chester felt like a place I was called to be at and a journey of faith. After graduating from Danville High School I wasn’t planning on continuing to play baseball. However, I got rejected from the Smeal College of Business at Penn State and decided to take a baseball roster spot offered at Harford Community College in Maryland. After two years there and improving a lot I committed to Lee University but two days before I was to move in at school my father had a serious health complication/scare. I ended up being at Lee for three weeks before becoming unsettled and felt like I needed to be home to be there for my family. Academically I performed horribly attending remotely that semester but I was home to take my dad to appointments so my mom could work. For baseball I played catch with a close friend from high school (we last played together in little league) and transferred that fall/spring to WCU where I played for two and a half years before signing with the Phillies in 2022.”
You signed as an un-drafted free agent after playing for the Trenton Thunder in the draft league - what was that process like?
“Playing at Trenton was an awesome experience, it was eye opening from a professional standpoint. Learning some professional parts of baseball, little nuance pieces of the game that everyone learns in their own time. Clubhouse things, dugout things, teammate things. Getting to talk to very talented players, knowledgeable coaches, and work with them to get better. It was nerve racking for me during the draft week because I wasn’t sure what my chances were but I knew that to keep playing baseball was what I really wanted. Thursday, after the draft, I got a phone call at my local gym, RMS Studio, and was all in with the Phillies. I didn’t finish my lift that day and went to celebrate with my family!”
I first met you at the Clearwater Complex shortly after you signed - being a lifelong Phillies fan from Danville, PA how exciting was it to put on an official Phillies jersey as a member of the organization?
“Getting to the complex that first week felt right. It’s like baseball heaven. Submerged and surrounded by baseball, lots of impressive players and staff. Seeing everything in my locker and that jersey it was a dream realized and it felt like Christmas.”
What is a typical day like for you from your time in spring camp to days in season where you’re not pitching to game days? What is your off-season routine like?
“I have found a very good routine for myself throughout the week. Depending on my pitching schedule and amount of rest days it can vary the things that I do to be ready. I like to lift on game days and recover the following day, then figure out what I want to work on in my midweek bullpen. From there take care of what I need to do to be ready for my one game day that week. The off-season this year will look much different for me but I will work a plan out with the pitching staff in the organization to be ready for next season.”
Reaching the AA level is a milestone event in the development path - I was fortunate to be there in Reading to watch your debut but the stands were full of friends and family there to support you - how special was that to pitch in front of them in such a storied ballpark and minor league affiliate?
“I was grateful to get the call up to Reading. And it’s hard to put into words how much it means having family and friends at every start I’ve had. I didn’t have a start this year where I didn’t have people on the pass list. All year being in this region of the country gave my family the ability to watch me pitch and in this game not knowing where the future can take you it’s something that they or I will never take for granted. I rely heavily on my support system and they do a lot for me. It’s very special. Requesting 30 tickets for that first game at Reading was awesome and talking to my dad afterwards - he was filling me in on everyone he saw. I greatly appreciate the love and support from friends and family.”
It’s been a busy but very successful year for you - a championship in Australia, breaking spring camp with Jersey Shore, a promotion to Reading and most importantly an engagement to your now fiancé Nicole. Last night in your last outing you threw six shutout innings and posted your first AA level win. Are there any particular highlights to the season that have stood out?
“Getting engaged to Nicole is the biggest highlight and standout occasion of the year. I also made a lot of great friends, guys that I will be friends with for the rest of my life. Experiencing Australia and the ABL, a fun experience from there was when Nicole and I got to feed kangaroos and hold a koala bear. I’ve learned so much from playing in Jersey and these last few weeks in Reading. Having some great outings, watching a lot of good baseball and shaking a lot of hands after wins to getting called up to Reading and being able to have family at games. Learning new levels of the game. It’s been a great year.”
The Phillies player development group has a “Protect the Standard” mantra - what does the charter mean to you and what have been your impressions of the organization thus far including the facilities at Clearwater, Lakewood and Reading?
“Protect the Standard to me means that we as professionals know how to do things and do them the right way everytime, not sometimes, not only when we feel like it, but everytime. Tired, don’t feel good, don’t want to that day, it doesn’t matter. The standard was set by others before us and we are expected to do our job. Having blue collar parents helps me with that I think. And the organization has done a great job by setting an expectation and holding it. The facilities have everything you need to perform your best. Clearwater is awesome, Lakewood has character and Reading is incredible.”
Are you a goal setter? If so what are your expectations for the 2025 season?
“I used to be more of a goal setter, I still am, but now I’m more processed driven than goal focused. My expectation for 2025 is to not get ahead of myself and continue taking it one day at a time. I want to continue to live with gratitude even in times where I feel I have to endure.”
Thanks to Braeden for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish him continuing success and great happiness and joy to both him and Nicole in their future together.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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