Former Orioles reliever Brad Brach sits down with Ryan Ripken for a candid, no-filter conversation about life in the bullpen, AL East chaos, and why the current Orioles roster feels like the deepest in years. Now approaching 40 and still grinding in spring training, Brach gives an insider’s take on the mental and physical grind of relief pitching: unpredictable entries, the importance of defined roles (“pass the ball along”), building confidence, and why spring velocity dips are meaningless (Darren O’Day wisdom: focus on feel and health, not numbers).
He raves about new addition Pete Alonso—”what you see is what you get”—level-headed, power-packed, enjoys the game, and will absolutely thrive at Camden Yards with its short porch and passionate fans. Brach also praises Taylor Ward for adding consistent contact behind stars like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, calling the lineup one that can compete in the toughest division.
Brach relives wild AL East memories: games flipping in seconds (9-10 run leads blown, Starling Castro homers, Jose Bautista day-game bombs, Pablo Sandoval torments), no room to goof off, and the “dirty work” of relievers staying locked in during blowouts. He shares routines (sugar-free Red Bull in the 5th, stretch in the 6th-7th, scouting hitters/umps early), media handling (composing for generic answers after losses, walk-offs haunting years later), and optimism for Baltimore’s 2026 push.
A must-listen for Orioles fans and reliever junkies—real talk from a guy who lived it in orange and black.
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SOURCE: Ryan Ripken Media