Anchorage’s Brody Jessee. Photo courtesy of Phrake Photography.
Anchorage’s Brody Jessee probably doesn’t want July to end because he’s been marvelous this month.
The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher owns an outstanding 1.08 ERA in July and earned his first career win this week for the Daytona Tortugas of the Single-A Florida State League.
Jessee moved to 1-0 on the season after earning the decision in a 5-2 victory Sunday over the Jupiter Hammerheads following his 2.2 innings of work. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three.
The 6-foot-4 reliever from South High was summoned from the bullpen in the third inning with his team trailing 2-1. He retired the first batter he faced with a runner in scoring position to end the threat.
Jessee got out of the next two innings with a little help from his friends.
In the fourth, catcher Juan Garcia erased a runner with a caught stealing. In the fifth, second baseman Johnny Ascanio chopped down a runner at the plate.
Jessee was back on the mound last night in an 8-2 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, giving up a run in his only inning of action to snap his 8.0-inning scoreless streak.
That’s the longest stretch he’s gone without giving up a run, bettering his 6.2-inning run earlier this year.
The 2022 10th round draft pick out of Gonzaga had missed two months of the season due to a stint on the DL before returning to the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system June 6.
Since then, the second-year pro has made 11 appearances and posted a 2.12 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 17 innings. Opponents are batting .196 against him.
Jessee became the 18th Alaska pitcher all-time to pick up a win at the pro level, the first to do so for an MLB affiliated team since 2018, when Juneau’s Dylan Baker secured a win for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.
