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Know Your O’s: Brad Brach on the Padres, his wife’s music career, Springsteen and pizza

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In his three seasons in Baltimore, Brad Brach has not only become a key member of the Orioles’ bullpen, he’s become one of the best relievers in baseball.

Through his first 34 games this season, he allowed just five earned runs (1.05 ERA). As an Oriole, the 6-foot-6, 30-year-old right-hander is 17-5 with a 2.49 ERA in various bullpen roles.

His under-the-radar acquisition in November 2013 – the San Diego Padres traded him to the Orioles for minor leaguer Devin Jones, who is out of pro baseball – is one of the best moves of the Dan Duquette Era.

In this segment of “Know Your O’s,” Brach talks about his return to Petco Park this week for the first time since being traded by the Padres.

Brach was born and raised in Freehold, New Jersey. So it’s inevitable that we also would discuss pizza and Bruce Springsteen, Freehold’s most famous son.

The music discussion doesn’t end there, though. Brach and I talk about his favorite performer, pop-country singer/songwriter Jenae Cherry, Brach’s wife. The reliever tells the story about when he first met her in Nashville – it’s pretty funny, knowing his personality – and the song she wrote for him on their wedding day.

Brach reveals a little bit about his own musical career; he’s a recorded artist of sorts.

Take a look.

Dan Connolly

Dan Connolly has spent more than two decades as a print journalist in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Baltimore native and Calvert Hall graduate first covered the Orioles as a beat writer for the York (Pennsylvania) Daily Record in 2001 before becoming The Baltimore Sun’s national baseball writer/Orioles reporter in 2005. He has won multiple state and national writing awards, including several from the Associated Press Sports Editors. In 2013 he was named Maryland Co-Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. And in 2015, he authored his first book, "100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die." He lives in York, with his wife, Karen, and three children, Alex, Annie, and Grace.

View Comments

  • He's been a little shakey lately, but it is a long season. Bullpen is fun to watch.

    Would like to see Bundy throw a first pitch. What can it hurt? If he only goes 5 it's no different than anyone else. If he gets lit up early he's Ubaldo Bundy.

    • Shaky? Jeez. The guy has allowed 8 base runners and 2 runs while striking out 17 batters in 10 games in June. You're a tough critic. As for Bundy, given his injury history, they are bringing him along just fine. No need to rush his situation right now.

  • He is the reason I am glad they didn't try to keep Miller...just hope the back end doesn't get burnt out buy the front end inconsistency...don't wanna see more playoff bullpen "sadness"

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Dan Connolly

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