Bresnahan didn’t spend much time on the showcase circuit as a Washington high schooler, which contributed to him lasting 398 picks in the 2023 Draft before the Guardians paid him fifth-round money ($375,000) in the 13th round. He has won pitcher of the year honors in each of his two full pro seasons, doing so in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in 2024 and the Single-A California League last summer. Acquired in a deal for Alex Cobb at the 2024 Trade Deadline, Bresnahan permitted just 11 earned runs in his final 13 starts in the Cal League.
His fastball sits at 91-94 mph and touches 96, fairly ordinary velocity, but it works as a plus pitch because it has huge induced vertical break and he creates a lot of extension. Bresnahan scrapped a regular changeup for a mid-80s kick change that grades even better than his heater thanks to nasty depth. Single-A hitters couldn't stop swinging under his heater and over his cambio.
While Bresnahan's low-80s slider shows flashes of becoming a solid pitch, it's not as consistent or effective as his other two offerings. He gets plenty of strikes with all of his pitches, yet somehow walked 11 percent of the batters he faced in 2025. His control should improve as he continues to add strength to his 6-foot-4 frame, as should his stuff, which should make him a mid-rotation starter.
Relatively unheralded as a Washington high schooler because he wasn't a regular on the showcase circuit, Bresnahan lasted 398 picks in the 2023 Draft before signing with the Guardians for fifth-round money ($375,000). He pitched four innings that summer before getting his first extended taste of pro ball in 2024, when he led the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League with 63 strikeouts in 46 innings and was named its pitcher of the year. Shipped to the Giants for Alex Cobb at the Trade Deadline, he looked tired while finishing the season in Single-A.
Bresnahan added fastball velocity in his first full year as a pro, operating at 91-94 mph and touching 96 with riding action that enticed a lot of chases in the ACL. His best secondary pitch is a mid-80s changeup with significant fade when it's on, though he's still learning to throw it for strikes. His low-80s slider has some sweeping action and has gained consistency in 2025.
Bresnahan uses his 6-foot-4 frame and athleticism to move down the mound well and create a lot of extension in his delivery. The next step will be to add more muscle to his projectable build so he can maintain his stuff and mechanics over the course of a long pro season. He has the ceiling of at least a No. 4 starter, perhaps more if his pitches add more power as he gains strength.
Bresnahan attended few showcase events, so he was relatively unheralded when the Guardians drafted him in the 13th round out of a Washington high school in 2023 and signed him away from an Oregon commitment for $375,000, the equivalent of fifth-round money. After pitching briefly last summer, he led the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League with 63 strikeouts in 46 innings this year. The Giants acquired him in July along with a player to be named in exchange for Alex Cobb.
Bresnahan's fastball has added about 2 mph since he turned pro, now sitting at 91-93 mph and touching 95, and he should gain more velocity as he fills out his 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame. His heater dominated ACL hitters because it has quality ride and chase characteristics. Both of his low-80s secondary pitches show promise, a tight slider and a changeup with significant fade.
Using his size and athleticism, Bresnahan creates extension that allows his pitchers to get on hitters more quickly than they expect. He repeats his delivery and provides regular strikes, giving him the look of a three-pitch lefty starter. He's a potential No. 4 starter with more upside to come if his fastball gains more steam and he refines his slider and changeup.
