Turning 24-year-old today, the right-handed Marlins reliever had racked up a 1.831 WHIP over his first four collegiate season, three with the North Carolina State Wolfpack and one with the Liberty University Flames.
Evan Brabrand‘s fifth collegiate season would see him turn a corner pitching with Liberty. In 57 2/3 innings out of the bullpen over 24 games, he struck out 62 and held the opposition to a 0.971 WHIP. Brabrand was 4-2 with a 1.56 ERA in his final season with the Flames. When the Marlins came up in the ninth round with the 261st overall pick, they took a flyer on the 6-foot-3 northpaw.