Aaron Ashby Is Leading All of Baseball in Wins and Nobody Expected a Reliever to Do This

Milwaukee is witnessing something that hasn't happened in over a century: a relief pitcher is dominating the wins column in ways that break the entire modern record book. Aaron Ashby is 7-0 with seven wins through a quarter of the season, leading Major League Baseball in victories. The kicker? He's a reliever. This shouldn't be possible, but here we are.

Teammates are already calling him "the vulture." Reliever Chad Patrick broke into a smile when dropping the nickname in the clubhouse, bringing back memories of the last Brewers pitcher who heard those bird calls regularly. Ashby's seven wins as a relief pitcher is historic because no pitcher who has made at least 80 percent of his appearances in relief has ever led MLB in wins since the Modern Era kicked off in 1901.

The Only Relief Pitcher Who Came Close Was a Pirate From 1959

To understand how rare this is, you need to dig into the history books. Elroy Face went 18-1 for the 1959 Pirates without a single start, setting the modern single season record for wins in relief. He never led the league. The closest thing to a precedent came in 1960, when Ernie Broglio tied Milwaukee Braves pitcher Warren Spahn for the MLB lead with 21 wins while making 28 relief appearances and 24 starts. He was the most reliever-ish pitcher to ever lead the league.

Then there's the original vulture himself: Phil Regan. Sandy Koufax gave him that nickname while Regan was going 14-1 with 21 saves for the 1966 Dodgers. In Milwaukee specifically, the club record belongs to Jim Slaton, who went 14-6 with 46 appearances and zero starts back in 1983. Ashby is approaching territory that belongs to legends.

Ashby Is Refusing to Take Credit for the Record

Here's what makes this even more interesting: Ashby isn't buying into the narrative. He's sitting at 7-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 19 appearances, including one start as an opener. But when asked about leading baseball in wins, he deflected.

"I really don't know how to describe it," Ashby said. "It's just one of those things. I think I feel good that I haven't come in with the lead, given up the lead, and then we take the lead back. Like, taking a win away from the starter. That's a really lousy way to get a win. It's a weird thing. I'm sure people are maybe paying attention, but it doesn't feel like something worth paying attention to."

Brent Suter, the last Brewers pitcher to hear "vulture" thrown around, was equally humble when he went 12-5 in nine starts and 52 relief appearances for the 2011 Brewers. He pushed back against the label at first, but eventually gave in and wore a T shirt with a vulture on it.

How Ashby Bounced Back From Injury to Become Milwaukee's Most Valuable Arm

Ashby's path to this moment hasn't been straightforward. He made his Major League debut in 2021 and signed a five year, $20.5 million contract extension in July 2022 that runs through the 2027 season and includes club options for 2028 and 2029. A shoulder injury completely altered his trajectory. Instead of becoming a mainstay in Milwaukee's rotation, he bounced between roles after returning healthy in 2024.

Manager Pat Murphy remembers being at the Brewers' facility early in 2024, between fantasy camp and big league camp. Through the dining hall windows, he spotted someone playing catch in the farthest corner of the agility field. "I watched this guy, a left hander, kind of barely getting it out," Murphy said. "I thought, 'Why would they let the fantasy campers still work out here? Fantasy camp is over.' But it was Ashby. I professed this: 'He will never help us this year.' And he did, and he was extremely valuable last year. It

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.