Drafted arm on the rise after breaking out as Nevada’s ace
Brainard’s 2026 season showed real starter value: he earned All-Mountain West First Team honors, went 5-4 with 68 strikeouts in 62.0 innings, and was especially sharp in conference play, where he posted a 2.77 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 39.0 innings. He also proved he can handle multiple roles, working both as a reliever and Friday starter. The big differentiator is his path and resilience—after junior college, Division II, and Tommy John surgery, he emerged as Nevada’s ace and was drafted by the Rangers in the sixth round, which speaks to a pro-ready competitive edge.[2][4][5]
