You have probably heard it before—another Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect simply killing it in the minors. Their development system has been spot on with one standout after another. They have given MLB a goldmine of players, from Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, and Logan Henderson. And adding his name to that list is 22-year-old right-hander Ryan Birchard.

He was drafted in the fifth round out of Niagara County Community College in 2023. And he was the highest pick in the school’s history! Now, Birchard has quickly become a name to watch out for with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. His pitch arsenal and arm slot have impressed teammates and coaches alike. But Birchard’s rise has not been without bumps.

He missed much of the 2024 season because of an oblique injury. But now, he is back and has shown resilience this entire time. But despite the success, for him, the toughest part of pro ball is not competition but rather the grind. In an exclusive conversation with EssentiallySports, Ryan Birchard has opened up on the same.

“It’s definitely the routine of doing it every day. You know, you may think you could do it every day, but you’d be lying, and I’d be lying, and anybody you talk to would be lying if they said they’d love to do it every single day. You know, with one day off a week, you’re away from home for nine months. Some people, you know, different country, different part of the country, but yeah, it would just be the everyday grind. It’s honestly pretty tough.” Birchard’s journey has been winding.

From pitching two college seasons at Niagara County, playing summer leagues, and transferring plans that didn’t really materialize, to then signing with the Brewers. He had to adapt constantly. It is only now with the Brewers that he has had the longest stretch with a single team since college. And right now, he is settling into life with the Timber Rattlers.

Talking to ES, he even mentioned how he is simply enjoying “doing nothing” now, given he has been grinding since January and is now merely soaking in the family time. And honestly, he deserves it because he has done more than good—he has been great!

Ryan Birchard’s rise from Niagara CC to Brewers breakout

When Ryan Birchard’s name was called in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, it was like history in the making.

He, after all, became the highest draft pick to ever come out of Niagara County Community College. EssentiallySports asked what the feeling was like for him and if it felt like the dreams were starting to come true.

“Yeah, no, to be honest, it was quite a surprise how high I went. I thought, you know, it wouldn’t, you know, I wasn’t going to go that high. But yeah, you know, once it happens, you know, it happens pretty quick, to be honest. They work hard for, you know, year after year after year, and it’s done, it happens, and you know, that’s kind of it, but yeah,” responded Birchard.

The Milwaukee Brewers really wasted no time putting him to work.

He debuted with Low-A Carolina, but after three outings, he jumped to High-A Wisconsin. There, he tasted hardships, but it also set the stage for what the 2025 season was to be for him. This season, Birchard has been a steady arm in the Rattlers’ rotation. He made 22 starts and covered more than 100 innings.

Ryan Birchard is also sporting a 3.91 ERA, striking out hitters at a 26.8 clip. In fact, he had a rather defining moment just a few weeks back.

He tossed seven no-hit innings against the Quad Cities River Bandits. With eight strikeouts and just one walk, he went on to earn the Midwest Pitcher of the Week honors, too. And such an award, so early in his young career, speaks volumes about the potential. And he pulled it off all the while pitching in lederhosen as part of Wisconsin’s “Brats” jersey night.

With over 100 innings and 30 High-A starts under his belt, his time in Appleton may be coming to an end. A promotion won’t be surprising!