Brady Feigl is the name of two American baseball players born in the 1990s who share remarkable similarities. Not only do both men have the same first and last names, but they also look similar, and are the same height (6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)). Neither had met another person with their surname outside their families. Both play the position of pitcher, and have had Tommy John surgery performed by the same doctor. After meeting, the Feigls took DNA tests to see if they were related. They are not, but both have 53 percent Germanic ancestry.[1]
A year after graduating college, Feigl signed with the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent in October 2013 after he impressed a Braves scout at Mount St. Mary's Scout Day.[4][5] Feigl was signed that year as a free agent by Braves'[3] scout Gene Kerns.[6] He made his professional debut in 2014 with the Rome Braves and after pitching to a 3.50 ERA in 43+2⁄3 innings, was promoted to the Lynchburg Hillcats where he went 3–2 with a 2.05 ERA in 22 innings.
In 2015, the Braves invited Feigl to spring training, where he competed for a spot on the opening day roster.[4][7] Though he spent most of spring training in minor league camp, Feigl was viewed as having a good chance of making the team, due to the release of James Russell.[8][6] Feigl instead began the 2015 season with the Gwinnett Braves, where he injured his elbow in his Triple–A debut against the Durham Bulls on April 10.[9] Eleven days later, Feigl underwent Tommy John surgery, performed by James Andrews,[10] causing him to miss all of the 2015 season. He pitched in only six games in 2016, three with the GCL Braves and three with the Danville Braves.
On December 8, 2016, the Braves traded Feigl and Tyrell Jenkins to the Texas Rangers[3] for Luke Jackson.[11] In 2017, he began the season with the Down East Wood Ducks and was later promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders, posting a combined 4–1 record and 3.81 ERA in 59 innings pitched between both teams.[12] In 2018 Feigl split the season between Frisco and the Round Rock Express, posting a combined 6–1 record, 1.53 ERA, with 37 strikeouts in 58+2⁄3 innings pitched. Feigl received a non-roster invitation to 2019 major-league spring training and was assigned to the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-APacific Coast League for the 2019 season.[13] He went 2–0 with a 3.13 ERA in just 23 innings between Nashville and the AZL Rangers, due to non-disclosed injuries.[14]
On December 12, 2019, Feigl was selected by the San Diego Padres in the minor league phase of the 2019 Rule 5 draft.[15] Feigl did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] Feigl did not appear for a Padres affiliate in 2021 due to injury[17] and elected free agency on November 7, 2021, without having appeared in a game for the Padres organization.[18]
On March 17, 2022, Feigl signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[3] Feigl made 9 appearances for Long Island in 2022, posting a 1.17 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.
Feigl spent the 2019 season with the High–A Stockton Ports, making 27 appearances (25 starts) and logging a 5–11 record and 4.42 ERA with 119 strikeouts across 134+1⁄3 innings pitched.[27] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]
Feigl began the 2021 season with the Double–A Midland RockHounds, posting a 7–7 record and 3.96 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 102+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was promoted to the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators late in the year, and made 5 starts for the team, going 1–2 with an 8.55 ERA and 17 strikeouts across 20.0 innings of work.[29]
Feigl did not pitch in a game in 2022 after missing the season due to an undisclosed injury. After not making an appearance in 2023, he was released by the Athletics organization on June 14, 2023.[30]