The inevitable happened to Tyler Bremner in his third professional start. He made sure that it was nothing but a sidenote.
The Angels' top-ranked prospect struck out a career-high 10, including six consecutive batters to start the game, while working into the sixth inning for the first time as a pro in High-A Tri-City's 5-4 loss to Hillsboro on Saturday night at Gesa Stadium.
Despite allowing two runs (one earned) -- the first he's surrendered in regular-season action since last year with UC Santa Barbara -- Bremner mixed all of his pitches en route to a dazzling display on the mound.
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MLB's No. 73 prospect was virtually untouchable at the outset, allowing five foul balls and a foul tip to the first six batters to step in against him. That streak was broken on a first-pitch homer by Hillsboro's Brady Counsell (son of Cubs manager, Craig) in the third inning. Bremner responded by striking out the next two, giving him eight punchouts in a span of nine batters.
The San Diego native allowed an unearned run in the fourth but came back out for the fifth and worked around a leadoff bunt single by Counsell, who tallied two of the four hits Bremner surrendered. The 21-year-old did not walk a batter and tossed 69 pitches (48 strikes).
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Three games into his pro career, Bremner is putting up video game-like numbers on the mound. The 6-foot-2 right-hander has an 0.77 ERA, an 0.86 WHIP and a 20/4 K/BB ratio in 11 2/3 innings. Opposing batters are hitting just .154 against Bremner, who owns a ridiculous 45.5 percent K rate.
It's the type of performance the Angels envisioned when they selected the former Gaucho ace second overall in last year's Draft. Bremner completed his collegiate career with a 21-9 record, a 3.58 ERA and 295 strikeouts in 221 1/3 innings during a three-year run.
He was held out of action after signing last summer but was extended an invitation to Spring Training, where he immediately impressed the organization during his lone Cactus League appearance.
Having a college pedigree could hasten Bremner's rise toward the Majors. That's a tall order for a pitcher with all of three professional starts and 11 2/3 professional innings under his belt, but his electric stuff and experience could push him up the organizational ladder quickly.