NILES — When Michael Brewer climbed atop the pitching mound Friday at Eastwood Field, he knew it was going to be his final home appearance in a Mahoning Valley Scrappers uniform.

Like the vast majority of the roster, Brewer has not exhausted his college eligibility, which means his season will end when the MLB Draft League pauses for five days during the MLB 2022 Draft.

Starting today, the Scrappers begin a six-game road trip which will take them to the end of the first half of the season.

“These fans have been fantastic, they’re always so into the game and so supportive,” Brewer said. “This stadium, the whole surrounding and atmosphere is special. There was a really big Friday crowd, I was pumped and I wanted to deliver.”

Mission accomplished.

Brewer pitched five scoreless innings without allowing a base hit, leading the Scrappers to a 2-1 win over West Virginia. The Black Bears entered the game as the hottest team in the Draft League while riding a six-game winning streak.

Brewer faced the minimum number of batters. A baserunner reached in the first inning via an error, but he was erased on a double play.

Brewer needed just 53 pitches to get through the five innings.

“I started getting outs on first pitches early on, and that really got me into a rhythm,” Brewer said. “The game was moving at such a fast pace I didn’t have time to think or to overthink, I just kept moving at a steady pace. I felt really comfortable.

“I knew going in that I would only work five innings, so I was mentally prepared to come out. But man, you get into that kind of groove, and you hate to come out.”

Brewer’s latest performance wasn’t a fluke. On the season, he has appeared in eight games and owns a 2.25 ERA.

Now, here’s the clincher — Brewer has been playing baseball his entire life, but at the age of 23, this is his first year as a pitcher. Until this spring, Brewer played the outfield

“Over the years, I’ve had several coaches and scouts tell me that my future in the game was as a pitcher,” Brewer said. “I tinkered with it a little bit last year, but it wasn’t until this spring that I decided to go all in.

“I struggled this spring. My change-up is a work in progress. I have a ton of learning to do, but it’s a steady journey, and I feel a little better about it each time I take the mound. I have no complaints.”

As a junior this past spring at ASA College Miami, Brewer worked 37.1 innings with a 6.51 ERA.

Brewer grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where as a sophomore in high school he helped lead the R. Nelson Snider High football team to a state title. He played football for just that one season and was a standout wide receiver before deciding to concentrate solely on baseball.

“It was tough giving it up, and my coach wasn’t too happy with me,” Brewer says with a chuckle. “But baseball was always my first love, and I knew that it was my future in terms of college and perhaps as a professional.”

Brewer has one year of athletic eligibility remaining. He is waiting until after the July draft to decide on his future.

“It’s obviously a dream to have your name called on draft day. We’ll just see what happens then plan out my future from there,” Brewer said.

For now, he says he is “sincerely honored and thrilled” to be part of the Draft League.

“This summer has truly given me a glimpse of what pro ball is all about,” Brewer said. “I love the travel, the games every day, the full days at the stadium and all the work that goes into it. I mean, it’s tough but it’s baseball, it’s what I love to do.”

Brewer is expected to get one more start in a Scrappers uniform before the conclusion of his season.

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