Brian Michael Bass (born January 6, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bass, a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama, was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round (164th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft.
After signing with the Royals, Bass played for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Royals in . He went 3âÂÂ5 with a 3.89 ERA in 12 games (nine starts). Bass also made one start at the Single-A level for the Charleston Alley Cats.
In , Bass played for the Single-A Burlington Bees. Making 26 starts, he had a 4.65 ERA and went 3âÂÂ10; his 10 losses are still an all-time high for him. Bass played the entire season for the Bees again, improving his performance on the previous season, making 20 starts and finishing 5âÂÂ7 with a 3.83 ERA.
Bass had the best season of his minor league career in while playing for the Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. Making 26 starts, he went 9âÂÂ8 with a 2.84 ERA. He was third on the team in wins (9), second in the team in games started (26) and innings pitched (152), and led the team in strikeouts with 119. On August 6, against the Winston-Salem Warthogs, Bass came within one out of a no-hitter. Baseball America named Bass as the Royals eighth best prospect.
Bass went winless in while playing for the Rookie League Arizona Royals and the Double-A Wichita Wranglers. Losing a combined 5 games, he had a 5.94 ERA in 14 starts. In , while playing for the Wranglers again, Bass had a 12âÂÂ8 record and a 5.24 ERA in 27 starts.
In , Bass split the season between the Arizona Royals, the Wichita Wranglers, and the Triple-A Omaha Royals. Making a combined 15 starts in 16 games, Bass went 6âÂÂ7 with a 5.70 ERA. Bass became a minor league free agent after the season.
Bass, after leaving the Royals organization, signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins for the season. Bass played the entire season for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. Bass made 10 starts and 27 relief appearances, finishing the season 7âÂÂ3 with a 3.48 ERA. Included in his 10 starts was a complete game shutout, the second in his career and the first since 2001. Bass became a minor league free agent after the season; but, was re-signed by the Twins to a major league contract on November 29, .
Bass won a long relief role out of spring training with the Minnesota Twins. He made his major league debut on April 1 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, pitching 1.1 innings in relief in a 9âÂÂ1 loss. Bass appeared in 44 games as a reliever for the Twins, going 3âÂÂ4 with an ERA of 4.87 with one save before being sent outright to the minors on August 20.
Bass was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on September 5, , for a PTBNL or cash considerations.
On December 12, 2009, Bass was non-tendered by the Orioles, making him a free agent.
On January 12, 2010, Bass signed a minor-league contract with Pittsburgh which included an invitation to spring training. He appeared in four games and was designated for assignment on September 13.
On January 6, 2011, Bass signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
On January 18, 2012, Bass signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. However, he was sent to their minor leagues and released after just a few games.
On May 27, 2012, Bass signed with the Houston Astros, and he was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks. In 17 games (13 starts) with the RedHawks, Bass went 2âÂÂ5 with a 5.56 ERA.
On January 16, 2013, Bass signed a minor league contract to return to the Phillies.
On May 10, 2013, Bass signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Bass retired on July 6, 2013. In 14 starts 75 innings he struggled going 2âÂÂ10 with a 5.88 ERA with 58 strikeouts.
On October 9, 2013, Bass accepted the pitching coach job at Stevenson University. He left after the 2019 season.