Brooks Raley Bio
Brooks Lee Raley (born June 29, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed pitcher, Raley has built a long career that has included stops with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Lotte Giants of the KBO League in South Korea. He is recognized for his durability as a starter in his early years and his reliability out of the bullpen later in his career.
Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2009, Raley developed through the minor leagues before reaching the majors in 2012. After his initial MLB stint, he spent five seasons pitching in the KBO League, then returned to the United States and became a steady left-handed relief option for several clubs. He re-signed with the New York Mets in 2025 and continues to pitch in the major leagues.
Early Life and Background
Brooks Lee Raley was born on June 29, 1988, in Uvalde, Texas, a small city southwest of San Antonio. He is the son of Terry and DeeAnna Raley, and grew up in a household with deep ties to professional baseball. His father was selected in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and played for the Medicine Hat Blue Jays and the Kinston Blue Jays before ending his playing career in 1982.
Raley attended Uvalde High School in his hometown, where he developed into a college pitching prospect. He went on to play college baseball at Texas A&M University, suiting up for the Texas A&M Aggies program. His time in College Station sharpened his mechanics and prepared him for a career in professional baseball. He also met his future wife, Rachel Shipley, at Texas A&M, where she played for the women’s soccer team.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his college career with the Aggies, Raley entered the 2009 Major League Baseball draft and was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round, with the 200th overall pick. He split his first professional season between the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs and the Low-A Boise Hawks, showing early promise. Across 10 2/3 innings, he posted a 0-1 record with a 2.53 ERA and five strikeouts.
Raley moved quickly through the minor-league system. In 2010, he pitched for the High-A Daytona Cubs and went 8-6 with a 3.50 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings. The following year, he reached Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies, going 8-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 27 starts. These performances established him as a polished left-handed starter ready for a major-league opportunity.
Brooks Raley Career
Early Career with the Chicago Cubs (2009-2013)
After another full year in the minors, Raley opened the 2012 season back at Double-A Tennessee before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. On August 7, 2012, the Cubs added him to the 40-man roster and called him up to the major leagues. He made five starts for Chicago that year, finishing 1-2 with an 8.14 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.
Raley spent most of the 2013 season with Iowa in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. In nine appearances for the Cubs, he recorded a 5.14 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 14 innings. He was designated for assignment in 2013, beginning a transitional period that eventually took him overseas.
KBO League Stint with the Lotte Giants (2015-2019)
On December 14, 2014, Raley signed with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League in Busan, South Korea. The move gave him a chance to start regularly and rebuild his career. He re-signed with the Giants on January 8, 2017, agreeing to a one-year, $850,000 contract for that season.
Across five seasons in Busan from 2015 through 2019, Raley produced a 48-53 record with a 4.13 ERA and 755 strikeouts in 910 2/3 innings. The heavy workload helped him develop a reputation for endurance and consistency, and his time in Korea made him a more complete pitcher by the time he returned to North America.
Return to MLB: Reds and Astros (2020-2021)
On January 9, 2020, Raley signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds that included an invitation to spring training. He made the Reds’ Opening Day roster and pitched in four innings across four games, marking his first major-league action since 2013 before being designated for assignment on August 6.
On August 9, 2020, the Reds traded Raley to the Houston Astros. He appeared in 17 relief outings for Houston that year, going 0-1 with one save, a 3.94 ERA, and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. The Astros picked up his $2 million option for 2021, and he went 2-3 with two saves and a 4.78 ERA in 58 games. He was declared a free agent on November 3, 2021.
Tampa Bay Rays and Trade to the Mets (2022-2023)
On November 30, 2021, Raley signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 60 appearances for the Rays, he compiled a 2.68 ERA with 61 strikeouts and six saves in 53 2/3 innings. On June 4, 2022, Raley and four teammates opted out of wearing the team’s Pride logo during the Rays’ annual Pride Night at Tropicana Field.
On December 7, 2022, Tampa Bay traded Raley to the New York Mets in exchange for minor-league pitcher Keyshawn Askew. In 2023, Raley made 66 appearances out of the bullpen for the Mets, posting a 2.80 ERA with 61 strikeouts and three saves in 54 2/3 innings. The trade turned out to be a strong fit on both sides.
New York Mets Era (2023-Present)
Raley began the 2024 season as a key left-handed reliever for the Mets. He made eight scoreless appearances before suffering an elbow injury, and on May 21, 2024, the team announced that he would undergo Tommy John surgery. He missed the remainder of the year and became a free agent after the season.
On April 25, 2025, the Mets re-signed Raley to a one-year contract with a team option for 2026. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 30 while continuing his recovery, then activated on July 18, 2025. His return gave the Mets another experienced left-hander late in the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Raley is a left-handed pitcher who has transitioned from a starting role in the minors and the KBO League to a long-relief and matchup role in the majors. His five-year stint in the KBO League built exceptional endurance, and he has shown the ability to log multiple innings or handle high-leverage spots. The Mets have used him as a steady left-handed bridge to the late innings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Raley’s career include his major-league debut with the Cubs in 2012, a 48-53 record and 755 strikeouts in five seasons with the Lotte Giants, and a strong 2.80 ERA for the Mets in 2023. He was also part of the group of Rays players who opted out of wearing a Pride logo during the 2022 Pride Night game at Tropicana Field. His return from Tommy John surgery in 2025 added another chapter to his long career.
Brooks Raley Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Raley comes from one of baseball’s quieter family traditions. His father, Terry Raley, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981 and pitched in the Blue Jays’ minor-league system before retiring in 1982. Two of Raley’s brothers have also played minor-league baseball. His older brother Russell was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2006 and later became a coach, while his younger brother Cory was selected by the Cleveland Indians in 2012 and played his last season of minor-league ball in 2016.
Personal Life
Brooks Raley met his wife, Rachel Shipley, while both were students at Texas A&M University, where she played for the women’s soccer team. The couple later married and now have four children, three daughters and a son. Baseball has remained a central part of the Raley family, with multiple members of the family having spent time in professional organizations.
Brooks Raley 2025 Season Performance
Raley’s 2025 season began on the injured list as he continued to recover from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May 2024. The Mets re-signed him to a one-year contract on April 25, 2025, with a team option for 2026, signaling their confidence in his long-term role. He was moved to the 60-day injured list on April 30 to open a roster spot while he finished his rehabilitation.
On July 18, 2025, the Mets activated Raley from the injured list, adding a familiar left-handed arm to their bullpen midway through the year. His return gave New York another experienced option against left-handed hitters in the late innings. Coming off a 2.80 ERA season in 2023, Raley is expected to play a depth role for the Mets down the stretch in 2025.