September 16, 2026
By Kevin Glew
Cooperstowners in Canada
Former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Wolfe has died at the age of 45.
His wife, Rachell, made the announcement on Facebook last night.
“I’m sorry to write this but after a really really difficult and torturous battle Brian Wolfe passed away early this morning,” wrote his wife.
All 72 of Wolfe’s major league appearances came in parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays between 2007 and 2009. During that stretch, the 6-foot-3 right-hander posted a 5-5 record and a 3.81 ERA and had 47 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings.
Raised in Californa
Born on November 29, 1980 in Fullerton, Calif., Wolfe was a standout pitcher at Servite High School when he was selected in the sixth round of the 1999 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins.
He spent his first four seasons in the Twins’ system as a starter before being converted into a reliever in 2003. He rose to triple-A in the Twins’ ranks before being released on May 13, 2005.
Ten days later, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and he finished out the season by registering a 0.79 ERA in 19 appearances with the High-A Brevard County Manatees.
Traded to Blue Jays
On January 6, 2006, Wolfe was dealt to the Blue Jays for third baseman Corey Koskie (Anola, Man.). The move was seen primarily as a salary dump by the Blue Jays.
Wolfe, who was 25 at the time and had pitched in High-A in 2005, was considered a low-level prospect. And that perception didn’t change much in 2006 when the big righty posted a combined 5.83 ERA in 29 appearances (seven starts) between the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays and double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Called up by Blue Jays
But he made a favorable impression the following spring and after a strong start with the triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, he was called up to make his MLB debut on May 30 against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre.
He entered the game with two outs in the ninth inning with Alex Rodriguez on first base and Hideki Matsui on second. Jorge Posada, the first batter he faced, hit a high pop up to third baseman Howie Clark, but while running towards third base, Rodriguez yelled “Ha!” and Clark thought shortstop John McDonald was calling him off and the ball dropped for a single. It was a bush league play by Rodriguez but the Yankees scored a run on it. Jason Giambi followed with a single that scored Rodriguez and Posada before Wolfe retired Doug Mientkiewicz for the final out of the frame.
Things would get better for Wolfe in his rookie season with the Jays. He evolved into a reliable bullpen arm for manager John Gibbons, finishing the campaign with a 2.98 ERA in 38 appearances.
His performance impressed Blue Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg so much that he planned to campaign for a rotation spot for Wolfe in 2008.
“I’ve talked to J.P. (Ricciardi) already about him going into next year (as a starter),” Arnsberg told the Toronto Sun for their September 7, 2007 issue. “He’s kind of got that physique, that body of a starting pitcher and he’s a four- or five-pitch guy . . . With his stuff and his body and the power that comes out of his arm, he kinds of fits into that starting mode a little bit more than he does a relief mode.”
Still in bullpen in 2008
But that transition to a starting role never happened and Wolfe found himself being shuttled between triple-A and the Blue Jays in 2008.
He was effective when in the big leagues, posting a 2.45 ERA in 20 relief appearances.
However, his numbers dropped off in 2009 when he finished with an 8.22 ERA in 14 big league appearances.
Off to Japan
Following that season, he signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japan Pacific League.
With the Fighters, he did become a starting pitcher – and effective one. From 2011 to 2013, he made at least 22 starts for the Fighters and never had an ERA that exceeded 3.60.
Wolfe then split his final five pro seasons between the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (2014-15) and Seibu Lions (2016-18)
Post-playing career
Wolfe hung up his professional playing spikes at the age of 37 and settled in Idaho.
He and his wife, Rachell, had three daughters together.
In recent years, he established a business called Wolfepack Pitching where he mentored young hurlers.
“I just lost one of my best friends and a mentor,” said former major league Brandon Barnes in a Facebook tribute to Wolfe on Wednesday.
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