The Milwaukee Brewers have come to terms with starting pitcher Aaron Ashby on a five-year contract extension, the team announced on Saturday. The agreement between the two sides also includes club options for 2028 and 2029.

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman noted that the five-year extension for Ashby is set to guarantee the left-handed pitcher $20.5 million. In the case that the Brewers pick up the options for the final two years of the contract and escalators are hit, the deal would then be worth $46 million in total.

Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns noted after the deal was officially announced that he had been in talks with Ashby for a “couple of months” about reaching an agreement on a new contract. In the end, the Brewers felt confident about handing out such a deal, as they “feel really good about investing” in the second-year pitcher.

Stearns also lauded Ashby as one of the “premier young pitchers in baseball” today.

“We are very happy to reach a multi-year agreement with Aaron,” Stearns said. Throughout his time in our organization, Aaron has demonstrated a unique combination of persistence, character and talent. He is establishing himself as one of the premier young pitchers in baseball, and we look forward to watching his continued growth and success.”

Ashby was slated to be under team control for the next two seasons and also be arbitration-eligible for the 2025-2027 campaigns. Now, with the new contract, he will not have to confront the possibility of heading to an arbitration hearing with the team in each of those three seasons. He could still end up hitting free agency after the 2027 season if the Brewers decline the first club option.

Ashby has emerged as a regular starter for the current NL Central leaders this season. He has so far posted a 4.57 ERA in 69.0 innings pitched. He has also logged a 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings mark.

Stearns still has to resolve several other notable contract matters. Among them, both Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff are set to be under team control for a mere two more years.

The Brewers are currently in the midst of a four-game home series with the Colorado Rockies, which will then be followed up by a two-game home set against the Minnesota Twins.