Brett Carroll

 

BRETT CARROLL
CORNER OUTFIELDER
Born: October 3, 1982
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 210
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 10th Round, 308th Overall, 2004 (Marlins)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
College: Middle Tennessee State University
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Carroll is a stocky outfielder with good raw power who’s been held back by his struggles with the strike zone.  He generally has hit for good, but not great, power, with low averages, low walk rates and high to very high K rates.  He’s known for playing all-out in the field and has frequently played center, although he fits best in right.  He has a very strong arm and was listed as “best outfield arm in _____” a number of times by Baseball America.  He didn’t hit enough to stick in several trials with his original team, the Marlins, and has made only cameo appearances in the majors the past two years.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal for 2013.

2004
A-:  251/321/422, 211 AB, 16 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 15 BB, 57 K, 1-1 SB

In his debut, Carroll played over half his games at third and split the rest between the outfield and second.  He hit reasonably well, but with a high K rate.

2005
A:  243/296/447, 412 AB, 28 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 17 BB, 108 K, 10-20 SB

Carroll moved strictly to the outfield in low A.  He played mostly right but got into 22 games in center.  He totaled 18 outfield assists.  At the plate, he hit for good power, but had serious issues with the strike zone.

2006
A:  241/324/417, 216 AB, 12 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 18 BB, 48 K, 9-12 SB
AA:  231/303/422, 251 AB, 15 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 18 BB, 62 K, 4-5 SB

Carroll split his time between high A and AA.  He played mostly right in high A and mostly center in AA, while recording a total of 27 outfield assists.  At the plate his performance remained almost the same as the previous year, with a low average and walk rate, and pretty good power.  He managed to cut his K rate slightly.

2007
AA:  270/359/490, 100 AB, 13 2B, 3 HR, 12 BB, 20 K, 0-2 SB
AAA:  314/361/597, 318 AB, 21 2B, 6 3B, 19 HR, 18 BB, 69 K, 0-4 SB
MLB:  184/231/204, 49 AB, 1 2B, 3 BB, 15 K

Carroll started off hot in AA, showing drastically improved plate discipline and earning an early promotion to AAA.  The Marlins called him up for the last two weeks of June, then brought him up again in September.  Carroll ended up showing dramatically improved power in AAA, although his plate discipline regressed from what he showed in AA.  He spent a majority of his time in the outfield corners in the minors, but played mostly center in the majors.

2008
R:  250/333/375, 8 AB, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
A+:  169/231/282, 71 AB, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 BB, 22 K, 1-1 SB
AAA:  418/480/896, 67 AB, 5 2B, 9 HR, 8 BB, 18 K, 1-2 SB
MLB:  056/111/176, 17 AB, 1 3B, 1 BB, 6 K

Carroll started off in the majors but the Marlins sent him down after a week.  He came back up at the beginning of May but went on the disabled list three weeks later with a separated shoulder and missed much of the summer.  He came back up in September but finished the season with only 18 major league plate appearances.

2009
AAA:  233/295/427, 103 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 8 BB, 23 K, 0-1 SB
MLB:  234/306/383, 141 AB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 11 BB, 33 K

Carroll spent the season in the majors, except for being optioned to AAA for most of August.  He mostly came off the bench, starting just 32 games.  In the field he played mainly in right.  He wasn’t overwhelmed at the plate, but he didn’t hit enough for a fourth outfielder.

2010
A+:  294/520/353, 17 AB, 1 2B, 3 BB, 5 K, 2-3 SB
AAA:  221/299/385, 244 AB, 16 2B, 8 HR, 22 BB, 54 K, 4-6 SB
MLB:  197/311/329, 76 AB, 4 2B, 2 HR, 6 BB, 29 K, 2-3 SB

The Marlins used Carroll sparingly through the beginning of June then optioned him to AAA.  Other than missing some time with an injury, he played there the rest of the year and did not come up in September.  Florida outrighted him off the 40-man roster in early October and he became a minor league free agent a month later.  He struggled both in the majors and AAA.

2011
AAA (Mil):  281/356/469, 335 AB, 14 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 34 BB, 73 K, 9-12 SB
AAA (Bos):  229/298/361, 83 AB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 BB, 20 K, 2-2 SB
MLB (Mil):  000/000/000, 3 AB, 1 K

The Royals signed Carroll to a minor league deal for 2011, but traded him to the Brewers during spring training.  He spent most of the season playing center in AAA, getting just a two-game callup at the end of July.  When the Brewers outrighted him to AAA, he elected free agency and signed with Boston.  He hit well during his time in AAA with the Brewers.

2012
AAA:  250/333/407, 364 AB, 23 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 44 BB, 97 K, 7-12 SB
MLB:  000/000/000, 2 AB

The Nationals signed Carroll and he spent most of the season playing right for their AAA affiliate.  He got just a five-game callup in August, with only two plate appearances.  He didn’t hit well in AAA.

2013
AAA:  222/328/404, 275 AB, 9 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 39 BB, 74 K, 7-9 SB

Carroll played regularly the first three months for Indianapolis and did well, not hitting for average but getting on base and hitting all of his 13 HRs.  He posted monthly OPS figures of .816, .749, and .834 in April through June.  Carroll missed most of the second half with injuries, though, and didn’t hit at all in his limited playing time, dropping his final numbers to what you see.  When he played, he split his time between left and right.

Carroll’s chances of getting back to the majors are probably very low at this point, but he played reasonably well for Indianapolis before the injuries hit.  He’ll be a free agent and most likely will move on.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Majors
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MLB.com
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2008: $390,000
2009:
$400,000
2010:
$403,500
2012: $580,000
2013: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2004
MLB Debut: 6/27/2007
MiLB FA Eligible: 2013
MLB FA Eligible: 2017
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: June 17, 2007
Options Remaining: 0 (USED:  2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
MLB Service Time: N/A
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2004: Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 10th round, 308th overall pick; signed on June 23.
June 17, 2007: Contract purchased by the Florida Marlins.
October 6, 2010: Outrighted to AAA by the Florida Marlins.
November 6, 2010: Became a free agent.
November 19, 2010: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Kansas City Royals.
March 22, 2011: Traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Milwaukee Brewers for future considerations.
July 21, 2011: Called up by the Milwaukee Brewers.
July 30, 2011: Designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers; elected free agency on August 3.
August 4, 2011: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Boston Red Sox.
November 2, 2011: Became a free agent.
December 4, 2011: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Washington Nationals.
April 3, 2012: Called up by the Washington Nationals.
April 23, 2012: Outrighted to AAA by the Washington Nationals.
October 15, 2012: Became a free agent.
February 5, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.