Brooks Brown

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
A-:  0-2-0, 3.42 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 11.4 K/9

Brown struck out a lot of hitters in a brief debut in short season ball.

2007
A+:  6-3-0, 2.81 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 80.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
AA:  4-4-0, 3.66 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 7.3 K/9

Brown spent half the season in high A and pitched very well there, then had some control problems in AA.  Baseball America rated him Arizona’s 12th best prospect after the season.

2008
AA:  6-15-0, 4.18 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 144.1 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

Arizona returned Brown to AA and he struggled there.  Shortly before the 2009 season, the Diamondbacks sent him to Detroit so they could retain the rights to Rule 5 selection James Skelton.  The deal indicates the Diamondbacks didn’t think that highly of Brown, as Skelton wasn’t a top prospect; he never reached the majors and played only briefly in AAA.

2009
AA:  5-0-0, 2.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 36.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 3.2 K/9
AAA:  3-13-0, 4.71 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 112.2 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 3.8 K/9

After he got off to a good start in AA, the Tigers moved Brown up to AAA, where he struggled.  His K rate dropped to an extremely low level at both stops.

2010
AA:  12-9-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 128.0 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

Detroit sent Brown to AA for the season.  He started 18 games there and relieved in 10.  He pitched much better, with his K rate improving to the point where it was just low rather than nearly invisible.

2011
AA:  3-9-0, 5.67 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 93.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Brown went back to AA again and this time struggled.  He posted about the same BB and K rates, but got hit much harder.  He missed the first two months of the season with an injury and made only 17 starts.

2012
AAA:  4-4-0, 4.90 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 112.0 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

Brown finally got back to AAA, but he pitched poorly in 19 starts and 10 relief appearances.

2013
AAA:  6-5-0, 4.75 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 91.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Brown pitched mostly in relief for Indianapolis, although he made eight spot starts.  He pitched well out of the bullpen, with a 2.95 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.  As a starter, though, he had a 7.91 ERA and opponents hit .328 against him.  Left-handed hitters battered him for a 323/367/555 line.

It was a little puzzling that the Pirates signed Brown to pitch in AAA, because AA seems to be his optimum level.  He’ll be a free agent after the season.