Bryce Brentz

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

2010
A-:  198/259/340, 262 AB, 14 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 21 BB, 76 K, 5-9 SB

Brentz struggled to make contact in his debut season.  He played mostly in right, but saw some time in center.

2011
A:  359/414/657, 170 AB, 10 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 14 BB, 35 K, 2-4 SB
A+:  274/336/531, 288 AB, 15 2B, 1 3B, 19 HR, 26 BB, 80 K, 1-2 SB

Brentz got his bat going, tearing up low A and continuing to hit for good power after a promotion about a third of the way through the season.  He played exclusively in right and recorded ten assists, but had an alarming total of 17 errors.  BA ranked him the Red Sox’ fifth best prospect after the season.

2012
AA:  296/355/478, 456 AB, 30 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 40 BB, 130 K, 7-12 SB
AAA:  118/167/118, 17 AB, 1 BB, 6 K

Except for five games at season’s end, Brentz spent the year in AA.  He seems to have toned down his swing a bit and hit fewer HRs, but he hit for average with a roughly passable walk rate.  The strikeouts continued at one every three and a half at-bats.  He again played exclusively in right.

2013
R:  235/316/706, 17 AB, 2 2B, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K
AAA:  264/312/475, 326 AB, 16 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 20 BB, 86 K, 1-1 SB

Brentz lost out on an invitation to major league spring training when he accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning a handgun.  He was able to start the season, but went out with a torn meniscus in his right knee in July.  While he played, he hit for good power in AAA, but not for a good average.  He also didn’t get on base at a good rate.  His defensive play did not get good reviews.

2014
R:  056/190/111, 18 AB, 1 2B, 3 BB, 5 K
A-:  125/200/125, 8 AB, 1 BB, 2 K
AAA:  243/341/465, 230 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 32 BB, 58 K, 0-1 SB
MLB:  308/308/345, 26 AB, 2 2B, 9 K

Brentz lost a lot of time to a hamstring injury, missing two and a half months.  He hit roughly the same in AAA, except for a much higher walk rate, while splitting his time between the outfield corners.  The Red Sox called him up in mid-September.  BA dropped Brentz to 21st in the Sox’ farm system.

2015
AAA:  232/308/382, 220 AB, 9 2B, 8 HR, 24 BB, 74 K

Brentz had a rough season, again missing two and a half months with a hamstring injury.  When he played in AAA, he struggled to hit and struck out at a higher rate than ever before.

2016
AA:  200/333/325, 40 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 14 K, 1-1 SB
AAA:  250/278/402, 204 AB, 17 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 8 BB, 52 K, 2-2 SB
MLB:  279/313/377, 61 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 17 K

Brentz had another rough season.  He missed the first month with an oblique injury, then struggled through a AA rehab and two months in AAA.  The Red Sox called him up in late June and he spent six weeks with them, playing sparingly.  In August Boston sent him back to AAA and he didn’t return to the majors.

2017
AAA:  271/334/529, 450 AB, 21 2B, 1 3B, 31 HR, 42 BB, 109 K, 1-2 SB

The Red Sox outrighted Brentz off their 40-man roster at the end of spring training and he accepted assignment to AAA.  He bounced back at the plate, leading the International League in HRs.  He also cut his K rate to a quarter of his ABs.  The Red Sox never called him up, but they added him back to their 40-man roster after the season.

Brentz will join a crowded competition for the left field job in spring training.  As of the time they acquired him, the Pirates were also considering Jordan Luplow, Adam Frazier, Sean Rodriguez and Daniel Nava — who coincidentally stood in Brentz’ way in Boston — for a starting or platoon role, or a job as fourth outfielder.  In the next two days, though, the Pirates also picked up Michael Saunders and Corey Dickerson, with the latter becoming the likely starter.  Brentz has no options left, which should have given him a leg up in the competition, but he lost out to Jose Osuna, who had a better spring.  The Pirates placed Brentz on outright waivers near the end of camp and will probably hope to retain him.