Jake Brigham

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
R:  2-6-0, 3.70 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 8.9 K/9

Brigham pitched mainly as a starter in his rookie league debut and put up good numbers.

2007
A-:  5-4-0, 3.16 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 77.0 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 7.6 K/9

The Rangers sent Brigham to short season ball and he got good results, but his walk and K rates weren’t good.  He had Tommy John surgery after the season.

2008
INJURED

Brigham missed the season following elbow surgery.

2009
A:  2-11-1, 5.52 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 89.2 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

Returning from the Tommy John surgery, Brigham pitched mostly as a starter in low A.  Not surprisingly, he struggled, but his walk and K rates improved.

2010
A: 6-5-0, 3.36 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 83.0 IP, 2.6 BB, 7.3 K/9
A+: 1-5-0, 6.93 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 49.1 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

The Rangers tried Brigham in high A at the start of the season and he got lit up, so they sent him back to low A.  He pitched much better there, although his K rate was low.  The improvement apparently resulted in part from Brigham switching from a curve to a slider.

2011
AA:  6-6-0, 4.49 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 114.1 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

In AA, Brigham had just a fair season, although he did strike out a batter an inning.  Texas added him to its 40-man roster after the season.

2012
AA (Tex):  5-5-0, 4.28 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 124.0 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 8.4 K/9
AA (ChiC):  0-2-0, 19.64 ERA, 4.09 WHIP, 3.2 IP, 9.8 BB/9, 7.4 K/9

The Rangers returned Brigham to AA and he had much the same season, except that his control improved and he had gopher ball problems, allowing 19.  Texas sent him to the Cubs in a deadline deal for Geovanny Soto.  Brigham got bombed in two AA starts for Chicago, then missed the rest of the season with an elbow injury.  He didn’t have surgery, but as a makeup deal the Rangers took Brigham back and sent Barret Loux to the Cubs after the season.  The Rangers non-tendered Brigham and he became a free agent a few days after the second trade.  He then re-signed with the Rangers.

2013
AA:  0-0-2, 0.00 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 11.2 K/9
AAA:  5-5-2, 4.51 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 113.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Brigham opened the season pitching in relief in AA, and dominating through seven appearances.  Texas moved him up to AAA, where he started off pitching mostly in relief but eventually moved to the rotation.  He was much more effective in relief.

2014
A-:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 11.6 K/9
AAA:  3-5-1. 4.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 92.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Brigham was far better as a reliever in 2013 than he’s ever been as a starter and his repertoire seems better suited to relief, but the Pirates used him primarily as a starter at Indianapolis.  He pitched well in April and May, but struggled in June before going on the disabled list.  Among other things, Brigham allowed six HRs in four June starts after allowing just two in ten previous starts.  He returned in August after rehabbing at Jamestown and pitched mainly in relief.  For the year, he had a significant reverse platoon split.

Brigham will be eligible for minor league free agency again after the season.