JAKE BRIGHAM
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RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
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Born: February 10, 1988 Height: 6’3″ Weight: 210 Bats: Right Throws: Right Drafted: 6th Round, 178th Overall, 2006 (Rangers) How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent High School: Central Florida Christian Academy Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
Brigham is a power pitcher whose fastball for much of his time in the Rangers’ organization sat in the mid-90s and reached the upper-90s. In his earlier pro seasons he threw an overhand curve, but he eventually went to a slider. He hasn’t been able to develop a useful change. Despite the two-pitch repertoire, he’s mostly been a starter. He’s not a groundball pitcher. The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract for 2014 with an invitation to spring training.
2006 Brigham pitched mainly as a starter in his rookie league debut and put up good numbers. 2007 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 Brigham missed the season following elbow surgery. 2009 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 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 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 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 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 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. |
STATS
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Baseball Reference–Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com |
CONTRACT INFORMATION
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2014: Minor League Contract |
PLAYER INFORMATION
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Signing Bonus: $200,000 MiLB Debut: 2006 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: Eligible MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 2 (USED: 2012) MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
TRANSACTIONS
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June 6, 2006: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 6th round, 178th overall pick; signed on June 15. November 18, 2011: Contract purchased by the Texas Rangers. July 31, 2012: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the Chicago Cubs for Geovanny Soto and cash. November 20, 2012: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Texas Rangers for Barret Loux and a player to be named later (no player ever named). November 30, 2012: Non-tendered by the Texas Rangers and became a free agent. December 12, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Texas Rangers. November 5, 2013: Became a free agent. November 20, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates. |