Brackman (Moeller HS; NC State) has been struggling for what was expected out of him.
3.90 era, 67 ip, 70 h, 38 bb, 62 k, .273 opp avg.
Anyone heard anything about why he might be struggling?
Brackman (Moeller HS; NC State) has been struggling for what was expected out of him.
3.90 era, 67 ip, 70 h, 38 bb, 62 k, .273 opp avg.
Anyone heard anything about why he might be struggling?
I haven't seen him but looking at his stat line, it looks like it is his control that needs some work. 28 BB's, 10 WP's and 8 HBP in 67 IP is uncharacteristic. The guess here is that hitters have learned to lay off his nasty off speed stuff if he can't get it over and sit on the fastball which he tends to get a little lazy with in the zone. If he can learn to work at the knees and the corners, he has the stuff to be a dominant pitcher. Again, that's simply just looking at his stat line.
Currently he is being out pitched by his teammate and fellow Moeller grad, Eric Surkamp. The sophomore lefty is 3-2, 2.88 ERA, 65 IP, 58 H, 20 BB, 60 K, .240 opp. .
Brackman has not played a lot of baseball in his career.
He sure is doing better than he did last year.
2006:
28.1 IP
32 K
19 BB
37 H
1.98 WHIP
6.35 ERA
Most top prospects like Brackman play in winter leagues (like the Cape Cod league) to work on their game. Brackman has always played basketball all winter. So with more repetition and coaching, I think he'll get his stuff under control. If he's still there at 15, I think the Reds should consider him.
Update on Brackman. He has hardly pitched at all lately. Just one game in the last 4 weeks. Last I heard his shoulder was bothering him.
Also, his girlfriend died this past week. I can't imagine what he is going through right now and I'm sure baseball is far from what he is thinking about right now. Sounds terrible. She died in a car wreck on the 18th.
This makes the draft very interesting for him.
Keith Law thinks he might drop out of the first round.
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