Prospect Profile: Brandon Waring

[RedLegsToday]

Brandon was the 7th round pick of the Reds in the 2007 draft. Here is his Wofford College writeup for the '07 season:

Brandon Waring

Profile
Class: Jr.
Hometown: West Columbia, SC
High School/Last School: Airport
Height/Weight: 6-4 / 195
Position: 3B
B/T: R/R

Made a splash with his outstanding offensive skills as a freshman shortstop . . . Finished fifth in balloting for Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2005 . . . Slated to be the third baseman this spring after two seasons at shortstop . . . Will be a prototypical third baseman with good size and power and could be a draft prospect.. . . Is very strong with good feet and good bat speed . . . Has outstanding arm strength with the ability to make plays . . . His father, Tom Waring, played baseball at Delta State . . . Played for the Spartanburg Stingers in the Coastal Plain League in the summer of 2005 . . . Member of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll . . . 2006: Sophomore season was off to a great start before being cut short by a wrist injury that required surgery . . . Was Wofford’s starting shortstop until breaking his wrist at Davidson (March 12) . . . Had a pair of hits, a homer and three RBI vs. the Wildcats before sustaining the injury . . . Put together a seven-game hitting streak from Feb. 12-25 . . . Collected a season-best five RBIs vs. Youngstown State (March 4) including the game-winning two-run homer . . . Had a two-run double vs. High Point (Feb. 15) . . . Named to the Academic All-Southern Conference team . . . 2005: Did not play in any of the first two series of the season before becoming the starting shortstop . . . Started the final 48 games of the year at short . . . Led the team with 10 home runs, 41 RBIs and 84 total bases . . . Made a season-high eight assists against Davidson (April 9) . . . Drove in six runs in a 14-12 win at The Citadel (April 2) . . . Was second on the team with 12 multiple hit games . . . Also topped the Terriers with 10 multiple-RBI games . . . Longest hitting streak of the year was four games . . . Went 5-for-14 with 10 RBIs in a three-game series at The Citadel . . . Went two-for-four with four RBIs against North Carolina A&T (March 23) . . . Had an RBI double against #2 South Carolina (March 15) . . . Had a pair of two-RBI games in the series sweep of Georgia Southern . . . High School: Named to the South Carolina Select All-Star Team after his senior year . . . Was also all-area and all-state . . . A two-time All-Region V-4A selection . . . Earned 4A Area Player of the Year honors as a senior . . . Posted a .560 average with a .657 slugging percentage . . . Had 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 33 RBIs . . . The 11 home runs set a new single-season school record . . . Named Airport’s Offensive Most Valuable Player . . . Was also selected to the Sandlapper Classic All-Tourney and All-Academic Team . . . Batted .300 his junior year with four doubles, a triple, home run and 12 RBIs . . . A four-year letterman for Airport . . . Received 2003 Cayce Post 130 Rookie of the Year honors when he hit .365 with six doubles, two triples, six home runs and 15 RBIs . . . Also had 11 stolen bases . . . A member of the 2002 Dixie Boys state runner-up team . . . Participated in Simply the Best and Diamond showcases . . . Personal: Born Jan. 2, 1986 . . . Son of Tom and Edie Waring.


And a few articles from the Wofford website
http://wofford.edu/athletics/content.aspx?id=29124
http://www.wofford.edu/athletics/content.aspx?id=29796
http://www.wofford.edu/athletics/content.aspx?id=29988

[RedLegsToday]

Brandon's season stats so far:

2007 Season 
Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS 
BIL  PIO .305 27 105 28 32 10 2 4 21 58 14 34 1 0 .398 .552 .951 
Minors   .305 27 105 28 32 10 2 4 21 58 14 34 1 0 .398 .552 .951

[RedLegsToday]

Thru July 23:

Team    League AVG  G  AB   R  H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP  SLG  OPS 
BIL      PIO  .306  31 121 29 37 11  2  5 22  67 14 40  1 0 .388 .554 .942 
Minors        .306  31 121 29 37 11  2  5 22  67 14 40  1 0 .388 .554 .942

As you can see, he's hitting for average, power and will take a walk. However, he is striking out more than once a game. I don't know if that's something to worry about after only 31 professional games, but, it is something to watch.

[BearcatShane]

I think he will K a ton his whole career. Maybe he'll be another Adam Dunn. He led all of college baseball in home runs.

[Slyder]

And people on Redszone will hate him like they do Dunn, for striking out, and want him trade for whatever we can get our hands on.

[dougdirt]

Waring is hitting very well so far. Hopefully he keeps it up the rest of the year.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

What was the write-up on his defense pre-draft? I noticed tonight that he has 10 errors already.

Nevermind, I see now, but I skimmed it first time.

[Red Heeler]

Time to promote him. Somehow, the Reds seem to miss the fact that the point of drafting more polished players is that you can move them along rapidly.

[RedLegsToday]

I am going to try to update my prospects' stats on a weekly basis. After his monster game on Saturday, Brandon is now hitting:

Team League   AVG  G  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS  OBP  SLG  OPS 
BIL  PIO     .328 35 137 33 45 12  2  7  31 82 15 41  1 0  .404 .599 1.002 
     Minors  .328 35 137 33 45 12  2  7  31 82 15 41  1 0  .404 .599 1.002

and in his last ten games all he's done is:

.425/.452/.775/1.227

[Topcat]

And people on Redszone will hate him like they do Dunn, for striking out, and want him trade for whatever we can get our hands on.

Not until he fields like crap and makes over 10 million though

[RedLegsToday]

The past week or so has been a bit down for Brandon, season stats are:

2007 Season 
Team  League  AVG  G  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI TB  BB  SO SB CS  OBP   SLG  OPS 
BIL    PIO   .301 43 166 36 50 13  2  7  32 88  15  52  1  0 .368  .530 .898

[RedLegsToday]

found this at the Billings Gazette, from 7/31/07:

http://billingsgazette.net/articles/...4-mustangs.txt

[RedLegsToday]

The last 10 games have not been kind to Brandon Waring:

Last 10 Games: (Current team only)

Date OPP AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS
Aug 04 @MIS .250 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aug 05 @HEL .250 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Aug 06 @HEL .500 4 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0
Aug 07 @HEL .200 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0
Aug 09 IDF .333 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
Aug 10 IDF .000 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
Aug 11 IDF .000 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
Aug 12 IDF .250 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aug 13 CAS .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Aug 14 CAS .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Totals .171 41 6 7 3 0 1 5 2 12 0 0

[GoReds33]

I think he will K a ton his whole career. Maybe he'll be another Adam Dunn. He led all of college baseball in home runs.

Yay. We need more dingers. Atleast he's right handed. Thats a step. This organization has too little power from the right side.

[fearofpopvol1]

Still has pretty good season stats so far. Definitely looks impressive.