Brad Tippett Stats & Scouting Report

Top Rankings

The Twins have been active in Australia for years, with several players breaking through to the majors (Grant Balfour, Mike Nakamura, Brad Thomas) but none making a major impact. Tippett and fellow Aussie righthander Liam Hendriks are the best of the organization's current crew from Down Under. Hendriks, whose father was an Australian Rules Football star, has better present stuff and is a gifted athlete. However, he has had knee trouble that has led to other nagging injuries, and he has a below-average fastball. Tippett rates as the better long-term prospect because he has similar 84-88 mph velocity--touching 90 at times--but already owns a devastating changeup, a true major league plus pitch. Lefthanders were helpless against Tippett last year, going 0-for-36 with no walks and 19 strikeouts. His curveball has the potential to be an average pitch, and he pounds the strike zone with everything. His low-maintenance delivery makes his command project to be major league average, if not a tick above. If his fastball comes along, Tippett could develop into a middle-of-the-rotation starter. He'll need a good spring to break through Minnesota's glut of young pitchers and make the Beloit rotation, but a return to extended spring training shouldn't be considered a major setback.

Though he's a righty, Tippett was deadly against lefthanders. In 36 plate appearances, they didn't reach base once and struck out 19 times. Righties didn't have much more success, batting .215 with 32 strikeouts in 93 at-bats. Tippett isn't overpowering, but he has very good control and hides the ball well in his delivery, making it tough for hitters to pick up his pitches. His best offering is a curveball that he'll throw in any count, and he also has an 85-88 mph fastball and an average changeup. The Twins have used Tippett solely as a reliever since signing him out of Australia, but they have pondered the idea of turning him into a starter. When he signed, they compared him to Brad Radke.