Jake Brentz Stats & Scouting Report

IP	24
ERA	10.88
WHIP	2.29
BB/9	13.13
SO/9	9.75

Full name Jacob Steven Brentz
Born 09/14/1994 in Ballwin, MO
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Parkway South
Debut 04/03/2021
Drafted in the 11th round (325th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 (signed for $700,000).

View Draft Report

Brentz offers one of the biggest risk/reward dichotomies in the draft. He's a lefthander with extraordinary arm strength, capable of hitting 97 mph and putting on jaw-dropping displays in pregame long toss. But he's new to pitching and raw in every phase of the craft. He showed fifth-round potential as a power hitter with a right-field profile but barely pitched in three high school seasons. His arm strength led to a stint on the mound at the World Wood Bat Association World Championships last fall, and his future changed when he touched 96 mph. Brentz still takes classes at Parkway South but has spent the spring pitching in a Perfect Game league in Iowa. He has a clean arm action and the ball explodes out of his hand. His athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and easy delivery lead to hope that he can develop his secondary pitches and command, though they're in the rudimentary stages. Brentz's fastball velocity drops off quickly and dips to 88 mph later in games, and he has shown more feel for his changeup than his loopy breaking ball. A team could gamble on him as early as the second round, which would likely be enough to lure him away from a Missouri commitment.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Brentz was one of the more fascinating prospects in the 2013 draft class. Originally seen as a potential corner bat, his arm strength led him to take the mound at the 2012 World Wood Bat championships, and he reached 96 mph. After Brentz followed that up with a promising spring, the Blue Jays took a shot on him in the 11th round of the 2013 draft and signed him for $700,000. A raw, physical specimen, Brentz was learning how to pitch and making strides when the Mariners acquired him as part of the deadline deal for Mark Lowe last summer. Brentz has an easy arm action with impressive strength, and he pitches in the low 90s. He has the makings of a fringy curveball and his changeup shows some cut, though he is still developing feel for his offspeed stuff. Brentz's control needs lots of improvement and command is a distant dream right now. He is far from reaching his ceiling, but he should be tested with a full-season assignment in 2016.
Scouts viewed Brentz as a potential top-five-rounds pick as an outfielder heading into the 2013 season, but his path to the draft changed when he touched 96 mph off the mound in the fall. His lack of experience on the mound and Missouri commitment made him a wild card, and the Jays took him in the 11th round. Brentz received a $700,000 signing bonus that was commensurate with third-round money. He has the upside to pitch in the front half of a major league rotation, but his inexperience will put him on a slow developmental track. He has an athletic, muscular and projectable build, with a loose, quick arm. The ball explodes out of his hand and he has a 90-95 mph fastball that can touch 97 with average movement. He has surprising feel for a changeup, a testament to his athleticism, and it's his best secondary offering. He needs to add power to his curveball, which flashes average, because it can get loopy. The priority for his development is learning to repeat his delivery so he can throw strikes consistently, which will include a smaller leg kick, not collapsing his back leg and getting on top of his fastball. Brentz will likely open 2014 in extended spring training before getting a short-season assignment.

Draft Prospects

Brentz offers one of the biggest risk/reward dichotomies in the draft. He's a lefthander with extraordinary arm strength, capable of hitting 97 mph and putting on jaw-dropping displays in pregame long toss. But he's new to pitching and raw in every phase of the craft. He showed fifth-round potential as a power hitter with a right-field profile but barely pitched in three high school seasons. His arm strength led to a stint on the mound at the World Wood Bat Association World Championships last fall, and his future changed when he touched 96 mph. Brentz still takes classes at Parkway South but has spent the spring pitching in a Perfect Game league in Iowa. He has a clean arm action and the ball explodes out of his hand. His athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and easy delivery lead to hope that he can develop his secondary pitches and command, though they're in the rudimentary stages. Brentz's fastball velocity drops off quickly and dips to 88 mph later in games, and he has shown more feel for his changeup than his loopy breaking ball. A team could gamble on him as early as the second round, which would likely be enough to lure him away from a Missouri commitment.

Career Transactions

LHP Jake Brentz elected free agency.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated LHP Jake Brentz.
Kansas City Royals sent LHP Jake Brentz outright to Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Kansas City Royals designated LHP Jake Brentz for assignment.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated LHP Jake Brentz.
Kansas City Royals optioned LHP Jake Brentz to Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Kansas City Royals activated LHP Jake Brentz from the 15-day injured list.
Kansas City Royals sent LHP Jake Brentz on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals sent LHP Jake Brentz on a rehab assignment to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals placed LHP Jake Brentz on the 15-day injured list. Left Hamstring strain.
Kansas City Royals placed LHP Jake Brentz on the 60-day injured list. Left elbow surgery.
Kansas City Royals signed free agent LHP Jake Brentz.