Jeremy Brown

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #32 prospect in 2005
  Brown has been under the microscope since being the subject of an entire chapter in "Moneyball." While he has looked more like a player worth the $10,000-$15,000 price tag given to him by scouts than the $350,000 he earned as the 35th overall pick in 2002, the Athletics still think he'll have a long major league career as a valuable backup catcher. Brown got off to a slow start at Double-A Midland in 2004, but came around late in the season. His primary skill is the ability to reach base. He can hit for an acceptable average and draws walks in bunches. While he showed some power in his debut, he has just 11 home runs in 188 games above Class A. He's slow and a clogger on the basepaths. Defensively, Brown leaves much to be desired. He calls an excellent game, but he has trouble blocking pitches and often stabs at balls, not framing them well. His arm, which already was below average when drafted, has regressed. Brown will split catching duties with John Baker at Triple-A Sacramento this year, and his future is seen as backing up one of the high-profile 2004 draftees (Landon Powell and Kurt Suzuki).
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #14 prospect in 2004
  Perhaps no player in baseball inspires more diversity of opinion than the squat catcher from Alabama. No other team evaluated him as an early-round pick in 2002, yet Oakland drafted him 35th overall. Saving money with seven first-round picks was a factor, as Brown's $350,000 bonus was the lowest in the top 66 choices. But the A's probably could have taken him five rounds later and signed him for $10,000. They say he'll be a top-flight big league catcher, putting up outstanding offensive numbers while functioning well on defense. Scouts outside the organization point to his lack of athleticism and fear he won't have the mobility to block pitches out of the strike zone, which would prevent him from becoming an everyday catcher. Those limitations became more apparent when he advanced to Double-A last year. The A's put Brown on an intense agility program over the winter, hoping to increase his flexibility. After a spectacular pro debut in 2002, Brown continued to pile up walks in Double-A, but his average slipped and his power fell off dramatically. He earns high marks for calling games and working with pitchers, but his sluggishness behind the plate also detracts from his slightly above-average arm. He threw out just 21 percent of basestealers in 2003. Brown missed the second half of the season and instructional league with a strained left thumb. He may need to return to Double-A at the start of this year.
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #4 prospect in 2003
  Brown spent his first two years at Alabama as a corner infielder before moving behind the plate, where he had played occasionally in youth leagues. After turning down the Red Sox as a 19th-round pick in 2001, he won the 2002 Johnny Bench award as college baseball's best catcher. While his $350,000 bonus was easily the lowest in the top 66 picks, he proved himself offensively and defensively in high Class A after signing. Brown combines catch-and-throw abilities with a talent for hitting. His arm is slightly above-average. He hits for both power and average, with the plate discipline the A's covet. He set the Alabama career record for walks. Brown's short, squat body turned off many scouts and doesn't fit the mold of the more athletic modern big league catcher. But as A's general manager Billy Beane said, "We're not selling jeans here." Brown needs to improve his footwork and blocking skills, and he devoted instructional league to making the changes. Brown has a chance to jump to Double-A in 2003. If he continues to perform well, he'll be on a fast track to the majors.