Brandon Medders

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #20 prospect in 2006
  The Diamondbacks had to wait three years for Medders to fulfill the promise of his 2001 pro debut, as he failed in a conversion to the rotation in 2002 and missed most of 2004 after labrum surgery. After he replaced an injured Jason Bulger as Tucson's closer in early 2005, Medders was one of the most reliable relievers in the Arizona bullpen during the second half. He has a low-90s fastball with plenty of sink, and he added a cutter that was a key to his success. He also throws an average slider and an occasional changeup. His awkward delivery hides the ball for a long time, making all of his pitches difficult to pick up. Scouts praise his aggressiveness. To profile as more than a setup man, Medders needs to find an effective pitch against lefties, who hit .339 against him at Tucson and 78 points higher than righties did against him in the majors (.239 versus .161). Medders enters 2006 with a job in the Arizona bullpen all but locked up.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #17 prospect in 2004
  Drafted by the Devil Rays in the 37th round out of high school and by the Royals as an 18th-rounder out of Shelton State (Ala.) Community College, Medders finally signed as an eighth-rounder out of Mississippi State. His ERA has been inflated by launching pads at Lancaster and El Paso the last two years, but he has shown late-inning stuff after moving to the bullpen because of his herky-jerky, max-effort delivery. Medders has a 91-94 mph fastball that sinks and tops out at 96. It has plus life and naturally moves like a cutter. He also shows a good feel for his hard slider, which he can add and subtract from. Medders showed a closer's mentality by assuming that role at El Paso when Brian Bruney was promoted last year. The Diamondbacks added him to the 40-man roster in November and expect him to finish games in Triple-A this year. He could make his major league debut this summer.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #27 prospect in 2002
  Medders has improved his stock each year. He was drafted in the 37th round by the Devil Rays out of high school in 1998, then in the 18th round by the Royals out of Shelton State (Tenn.) Community College a year later, but opted not to sign. He transferred to Mississippi State in 2000 and emerged as the Bulldogs' closer last spring before Arizona took him in the eighth round in June. The Diamondbacks think he could be a slightly bigger version of Tim Hudson. Medders gets a lot of sink on his 90-94 mph fastball and mixes it well with his slider and changeup. He had no problems going straight to high Class A after signing, as his 1.32 ERA, .184 opponent batting average and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings attest. Some scouts were turned off by adjustments he made to his delivery as a junior but he hasn't had any difficulties to this point. Arizona hopes it can get the same production out of him next season as a Double-A starter.