Drafted in the 13th round (373rd overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1996.
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Levrault had an up-and-down season in his first full year at the Triple-A level but got his feet wet in a stint with the Brewers. Used sporadically out of the bullpen, the confident Levrault showed no fear of big league hitters. But his inexperience did show at times. An aggressive pitcher who goes right at hitters, Levrault has a low-90s fastball and effective changeup. He seems to pitch better in small spurts, which is why there's a movement afoot to convert him from a starter to a set-up man. He has the bulldog mentality to pitch at the end of games. He has had trouble stringing together wins as a starter because he too often is a two-pitch pitcher who struggles with his breaking ball. He can be stubborn at times, throwing too many fastballs, and his confidence sometimes crosses the line to cockiness. Levrault may get the chance to win a spot in the Milwaukee bullpen during the spring. He has been primarily a starter in the minors, but his future in the big leagues probably is at the end of games, possibly as a closer.
Background: Levrault was promoted to Stockton despite a dismal 1997 season at Beloit. He responded by dominating the California League before flaming out after a promotion to El Paso. The Brewers rave about Levrault's bulldog mentality and were impressed that he wasn't broken mentally after his poor showing in Double-A. He has one of the best arms in the system. Strengths: Levrault has a fierce determination to succeed. He wants the ball at crunch time. His top pitch is a fastball in the low 90s and he complements it with an excellent changeup. He throws strikes as a matter of routine. Weaknesses: An unreliable curveball has made Levrault a two-pitch pitcher at times. One bad inning, frequently the result of stubborn reliance on his fastball, is often his undoing. The Future: Levrault has a closer's mentality, so the Brewers have decided to go that route for now. This season he will be shifted from starting to finishing games, a role in which the Brewers believe he will flourish.
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