Dewon Brazelton
| IP | 271 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 6.376 |
| WHIP | 1.683 |
| BB/9 | 5.015 |
| SO/9 | 4.815 |
- Full name Dewon Cortez Brazelton
- Born 06/16/1980 in Tullahoma, TN
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Middle Tennessee State
- Debut 09/13/2002
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Drafted in the 1st round (3rd overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2001 (signed for $4,200,000).
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On a Team USA staff that featured Southern California's Mark Prior and UCLA's Josh Karp, Brazelton went 6-0 and set a record with a 0.65 ERA. He showed that was no fluke this spring, going 13-1, 1.44 in 14 starts before the NCAA tournament, tossing 10 complete games and posting a 148-22 strikeout-walk ratio in 119 innings. Opponents batted just .181 against him. Brazelton has a great body (6-foot-6, 210 pounds), a great fastball (92-97 mph, and he takes that velocity deep into games) and a great changeup he throws with confidence. His curveball is his third-best pitch and needs work. Known for his free-spirited personality, he has matured and become more composed as a junior. He's one of the draft's top five talents and should be the easiest player to sign from that group.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The third overall pick in the 2001 draft, Brazelton got off to a slow start at Double-A Orlando in his professional debut by winning just one of his first 20 starts. The former Team USA standout rebounded to go 5-0, 1.00 in his final seven minor league outings before reaching the majors in September. By adding a slider while discovering the nuances of pitching at the professional level, Brazelton showed he can adjust. His low- to mid-90s fastball has plus movement and complements his best pitch, a changeup. He works both sides of the plate and challenges hitters. Brazelton's struggles came after the club asked him to reduce his full windup. He returned to his old delivery at midseason and excelled. His curveball has a mediocre break with inconsistent depth. His overall command also needs improvement. Brazelton limited the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in his second start, proving he's not far from being ready. He'll compete for a job in the Tampa Bay rotation in the spring. -
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2001 draft, Brazelton spent most of the summer haggling over his signing bonus. He agreed to a $4.2 million deal in late August that included a September callup, though he didn't pitch. Brazelton set a Team USA record with a 0.65 ERA in 2000 and finished third in NCAA Division I with a 1.42 ERA last spring. Brazelton's fastball sat on 95 mph during instructional league. He had the best changeup in the 2001 draft crop, and he added depth to his breaking ball during his one-month apprenticeship in Tampa. He also showed a good feel for mixing his pitches. He has a long and loose body, isn't afraid to challenge hitters and works both sides of the plate. Brazelton simply needs experience against top-notch hitters. His curveball could use some more fine-tuning before he'll be a legitimate three-pitch pitcher. The Rays believe Brazelton has the ability and maturity to reach the big leagues quickly. His showing in spring training will determine whether he makes his debut in Double-A or Triple-A, and he could climb the mound at Tropicana Field at some point in 2002.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Brazelton was considered very advanced when the Devil Rays took him third overall in the 2001 draft, but he needed some time to adjust to jumping from Middle Tennessee State to Double-A. It didn't help matters that Tampa Bay asked him to reduce his full windup at the beginning of the season. He struggled, losing eight consecutive decisions and carrying a 1-9 record into late July. But after being allowed to use his old delivery and having time to acclimate himself to pro ball, Brazelton surged in the final weeks. He rolled out a 24-inning streak without allowing an earned run and went 4-0, 1.15 in his last six starts before a late promotion to Triple-A. Brazelton can make hitters look silly with his low- to mid-90s fastball or his tantalizing changeup. His curveball and command still need improvement, though he had enough stuff to hold the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in his second big league start.
