Brandon Duckworth

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #9 prospect in 2001
  Duckworth has risen from not getting drafted after his senior college season to the verge of the Phillies rotation. Coming off a subpar 1999 season in Clearwater, Duckworth led the Eastern League in strikeouts and earned recognition as an all-star and as the circuit's No. 5 prospect. Duckworth doesn't try to blow hitters away, but he can show surprising pop and movement on his fastball. It regularly sits in the 87-92 mph range, topping out at 94. His sharp, 12-to-6 curveball was rated the best breaking pitch in the EL, and he also has a changeup. He'll throw any of his three pitches at any point in the count. There are no glaring weaknesses in Duckworth's arsenal, but at the age of 25, he may have to prove that his breakthrough was no fluke. Often labeled as a finesse guy, he'll need to maintain his increased velocity to enjoy success in the majors. Duckworth effectively placed himself on the fast track by outdueling hitters in Double-A. He'll get a long look in spring training, and has the inside track over rookies Dave Coggin and Evan Thomas for consideration on the big league staff.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2001
  As Philadelphia's minor league pitching coordinator last year, Goose Gregson said he was one of Duckworth's biggest critics. As the Red Barons' pitching coach this season, Gregson became one of his biggest fans. Gregson said the Duckworth of 2000 was a fly-ball pitcher who was preoccupied with strikeouts and had a curveball that too closely resembled his slider. This year's version focused on keeping the ball down, getting outs with one pitch instead of three, and developing a 12-to-6 curveball that gave him four major league-quality pitches (fastball, curveball, slider and changeup). Despite getting promoted to Philadelphia in early August, Duckworth won the IL's most valuable pitcher award and nearly won the pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins and ERA while finishing third in strikeouts. He joined fellow rookies Dave Coggin and Nelson Figueroa in the Phillies' rotation and turned in eight quality starts in his first nine outings, going 2-1, 2.93. "Early in the year, he was absolutely not ready," Gregson said. "But he was blossoming as a pitcher when he was called up. The other two having success gave him the confidence that he could do the same thing."
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #5 prospect in 2000
  Few noticed Duckworth in 1997, when he finished his college career at Cal State Fullerton and didn’t get drafted. It was impossible to miss him in 2000, as he may have been the EL’s most polished pitcher in three years. His fastball has average velocity at best, but he spots it well and isn’t afraid to throw it inside. His curveball was ranked as the league’s best breaking pitch, and Duckworth can toss it for strikes or get batters to chase it out of the zone. He became the first Reading pitcher since Mark Davis in 1980 to lead the EL in strikeouts. "There's nothing overpowering with him," Etchebarren said, "but I think he has good makeup and I think his stuff is plenty good to pitch in the big leagues. He has three pitches. He'll throw his breaking ball in fastball counts and he keeps the ball down in the strike zone."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Few noticed Duckworth in 1997, when he finished his college career at Cal State Fullerton and didn’t get drafted. It was impossible to miss him in 2000, as he may have been the EL’s most polished pitcher in three years. His fastball has average velocity at best, but he spots it well and isn’t afraid to throw it inside. His curveball was ranked as the league’s best breaking pitch, and Duckworth can toss it for strikes or get batters to chase it out of the zone. He became the first Reading pitcher since Mark Davis in 1980 to lead the EL in strikeouts. "There's nothing overpowering with him," Etchebarren said, "but I think he has good makeup and I think his stuff is plenty good to pitch in the big leagues. He has three pitches. He'll throw his breaking ball in fastball counts and he keeps the ball down in the strike zone."