Dallas Braden

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #19 prospect in 2006
  Braden grew up in Stockton and played college ball at Texas Tech, not too far from Midland. He played at both stops in 2005, his first full pro season after signing as a 24th round pick the year before. He quickly merited his promotion to Double-A after recording four consecutive double-digit strikeout games in high Class A. The jump proved to be much more of a challenge for Braden, who was shut down in August with a tired arm. He gets hitters out with guile, command and a trick pitch. His screwball features so much break and deception that less-advanced hitters had no idea how to hit it. Unfortunately for Braden, it's his only above-average pitch. His fastball sits in the mid-80s and can touch 89, and he mixes in a below-average slider and a decent changeup. More advanced hitters were disciplined enough to lay off his breaking stuff and wait for his fastball, so he'll have to find a way to keep more patient hitters more off balance. He'll begin 2006 back in Double-A.
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #31 prospect in 2005
  Braden didn't receive much draft buzz as the workhorse of a surprising Texas Tech team in 2004, but Athletics scouts took early interest in him. He pitched very well down the stretch, striking out a career-high 11 against Mississippi State in the NCAA regionals, and carried that momentum into his pro debut after signing as a 24th-rounder. He completely overmatched short-season Northwest League hitters and fanned 15 in the third game of the low Class A Midwest League playoff finals. Braden's screwball is a true out pitch, sinking and running in on righthanders. He has decent velocity for a lefty at 88-90 mph, up about 3 mph from the spring. His changeup has 15 mph of separation from his fastball, and he throws his change with good arm speed and deception. Braden is an outstanding athlete--he hit .286 as a part-time DH for the Red Raiders last year--and fields his position well. There's some question as to how his stuff will play at the upper levels without a plus fastball, but Oakland believe he's a steal. He'll get challenged with an assignment to high Class A Stockton in 2005.