David Bromberg

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #13 prospect in 2011
  The Twins drafted Bromberg in the 32nd round out of high school in 2005, even though he pushed 275 pounds, and signed him for $40,000 as a draft-and-follow the next spring, Since then, he has won three league strikeout crowns, reached Triple-A and earned a spot on the 40-man roster. Bromberg quietly had a solid 2010 season despite pitching on two awful teams, logging his third consecutive season with at least 150 innings. Strong and durable, he got better as the season wore on at maintaining his velocity and filling the strike the zone. Bromberg's solid-average curveball rates as the best in the organization. He can throw it for strikes or use it as a chase pitch when he's ahead in the count. More advanced hitters haven't chased it as much as lower-level batters did, which accounts for his declining strikeout rate since he led the minors in whiffs in 2008. Bromberg has enough fastball, touching 94-95 at times, to work up in the zone to set up his curve. He has an 86-92 mph two-seamer to induce early-count contact, as well as an average changeup that he used to hold lefthanders to a .229 average last season. Bromberg's elbow gets low in his delivery, causing his stuff to flatten out at times and costing him command, but he has become more consistent in maintaining his delivery. He projects as a back-of-the- rotation innings-eater and should start 2011 anchoring Rochester's rotation along with Kyle Gibson.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #9 prospect in 2010
  Signed for $40,000 as a draft-and-follow in 2006, Bromberg already has given the Twins value. In his last three seasons, he has led three leagues in strikeouts and topped the minors with 177 in 2008. Last year, he started the high Class A Florida State League all-star game and was Minnesota's minor league pitcher of the year. Bromberg chews up innings with a durable body and four pitches he can throw for strikes. He usually uses a two-seam fastball that sits at 89-92 mph, but he can run a four-seamer up to 95 when needed. He keeps the ball in the ballpark and pitches downhill. His curveball is his next-best pitch, and at times it has sharp downward break. He has confidence in his changeup and slider and pitches with a good tempo. He stays poised when in a jam, minimizing damage. His fastball command comes and goes, as Bromberg finished third in the FSL with 63 walks. He's not a great athlete, which can get his delivery out of whack. Because he doesn't command his fastball and his curve is a bit slurvy, he doesn't own a true plus pitch. Bromberg profiles as a No. 3 to No. 5 starter who will eat innings. He's headed for Double-A this year.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #19 prospect in 2009
  Several scouts liked Bromberg's power potential when he was a high schooler in Malibu, but he instead has found success as a pitcher since signing as a draft-and-follow for $40,000. He led the minor leagues with 177 strikeouts in 2008, thanks to a finishing kick that included 50 whiffs in 35 innings over his final six starts. Bromberg is still making adjustments to being a full-time pitcher and learned to pace himself through a full season in low Class A, holding the velocity on his 88-92 mph fastball all season. He touches 95 at times with his four-seamer but pitches off the two-seamer, more notable for its sink than its run. He varies the velocity and shape of his curveball, his strikeout pitch. It really came around in the second half as he got a better handle on his mechanics. Former pitching coordinator Rick Knapp used planter stands to rig a directional training drill that got Bromberg to stop over-rotating in his delivery. His changeup is solid average, and he improved in quickening his time to the plate and handling the running game. Better fastball command will be crucial for Bromberg to keep getting strikeouts at higher levels, and he'll have to work to maintain his body, as he's not particularly athletic. He led the Midwest League in hit batters (19) and wild pitches (16). He projects as an innings-eating mid-rotation starter as he learns to be more efficient and not go for swinging strikes on every pitch. He's ticketed for high Class A this year.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #15 prospect in 2008
  The Twins first saw Bromberg playing with Alex Burnett and Curtis Leavitt in a Los Angeles wood-bat event, and all three are now Twins, with Bromberg and Leavitt playing together at Elizabethton last season. After starring at Palisades High in Los Angeles, Bromberg signed as a draft-and-follow after a year at Santa Ana (Calif.) JC, where he pitched with Braves prospect Kris Medlen. Bromberg had a solid pro debut while getting into better shape, then broke out as the Appalachian League pitcher of the year in 2007, averaging 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Bromberg attacks hitters confidently with two pitchers, a 90-92 mph fastball and a high-70s power slurve that he improved after working with Elizabethton pitching coach Jim Shellenback. There's probably more velocity to come because he has a projectable frame with a narrow torso and long legs. Bromberg's changeup needs work, as lefthanders (.844 OPS) fared much better against him than righthanders (.566 OPS), and his slurve could use refinement as well. He's still working to repeat his delivery and throw more quality strikes. Bromberg may have a ways to go, but his ceiling is considerable. He's expected to earn a spot in Beloit's 2008 rotation.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #15 prospect in 2009
  A 32nd-round pick in 2005, Bromberg established himself as a prospect by leading the minor leagues with 177 strikeouts last year. He followed that performance up by topping the FSL with 148 whiffs and winning the league's most valuable pitcher award in 2009. Despite all the strikeouts, Bromberg isn't a power pitcher. He succeeds by pitching backwards, showing a willingness to throw his slightly above-average changeup and slurvy breaking ball in counts where hitters are looking for fastballs. His lively heater actually needs the most work of any of his pitches. He sat at 91-93 mph and touched 95 early in the season but struggled to command his fastball. After some mechanical changes, he worked at 88-91 mph with improved control later in the year. Managers loved Bromberg's competitiveness. His expression is the same if he's working on a no-hitter or trying to get out of a bases-loaded jam. His stuff seems to get better when he's in pressure-packed situations.
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  Ranked American League #3 prospect in 2007
  Bromberg signed as a 32nd-round pick in 2005 and still hasn't made it out of Rookie ball. But he also was 19 all season and made a huge jump forward working with Elizabethton pitching coach Jim Shellenback. Bromberg won the league's pitcher of the year award after ranking first in wins (nine) and strikeouts (81 in 58 innings). He throws a heavy 90-92 mph fastball and locates it well to both sides of the plate. He also works with a 77-80 mph curveball, which he sometimes throws too hard, and a rudimentary changeup. Intimidating at 6-foot-5 and 230, he uses a high three-quarters delivery.

• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  The Twins drafted Bromberg in the 32nd round out of high school in 2005, even though he pushed 275 pounds, and signed him for $40,000 as a draft-and-follow the next spring, Since then, he has won three league strikeout crowns, reached Triple-A and earned a spot on the 40-man roster. Bromberg quietly had a solid 2010 season despite pitching on two awful teams, logging his third consecutive season with at least 150 innings. Strong and durable, he got better as the season wore on at maintaining his velocity and filling the strike the zone. Bromberg's solid-average curveball rates as the best in the organization. He can throw it for strikes or use it as a chase pitch when he's ahead in the count. More advanced hitters haven't chased it as much as lower-level batters did, which accounts for his declining strikeout rate since he led the minors in whiffs in 2008. Bromberg has enough fastball, touching 94-95 at times, to work up in the zone to set up his curve. He has an 86-92 mph two-seamer to induce early-count contact, as well as an average changeup that he used to hold lefthanders to a .229 average last season. Bromberg's elbow gets low in his delivery, causing his stuff to flatten out at times and costing him command, but he has become more consistent in maintaining his delivery. He projects as a back-of-the- rotation innings-eater and should start 2011 anchoring Rochester's rotation along with Kyle Gibson.