Brandon Hynick Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1096
ERA	3.621
WHIP	1.204
BB/9	2.094
SO/9	6.192

Full name Brandon William Hynick
Born 03/07/1985 in North Royalton, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Birmingham-Southern
Drafted in the 8th round (228th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2006 (signed for $90,000).

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Brandon Hynick was more concerned about his health than his draft status at the season's outset. He had an appendectomy, which led to a slow start to his junior season, and he had never sustained much success in college as an underclassman. By May, his fastball velocity had exceeded what it was last fall and his command was coming around. He's been up to 93 mph and pitches off his fastball. Hynick is a good athlete and split his time between first base and the mound. His delivery is both simple and unrefined. His split-finger fastball and curveball are below-average pitches. Hynick has good makeup, and thanks to his upside he should be drafted in the eighth to 12th round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After winning pitcher of the year honors in his first two professional seasons, Hynick faced his first real challenge at Double-A in 2008. He got knocked around in two of his first three starts, lasting past the fifth inning only once. Then he adjusted, going at least six innings in 23 of his last 24 starts, and he finished the season strong, capped off by a 1.56 ERA in August. He is a control pitcher in the Brad Radke mold, with durability as his best attribute. He ranked ninth in the minors in innings in '08 after leading the minors in that category the year before. He throws quality strikes with his two-seam fastball, which has good sink. Hynick doesn't produce exceptional ground-ball numbers and can be susceptible to home runs if he doesn't command his stuff. He has issued just 71 walks in 426 professional innings. He complements a high 80s fastball with a splitter, quality changeup and curveball. His curveball remains inconsistent, but the split-finger is a swing-and-miss out pitch. Hynick has little margin for error, and hitters knows he's going to be around the strike zone. If he misses his spots he will get hit hard. He profiles as a durable innings-eater but strictly as a back-of-the-rotation option. He's headed to Triple-A to try to prove himself again.
A two-way star at Birmingham-Southern, Hynick has won pitcher of the year honors in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in his pro debut and again in the California League last season. He led the Cal League with 16 wins and a 2.52 ERA, and led all minor leaguers with 182 innings. Hynick's stuff won't wow anybody, but he makes up for that with command, poise and preparation. He develops a plan of attack and stays with it, and his ability to throw quality strikes is the key to his success. He can locate his fastball where he wants, and mixes in a splitter, a straight changeup and a curveball. Hynick operates with little margin for error. He'll flash above-average velocity at times, but he usually pitches at 87-89 mph with his fastball. His curveball isn't very good but his splitter makes up for it by serving as his out pitch. He'll have to keep proving himself at higher levels in the system, but Hynick isn't far from the majors. He was next in line for a big league callup in September if the Rockies had another injury. He'll probably open 2008 in Double-A but could force his way to Triple-A with a solid spring.
Hynick earned all-Big South Conference recognition as a pitcher and as first baseman last spring. After having an appendectomy, he still managed to lead Birmingham-Southern with 15 home runs and 100 innings pitched. Then he was the Pioneer League pitcher of the year in his pro debut after signing for $90,000 as an eighth-rounder. Hynick is a strike-thrower with a fastball that sits at 90-93 mph and has some sink. Club officials believe he'll throw even harder with more consistency with more experience, as he learns to integrate his lower half into his delivery more. He complements his fastball with a quality changeup and a improved curveball. Hynick also throws a split-finger fastball that has been his out pitch, but he's expected to put that aside to hone the command of his other secondary stuff. His mechanics improved at Casper thanks to work with pitching coach Mark Thompson, who got Hynick to break his hands sooner in his delivery, leading to better balance. His curveball took a step forward when Thompson improved Hynick's extension and got him to release the curve out in front of his body, increasing both its depth and deception. He had two impressive outings in the Northwest League and could jump to high Class A with a strong spring training.

Minor League Top Prospects

Hynick had proven his dominance by the all-star break but remained in Modesto for the entire season. He was named Cal League pitcher of the year, topped the circuit in wins (16) and ERA (2.52) and led the minor leagues in innings (182). There's nothing flashy about Hynick, but he has command of four pitches (fastball, changeup, splitter and curveball) and mixes speeds well to keep hitters off balance. His biggest strength is his ability to locate his 89-92 mph fastball to all four quadrants of the strike zone. His splitter and changeup rank ahead of his curveball, but he may be able to survive without much of a breaker. "The first three pitches are so good, it might not even be a factor," Modesto manager Jerry Weinstein said. "Velocity is all relative. He gets four pitches over the plate and gives you four speeds to look at."
A preseason appendectomy nearly derailed Hynick's junior season at Birmingham-Southern, but he rebounded to post a 2.59 ERA this spring. The Rockies pounced on him in the eighth round, confident they could help crispen his secondary stuff behind his 90-93 mph fastball. He quickly bought into instruction and went on to capture the league's pitcher of the year award. Hynick has an unorthodox arm action, but it works for him and hasn't hampered his ability to fill the strike zone. He made a lot of progress with a splitter that one coach said was the league's best pitch. He still has more work to do with his curveball and changeup.