Brandon Beachy Stats & Scouting Report

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Beachy was a third baseman who moonlighted as a closer when he went undrafted following his junior season at Indiana Wesleyan in 2008. After starring as a pitcher in the collegiate Valley League that summer, he signed with the Braves for $20,000 as a free agent. He had a breakthrough season in 2010, leading the minors with a 1.73 ERA and making three solid starts for Atlanta in September. Beachy has a live, fresh arm with good overall command of three pitches. He gets ahead of hitters by establishing his 90-94 mph fastball with plus life, throwing it on a nice downhill plane and to both sides of the plate. His hard, sharp-breaking curveball has quality depth. After beginning last season in Mississippi's bullpen, he began using his effective changeup more often as a starter. Hitters rarely barreled Beachy's pitches last season, even when he reached the big leagues. His confidence has improved considerably, though he's still honing the mental aspects of pitching at the game's highest levels. He may not have a long track record of success on the mound, but Beachy's repertoire and feel for pitching bode well for the long term. He succeeded as both a reliever and a starter in 2010, enhancing his chances of making the Atlanta pitching staff this spring. His ceiling is as a No. 3 starter.

In one of the more improbable stories of 2010, Beachy went from being a nondrafted free agent two years earlier to opening the season in Mississippi's bullpen to making the Braves' postseason roster. In between, he won the minor league ERA title (1.73) and acquitted himself well in three crucial September starts for Atlanta. Beachy primarily works with two pitches. His low-90s fastball doesn't have a lot of life, but he throws it on a nice downhill plane and does a good job of locating it, particularly on the inner half. His hard, big-breaking curveball has nice depth and good bite. After moving into the rotation, Beachy began using his improved changeup more often. He has a good frame and a repeatable delivery that enables him to fill the strike zone.