Andrew Brown Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Andrew Aaron Brown
Born 02/17/1981 in Chardon, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Trinity Christian Academy
Debut 08/13/2006
Drafted in the 6th round (204th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 1999.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Brown joined the Padres along with Kevin Kouzmanoff in the November trade that sent Josh Barfield to the Indians. While Brown has a history of elbow issues, including Tommy John surgery in 2000, the mental side of the game has been a bigger factor in slowing his climb to the majors. The Indians questioned his mental toughness in 2004, but he showed more aggressiveness after moving to the bullpen the following season. Brown has power stuff, with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a wipeout slider. When the Indians scouted him in 2004, Brown was sitting at 95-96 mph, topping out at 98--a velocity he never approached with the Indians. Mechanical issues are partly to blame, as Brown is often long, slow and unbalanced in his delivery. That doesn't bode well for controlling runners or his command, which took a major hit last year. Brown could still be valuable coming out of the pen if he irons out the kinks in his delivery, but it will have to be this season because he's out of options.
Brown has been involved in two high-profile trades. The first sent him from the Braves to the Dodgers as part of a package for Gary Sheffield in January 2002. When Milton Bradley wore out his welcome with Cleveland, Los Angeles acquired Bradley in exchange for Brown and Franklin Gutierrez in April 2004. Brown was a top prospect in the Dodgers system before missing almost the entire 2003 season with elbow problems. He also sat out 2000 recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he has been healthy since joining the Indians. Brown moved to the bullpen last year, where his effortless 92-97 mph fastball and power slider work well and he no longer has to worry about honing his changeup. While there were concerns about Brown's mental toughness, he was much more aggressive coming out of the bullpen. He struggled with his delivery early in 2005 until Buffalo pitching coach Ken Rowe helped him stay more upright so he can just drop and drive toward home plate. The results were encouraging as he posted a 1.43 ERA and allowed just 12 hits in his final 31 innings. Brown's maximum velocity comes on high fastballs, and he sometimes took that to the extreme, getting too far underneath the ball. He'll be in the mix for a spot in the big league bullpen, but might need further seasoning in Triple-A.
After sending Milton Bradley to Los Angeles for Gutierrez and a player to be named, Cleveland chose Brown from a group of prospects to complete the deal. Brown had made a strong first impression on the Dodgers in 2002 after coming from Atlanta in a trade for Gary Sheffield, but made only one start in 2003 because of elbow problems. Brown possesses an overpowering four-pitch mix, led by an effortless 92-96 mph fastball that he drives down in the zone. He also has two power breaking balls along with good touch on an average changeup. Health is the biggest question mark with Brown. He had Tommy John surgery in 2000 and bone chips removed from the same elbow in 2003. The Dodgers developed some concerns about his mental toughness, as have the Indians. Brown needs to show he's willing to accept criticism from coaches before he'll reach his potential. He'll start 2005 in Double-A and could make his major league debut later in the year.
Injuries to top pitching prospects Jonathan Figueroa (shoulder), Brown and Alfredo Gonzalez (shoulder) were among the few Dodgers disappointments in the minor leagues in 2003. Brown, an afterthought in the Gary Sheffield trade with the Braves before the 2002 season, looked ready to assert himself as one of the brightest pitching prospects in the minors. Three years removed from Tommy John surgery in 2000, he opened eyes in big league camp last spring. He was throwing an effortless 93-96 mph fastball, along with a pair of plus breaking balls and an average changeup. Then Brown was pulled from his only regular season start after one inning because of a twinge in his elbow. He had surgery to remove bone chips in June and didn't resurface until instructional league. Even then, he threw only 45-50 pitch bullpen sessions. His delivery is clean and his arm works well, though his command has been inconsistent in the past. First and foremost, Brown must prove his durability. He could put himself in the Dodgers' big league plans after starting back in Double-A.
Brown was something of an unknown when he was acquired as a throw-in in the Gary Sheffield deal with the Braves. Credit Los Angeles' pro scouting staff for uncovering a gem. Brown had Tommy John surgery and missed the 2000 season, but was touching the mid-90s by instructional league in 2001. He made a good impression on his new organization by ranking second in the Florida State League in strikeouts and third in average allowed last year. Brown can be overpowering with an 89-93 mph fastball, and his hammer curveball is a strikeout pitch. He mixes in a below-average slider and average changeup. He reminds some of a young Jack McDowell. He has a long, loose arm action, and just needs to repeat his delivery and release point to sharpen the command of his fastball. Brown's next challenge will be Double-A. He should move one level at a time.

Minor League Top Prospects

When the Dodgers shipped Gary Sheffield to the Braves in January for Brian Jordan, Odalis Perez and a pitching prospect, Andrew Brown's name wasn't the most obvious choice from Atlanta's deep mound corps. Los Angeles' scouts deserve credit for uncovering a potential gem in Brown, though. Brown, who missed all of 2000 thanks to Tommy John surgery, was back up to the mid-90s last fall in instructional league before the trade. He continued to flash 95 mph heat this season and sat at 88-93. He also throws a power curveball, a slider and changeup, delivering everything on a nice downhill plane. "He reminds me of Jack McDowell," Trembley said. "He has a real good feel for pitching. He's not going to be in the minors for long."