Brad Sullivan
| IP | 235 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.936 |
| WHIP | 1.796 |
| BB/9 | 4.672 |
| SO/9 | 5.745 |
- Full name Bradley Keith Sullivan
- Born 09/12/1981 in Beaumont, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Houston
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Drafted in the 1st round (25th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2003 (signed for $1,360,000).
View Draft Report
Sullivan's track record stacks up against any pitcher in the draft. He topped NCAA Division I with 157 strikeouts in 2002 and followed up in the summer by outpitching Kyle Sleeth on Team USA. If he can catch Wright State's Casey Abrams, whom he trailed by 10 whiffs at the end of the regular season, Sullivan will become the first repeat strikeout leader since Hawaii legend Derek Tatsuno (1977-79). But because he's only 6 feet tall and has been a little inconsistent this spring, he has slid from a potential top-10 pick toward the bottom of the first round. His 82-85 mph slider is his best pitch, and he also has a 91-93 sinker. He varies his arm slots, location and velocity to keep hitters off balance and is a tenacious competitor. He also can mix in an overhand curveball, his out pitch on a day when he tied a Houston record with 16 strikeouts against Saint Louis, and a decent changeup. His combination of stuff, command and mound presence is difficult to beat.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Sullivan was the system's biggest disappointment in 2004, delivering just nine quality starts in 27 tries and getting battered around for a .303 average. He has yet to show the stuff he had as a Houston sophomore, when he projected as a possible top pick in the 2003 draft. He tailed off as a junior, allowing the A's to get him with the 25th overall pick. After throwing 91-93 mph in college, Sullivan has dipped to the high 80s and rarely has touched 90 as a pro. His slider, which is his best pitch, also decreased from the mid-80s to the high 70s. His mechanics fell apart in high Class A, as he consistently flew open with his front side. That gave batters a long look at his pitches, and led not only to the drop in velocity but also a disturbing loss of movement on all of his pitches. He also throws a curveball and changeup. Sullivan showed a strong work ethic throughout his troubles, but the lack of results frustrated him and led to a loss in confidence. He had trouble with breathing and with sinus headaches during 2004, attributed to a serious car accident he was in at age 10. Offseason surgery to remove a plate from his head and rebuild the bridge of his nose should correct those problems. Sullivan is ticketed to return to the high Class A California League this year. -
Sullivan came within 10 whiffs of becoming the first pitcher since the 1970s to successfully defend an NCAA Division I strikeout title, but he wore down late in the spring and slipped out of the top 10 picks. The A's were shocked when he was available with the 25th overall selection. After signing him for $1.36 million, Oakland handled him gingerly. Sullivan's darting fastball and hard slider are both plus offerings with excellent movement. His curveball also can serve as an out pitch at times. He's athletic, which allows him to repeat his delivery and field his position well. He has terrific feel for pitching and keeps hitters off balance by varying his arm slot, location and velocity. Sullivan also played first and second base for Houston in the NCAA playoffs, and he was exhausted when he joined the A's. The velocity on his fastball dipped from 91-93 mph to the high 80s, and his slider dropped from 82-85 mph to the high 70s. The hope is that he'll bounce back after a winter of rest. Oakland has revamped his mechanics to improve his durability. If he's 100 percent, Sullivan should be able to start this season at high Class A and reach the majors before most 2003 draftees. An optimistic ETA would be late 2005.
