Brad Bergesen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	424
ERA	4.606
WHIP	1.389
BB/9	2.59
SO/9	4.776

Full name Bradley Steven Bergesen
Born 09/25/1985 in Concord, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Foothill
Debut 04/21/2009
Drafted in the 4th round (109th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2004 (signed for $310,000).

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Bergesen jumped a level on most draft boards this spring by throwing his fastball consistently in the 90-93 mph range, while touching 95. He's similar to San Jose State righthander Matt Durkin because he can dominate a game with just his fastball, though that will prove more challenging at a higher level. He maintained his velocity deep into games. He dabbled with a sinker and slider but didn't show consistent command of either pitch as he went 9-0, 0.47 with 93 walks in 60 innings. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he's a workhorse with a fierce competitive side. Some teams have the University of San Diego signee in the first five rounds, but most see him in the sixth- through 10th-round range.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Bergesen has moved slowly through the system, going through everything from mononucleosis in 2006 to getting hit in the head by a batting-practice liner in 2007. Because he struggled in high Class A after getting drilled, the Orioles returned him there to open last season. He quickly earned a promotion after four strong starts, and ended up winning Eastern League pitcher-of-the-year honors. Bergesen doesn't earn more accolades as a prospect because his stuff is nothing special and gives him a ceiling no higher than that of a back-end starter. He's a strikethrower who has a good delivery, repeats his pitches and keeps everything down, succeeding with command and a talent for mixing his offerings. Bergesen's best pitch is his sinker, which peaks in the low 90s, followed by a changeup that can induce swings and misses. Improved depth on his slider probably made the biggest difference for him last season, giving him three legitimate weapons. He wore down at the end of last season, compiling a 5.28 ERA in six August starts, but he still showed enough to get a shot at the Norfolk rotation to open 2009.
Bergesen struggled with mononucleosis in 2006, and the illness not only kept him out of action for a month but also sapped his strength for much of the year. He bounced back with a strong performance in low Class A, then was hit in the head by a line drive during batting practice after a promotion to high Class A. He missed only one start but never got untracked, though he pitched better in the Carolina League playoffs. Bergesen succeeds with command and movement, though his velocity improved last season from 89-90 to 91-93 mph. He throws a four-seam fastball that peaks at 95, but is better off using his two-seamer with good sink. He also throws a low-80s slider and a solid changeup. Bergesen gets in trouble when he doesn't command his pitches in the strike zone, and he has a tendency to overthink and try to be too precise at times. As one scout said, "He's not sexy, but he can pitch." Bergesen probably will return to high Class A to open 2008 but could earn another midseason promotion if he performs well.

Minor League Top Prospects

After making short work of the South Atlantic League, Bergesen was greeted rudely in the CL--not only by opponents, but his teammates as well. After tossing a complete game in his first outing, he lost two straight starts and was hit in the head by a line drive in a freak accident during batting practice. He missed just one turn in the rotation but never got untracked. Bergesen throws four pitches for strikes, beginning with a four-seam fastball that tops out at 95 mph. He also gets groundballs with his 90-92 mph sinker and keeps hitters off balance with a low-80s slider and changeup. While he repeats his delivery well, he ran into trouble with Frederick because he didn't locate his secondary pitches well in the strike zone.