Brandon Weeden

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #19 prospect in 2003
  When the Yankees took Weeden with their first pick (albeit in the second round) in 2002, they broke from tradition. Not since 1998 had they started a draft with a high school player (Andy Brown), and it had been even longer since they had opened with a prep pitcher (Matt Drews, 1993). Scouting Weeden on the mound was a chore because he was his high school's starting shortstop and pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen. The Oklahoma State recruit saved nine games and struck out 68 in 40 innings while hitting .373-5-32. Just 5-foot-10 as a freshman, Weeden blossomed into a mature athlete who starred at quarterback in football and small forward in basketball. He has a prototypical pitcher's frame, with a quick, loose arm and a clean delivery. There's plenty of room for projection on his lively 88-93 mph fastball. His slider features tight three-quarters bite in the strike zone and grades out as a future plus pitch. With his limited pitching experience, Weeden will advance slowly after starting 2003 in extended spring training.