rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Like most of you, I had to climb onto MiLB to find out something about David Bromberg after his overpowering start last night (Five innings, one hit, eight Ks). He's a veteran (27), to be sure, and a big dude (6-6, 245) and a FA pickup over the winter, a guy who should be able to enjoy success in Double-A.
Twins fans probably know the name all too well. He was on track to be a stud in their system; he was 9-0 in the Appy league in 2007, and was named the league's No. 3 prospect for that year. He backed it with a 13-4, 2.70 in the tough FSL in 2009 and was named the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year and the league's top pitching prospect. He was ranked the Twins' No. 9 prospect by BBA.
Here's some stuff from the 2011 Prospects Handbook (thanks to BBA for this wonderful publication; they have largely filled the void left by the collapse of TSN). Bromberg "fell" to 13th on the prospect list:
The Twins drafted Bromberg in the 32nd round out of high school in 2005 as a draft-and-follow, even though at the time he was pushing 275. Since then, he signed for $40,000 and went on to win three leagues' strikeout crowns and earn a spot on the Twins' 40-man roster. Pitching on awful teams in 2010, he still logged 150 innings for the third straight year. His fastball topped out at 94-95 and his curve was rated the best in the organization.
So what happened?
Not what you think. After losing 35 pounds and earning raves from the organization that spring, on April 28, 2011, Adeiny Hechavarria lined a ball off his right forearm, breaking it. His comeback was delayed with a bout of shoulder tendinitis, and was held to 42 ugly innings in 2011 and under 100 in 2012. The Twins dropped him off the 40-man roster and became a minor league FA. He pitched for the Pirates system in 2013, going 7-13, 3.50 in AA and AAA, but got his innings back up to 147.
A free agent again, he signed with the Braves in January. He is currently owner of a 2.01 ERA and a 1-2 record thanks to six unearned runs, five in one game April 19.
---------------
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett 5, Buffalo 0
WP: Martin (3-2) 7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
Cunningham 2-4, 2B, HR (2nd), 3 RBIs. (.304)
Kazmar 1-3, HR (1st), RBI. (.333)
CLASS AA
Mississippi 5, Mobile 3
WP: Hursh (2-2) 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR.
Cunniff 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. (AA debut)
Hoyt 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K.
Simmons (Save, 8) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K.
M. Jones 2-3, 2 R, HR (3rd), RBI, BB.
E. Reyes 2-5, 2B, RBI, 3 K. (.352)
Leonard 1-5, 2B, 2 RBIs.
Kubitza 3-5, RBI, SB.
Schlehuber 3-5, 2B, R.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Carolina 8, Lynchburg 7
Major blown save; Carolina 3-run 9th.
SP: Sims 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
LP: Pruneda (0-1, BS) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, WP, Balk.
Peraza 2-4, 2B, R. (.331)
Castro 3-3, 3B, 4 RBIs.
E. Garcia 1-2, 2 R, RBI.
CLASS A
Rome 5, Charleston 4
WP: Gil (3-1) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
P. Perez (Save, 1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Note: Gil, Perez combined to pick off 3 baserunners!
V. Reyes 4-4, 2 RBIs. (.380)
Meneses 2-4, 2 RBIs.
Caratini 2-5, R.
Oliver 1-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 SB.
PROMOTED: Brandon Cunniff from Lynchburg to Miss., newly signed lefty Eric Berger moves from Miss. to Gwinnett. Luis Vazquez to DL (elbow strain; uh oh). Daniel Carroll moves from Lynchburg to Miss. Newly signed David Nick (see below) listed as OF, put on Lynchburg roster. Eric Garcia, Alejandro Piloto returned to Lynchburg from Rome.
Twins fans probably know the name all too well. He was on track to be a stud in their system; he was 9-0 in the Appy league in 2007, and was named the league's No. 3 prospect for that year. He backed it with a 13-4, 2.70 in the tough FSL in 2009 and was named the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year and the league's top pitching prospect. He was ranked the Twins' No. 9 prospect by BBA.
Here's some stuff from the 2011 Prospects Handbook (thanks to BBA for this wonderful publication; they have largely filled the void left by the collapse of TSN). Bromberg "fell" to 13th on the prospect list:
The Twins drafted Bromberg in the 32nd round out of high school in 2005 as a draft-and-follow, even though at the time he was pushing 275. Since then, he signed for $40,000 and went on to win three leagues' strikeout crowns and earn a spot on the Twins' 40-man roster. Pitching on awful teams in 2010, he still logged 150 innings for the third straight year. His fastball topped out at 94-95 and his curve was rated the best in the organization.
So what happened?
Not what you think. After losing 35 pounds and earning raves from the organization that spring, on April 28, 2011, Adeiny Hechavarria lined a ball off his right forearm, breaking it. His comeback was delayed with a bout of shoulder tendinitis, and was held to 42 ugly innings in 2011 and under 100 in 2012. The Twins dropped him off the 40-man roster and became a minor league FA. He pitched for the Pirates system in 2013, going 7-13, 3.50 in AA and AAA, but got his innings back up to 147.
A free agent again, he signed with the Braves in January. He is currently owner of a 2.01 ERA and a 1-2 record thanks to six unearned runs, five in one game April 19.
---------------
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett 5, Buffalo 0
WP: Martin (3-2) 7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
Cunningham 2-4, 2B, HR (2nd), 3 RBIs. (.304)
Kazmar 1-3, HR (1st), RBI. (.333)
CLASS AA
Mississippi 5, Mobile 3
WP: Hursh (2-2) 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR.
Cunniff 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. (AA debut)
Hoyt 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K.
Simmons (Save, 8) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K.
M. Jones 2-3, 2 R, HR (3rd), RBI, BB.
E. Reyes 2-5, 2B, RBI, 3 K. (.352)
Leonard 1-5, 2B, 2 RBIs.
Kubitza 3-5, RBI, SB.
Schlehuber 3-5, 2B, R.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Carolina 8, Lynchburg 7
Major blown save; Carolina 3-run 9th.
SP: Sims 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
LP: Pruneda (0-1, BS) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, WP, Balk.
Peraza 2-4, 2B, R. (.331)
Castro 3-3, 3B, 4 RBIs.
E. Garcia 1-2, 2 R, RBI.
CLASS A
Rome 5, Charleston 4
WP: Gil (3-1) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
P. Perez (Save, 1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Note: Gil, Perez combined to pick off 3 baserunners!
V. Reyes 4-4, 2 RBIs. (.380)
Meneses 2-4, 2 RBIs.
Caratini 2-5, R.
Oliver 1-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 SB.
PROMOTED: Brandon Cunniff from Lynchburg to Miss., newly signed lefty Eric Berger moves from Miss. to Gwinnett. Luis Vazquez to DL (elbow strain; uh oh). Daniel Carroll moves from Lynchburg to Miss. Newly signed David Nick (see below) listed as OF, put on Lynchburg roster. Eric Garcia, Alejandro Piloto returned to Lynchburg from Rome.
