Gonna have to get season tickets this next season.
96.3 mph. Wow. Brody Brecht is a Potential Top 5 Round MLB Draft Pick
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
I’ll be shocked and disappointed if Brecht is still there at 17. If he builds on last season at all, I think he goes top 10 and if he falls to 14, I really want the Cubs to take him.
His FB and slider are graded at 70 each, If He stays healthy and is around the zone and keeps His walk rate down He will go in the top 5
Absolutely. His arm talent is off the charts. Command is the biggest issue and teams roll with lack of command on top arm talent all the time. Cubs took Cade Horton in the 2022 draft based on throwing 53 innings at Oklahoma with an ERA north of 4 because he was finally healthy in his last CWS and dominating. He’s currently flying through the Cubs system. Arm talent like Brody’s is coveted in a big, big way.
Cubs probably won’t get him, but I hope he goes to a team that knows what the hell they’re doing with pitchers and not a team that’s going to eff up that arm.
Yeah unless he gets hurt I would be shocked to see him last past the 10th pick. If he shows better command you will start hearing people talking about taking him with the first pick. In an era of big arms BB’s stands out. As Crash Davis said to Nuke Laloosh in Bull Durham “When Brody was a baby the gods reached down and turned his right arm into a thunderbolt.”
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I am an oldster and remember Koufax and Nolan Ryan. Ryan was in the bigs for 15 years before his walks/inning got down to about 2/3 per inning. He pretty much averaged about 9Ks per 9 innings for most years. His ERA was only under 3 in 3 of his 28 years.
Koufax was in the bigs for 12 years before he go his ERA down to consistently under 2.0 or so. His era was aroung 4.0 or worse his first 5 years AND he was in the iron-man pitching era with only 4 starters most of the time and he pitched around 38 games per year his first 5 full time years. He was much better than Ryan all the way around with walks still around 4.4 to 6 per game his first 5 years. He got that down to 1.7 to 2.8 his last and best years.
So all I am saying is these fireballers seem to always start out a little wild (or way wild) and get the walks down over the years.
Koufax was in the bigs for 12 years before he go his ERA down to consistently under 2.0 or so. His era was aroung 4.0 or worse his first 5 years AND he was in the iron-man pitching era with only 4 starters most of the time and he pitched around 38 games per year his first 5 full time years. He was much better than Ryan all the way around with walks still around 4.4 to 6 per game his first 5 years. He got that down to 1.7 to 2.8 his last and best years.
So all I am saying is these fireballers seem to always start out a little wild (or way wild) and get the walks down over the years.
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We barely got to see him but definitely could have used his frame and athleticism last year. But alas, baseball is his calling - to be an elite starting pitcher? Wow.
#20 Iowa beat Seton Hall yesterday afternoon, 5-2.
Brody's line:
4 1/3 innings pitched
21 batters faced
100 pitches (53 strikes, 47 balls)
1 Hit allowed
6 walks
1 Wild pitch
1 Hit batter
11 strike outs
1 earned run
Brody's line:
4 1/3 innings pitched
21 batters faced
100 pitches (53 strikes, 47 balls)
1 Hit allowed
6 walks
1 Wild pitch
1 Hit batter
11 strike outs
1 earned run
Still struggling with command but 11 strike outs out of 13 outs speaks volumes.
Go Hawks!
Go Hawks!
#18 Iowa lost to Auburn yesterday, 7-5.
Iowa led 3-2 after 6 innings (when Brody Brecht exited the game).
Brody's line:
6 innings pitched
25 batters faced
99 pitches (60 strikes, 39 balls)
2 Hits allowed
4 walks
0 Wild pitches
0 Hit batters
11 strike outs
1 earned run (of the 2 scored by Auburn thru 6 innings)
1.74 ERA for the season
Some highlights:
Iowa led 3-2 after 6 innings (when Brody Brecht exited the game).
Brody's line:
6 innings pitched
25 batters faced
99 pitches (60 strikes, 39 balls)
2 Hits allowed
4 walks
0 Wild pitches
0 Hit batters
11 strike outs
1 earned run (of the 2 scored by Auburn thru 6 innings)
1.74 ERA for the season
Some highlights:
Brody Brecht got the start today in Iowa's 13-7 win at Ole Miss.
Brody pitched 5 complete innings; Iowa led 5-2 after he exited the game. The Iowa bull pen took over in the 6th inning.
Brody's line:
5 innings pitched
25 batters faced
103 pitches (61 strikes, 42 balls)
5 Hits allowed
2 walks
1 Wild pitch
2 Hit batters
11 strike outs
1 earned run
1.40 WHIP for this game (2 walks + 5 hits / 5 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.76 ERA for the season
Brody pitched 5 complete innings; Iowa led 5-2 after he exited the game. The Iowa bull pen took over in the 6th inning.
Brody's line:
5 innings pitched
25 batters faced
103 pitches (61 strikes, 42 balls)
5 Hits allowed
2 walks
1 Wild pitch
2 Hit batters
11 strike outs
1 earned run
1.40 WHIP for this game (2 walks + 5 hits / 5 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.76 ERA for the season
He has 33 Ks in 15.1 innings this year, which is tremendous. His next step will be to get a little more efficient. Ideally, he should be able to go 6-7 innings but he’s burning 100 pitches on 5. It’s not a rare thing, power pitchers go through this. His arm talent and his stuff is still absolutely off the charts.
Brody Brecht got the start Friday, March 8th in Iowa's 5-4 loss at Jacksonville State.
Brody pitched 4 complete innings. After 4 innings, Iowa led 2-0.
They started the top of the 5th inning and then the rain & lightning came. The game was suspended and resumed the next day.
The Iowa bullpen took over the next day in the bottom of the 5th inning. The bullpen gave up 1 run in the 6th and 1 run in the 8th. Iowa led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th but the bullpen gave up 3 runs, resulting in the 5-4 loss.
Brody's line:
4 innings pitched
18 batters faced
72 pitches (41 strikes, 31 balls)
1 Hit allowed
3 walks
1 Wild pitch
1 Hit batter
9 strike outs
0 earned runs
1.00 WHIP for this game (3 walks + 1 hit / 4 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.24 WHIP for the season (15 walks + 9 hits / 19.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.16 ERA for the season
Brody pitched 4 complete innings. After 4 innings, Iowa led 2-0.
They started the top of the 5th inning and then the rain & lightning came. The game was suspended and resumed the next day.
The Iowa bullpen took over the next day in the bottom of the 5th inning. The bullpen gave up 1 run in the 6th and 1 run in the 8th. Iowa led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th but the bullpen gave up 3 runs, resulting in the 5-4 loss.
Brody's line:
4 innings pitched
18 batters faced
72 pitches (41 strikes, 31 balls)
1 Hit allowed
3 walks
1 Wild pitch
1 Hit batter
9 strike outs
0 earned runs
1.00 WHIP for this game (3 walks + 1 hit / 4 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.24 WHIP for the season (15 walks + 9 hits / 19.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.16 ERA for the season
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The bullpen has been atrocious…but also, this points out some of the risk/reward with Brecht. He’s just not getting hit at all and he’s racking up Ks, but ideally, your ace would get through 5-7 innings on 80 pitches and too often Brody isn’t finishing the 5th. The raw stuff is incredible, though.
For anyone interested, I’m about 10 min away from interviewing Greg Zumach of Northside Bound and the Cubs on Deck podcast. We’re going to talk a little Cubs prospect stuff from spring training, then pivot to college ball and what he’s watching this time of year as he ramps up his MLB draft coverage prep. A lot of mocks are pushing Brecht to the Cubs or very near that point in the first, so he’s definitely one we’ll talk about. I always put the link to my pod in the Cubs thread, but could also drop the episode here if there’s interest from people who don’t swim through the Cubs season thread on the OT board.
Here it is. We wound up talking spring training performance and recent draft trends for the Cubs longer than I planned, but I think it’s good discussion. If you want to skip ahead to the Brecht talk, go to about the 45:45 mark.
by the way, what do you think about these numbers?
1.24 WHIP for the season (15 walks + 9 hits / 19.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.16 ERA for the season
I think the numbers are good overall, but don’t love the walk numbers, obviously plus the 6 HBP. For me, the biggest thing is the lack of efficiency - unhittable, mostly, but he’s only getting through 5 and leaving pressure on the pen.
Is he projected as a starter or reliever/closer in MLB? It seems he needs to cut back on walks and not rely on strikeouts so much. Strikeouts are great, but tend to work up the pitch count. I'm thinking he'll eventually work these out or he will end up in the bull pen. IDK though.
Greg Zumach and I talked about that on the pod this week. Everyone sees the starting potential. He can maintain velo well past 90 pitches, which is very valuable. He’s projected by everyone to go in the first round and if he wasn’t projected as a starter, he’d be drafted later.
One thing that probably helps his stock is that even if a team has concerns about whether he’ll stick, he has a pretty high floor because his stuff is flat-out nasty and should absolutely play in the back of a bullpen.
Speaking of walks & not eating up innings....
Brody got the start Friday, March 15th in Iowa's 11-1 win vs Western Illinois.
Brody started the top of the 5th with Iowa leading 3-1. The 1st Western Illinois batter doubled. Brody WALKED the next 2 batters, LOADING the bases. Heller then went to the bullpen & brought in Young, who got Iowa out of the jam, not allowing any runs to score.
Brody's line:
4 innings pitched
23 batters faced
100 pitches (58 strikes, 42 balls)
4 Hits allowed
6 walks
1 Wild pitch
0 Hit batters
0 Balks
8 strike outs
1 earned run
2.50 WHIP for this game (6 walks + 4 hits / 4 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 5 starts and 23.33 innings pitched:
1.46 WHIP for the season (21 walks + 13 hits / 23.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
1.54 ERA for the season
Brody Brecht got the start in today's 10-3 loss at Purdue.
Brody pitched 5 complete innings; Iowa trailed 6-1 after 5 innings. The Iowa bullpen took over in the bottom of the 6th with Iowa still trailing 6-1.
Brody's line:
5 innings pitched
27 batters faced
108 pitches (64 strikes, 44 balls)
7 Hits allowed
3 walks
0 Wild pitches
1 Hit batter
0 Balks
3 strike outs
3 earned runs (of the 6)
2.00 WHIP for this game (3 walks + 7 hits / 5 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 6 starts and 28.33 innings pitched:
1.55 WHIP for the season (24 walks + 20 hits / 28.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
2.22 ERA for the season
Brody pitched 5 complete innings; Iowa trailed 6-1 after 5 innings. The Iowa bullpen took over in the bottom of the 6th with Iowa still trailing 6-1.
Brody's line:
5 innings pitched
27 batters faced
108 pitches (64 strikes, 44 balls)
7 Hits allowed
3 walks
0 Wild pitches
1 Hit batter
0 Balks
3 strike outs
3 earned runs (of the 6)
2.00 WHIP for this game (3 walks + 7 hits / 5 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 6 starts and 28.33 innings pitched:
1.55 WHIP for the season (24 walks + 20 hits / 28.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
2.22 ERA for the season
His draft position is definitely falling at this point. 45% balls is not going to work.
Brody Brecht got the start in yesterday's 16-9 loss to Minnesota.
Brody pitched 3 complete innings; he gave up 7 EARNED runs in the top of the 3rd inning. The game was tied 7-7 after 3 innings.
The Iowa bullpen took over in the top of the 4th inning; the bullpen gave up 3 runs in the 4th, 1 run in the 5th and 5 runs in the 6th.
Brody's line:
3 innings pitched
16 batters faced
73 pitches (40 strikes, 33 balls)
5 Hits allowed
2 walks
1 Hit batter
0 Wild pitches
0 Balks
5 strike outs
7 earned runs (of the 7)
2.33 WHIP for this game (2 walks + 5 hits / 3 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 7 starts and 31.33 innings pitched:
1.63 WHIP for the season (26 walks + 25 hits / 31.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
4.02 ERA for the season
Brody pitched 3 complete innings; he gave up 7 EARNED runs in the top of the 3rd inning. The game was tied 7-7 after 3 innings.
The Iowa bullpen took over in the top of the 4th inning; the bullpen gave up 3 runs in the 4th, 1 run in the 5th and 5 runs in the 6th.
Brody's line:
3 innings pitched
16 batters faced
73 pitches (40 strikes, 33 balls)
5 Hits allowed
2 walks
1 Hit batter
0 Wild pitches
0 Balks
5 strike outs
7 earned runs (of the 7)
2.33 WHIP for this game (2 walks + 5 hits / 3 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 7 starts and 31.33 innings pitched:
1.63 WHIP for the season (26 walks + 25 hits / 31.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
4.02 ERA for the season
Brody Brecht got the start in Game 2 of Saturday April 6th's double header vs Michigan (Iowa would lose 10-6).
Brody started the top of the 6th inning with Iowa leading 3-2. The 1st Michigan batter singled; the 2nd and 3rd batters struck out; Brody hit the 4th batter; the 5th batter tripled, driving in 2 runs. Heller then went to the bullpen & brought in Wheatley. Wheatley threw a wild pitch, allowing another Michigan run to score. The 6th batter walked; the 7th batter also walked, forcing Heller to bring in Beuter from the bullpen. The 8th batter grounded into the final out out at 3rd base. After 5 1/2 innings, Michigan led 5-3.
Michigan would then score 5 more runs in the 8th inning to put the game away.
Brody's line:
5 2/3 innings pitched
26 batters faced
109 pitches (70 strikes, 39 balls)
6 Hits allowed
2 walks
1 Hit batter
0 Wild pitches
0 Balks
11 strike outs
5 earned runs (of the 5)
1.41 WHIP for this game (2 walks + 6 hits / 5.67 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 8 starts and 37 innings pitched:
1.59 WHIP for the season (28 walks + 31 hits / 37 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
4.62 ERA for the season
Brody started the top of the 6th inning with Iowa leading 3-2. The 1st Michigan batter singled; the 2nd and 3rd batters struck out; Brody hit the 4th batter; the 5th batter tripled, driving in 2 runs. Heller then went to the bullpen & brought in Wheatley. Wheatley threw a wild pitch, allowing another Michigan run to score. The 6th batter walked; the 7th batter also walked, forcing Heller to bring in Beuter from the bullpen. The 8th batter grounded into the final out out at 3rd base. After 5 1/2 innings, Michigan led 5-3.
Michigan would then score 5 more runs in the 8th inning to put the game away.
Brody's line:
5 2/3 innings pitched
26 batters faced
109 pitches (70 strikes, 39 balls)
6 Hits allowed
2 walks
1 Hit batter
0 Wild pitches
0 Balks
11 strike outs
5 earned runs (of the 5)
1.41 WHIP for this game (2 walks + 6 hits / 5.67 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 8 starts and 37 innings pitched:
1.59 WHIP for the season (28 walks + 31 hits / 37 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
4.62 ERA for the season
Brody got the start in Sunday April 14th's game at Ohio State (Iowa would lose 11-1 in 8 innings).
As you can see in what follows, he threw more balls than strikes.
Brody started the bottom of the 4th inning with Iowa trailing 2-1. The 1st Ohio State batter grounded out. The 2nd batter doubled (would eventually score). The 3rd batter walked. Heller then went to the bullpen, bringing in Young. After 4 complete innings, Ohio State led 3-1.
Ohio State would then score 5 runs in the 5th, 2 runs in the 7th and 1 run in the 8th to 10-run rule the Hawks.
Brody's line:
3 1/3 innings pitched
17 batters faced
76 pitches (37 strikes, 39 balls)
3 Hits allowed
4 walks
1 Hit batter
0 Wild pitches
0 Balks
3 strike outs
3 earned runs (of the 3)
2.10 WHIP for this game (4 walks + 3 hits / 3.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
In 9 starts and 40.33 innings pitched:
1.64 WHIP for the season (32 walks + 34 hits / 40.33 innings pitched). In the Major Leagues, the average WHIP is around 1.30.
5.15 ERA for the season
