Brandon Holden
| IP | 111 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.595 |
| WHIP | 1.514 |
| BB/9 | 3.568 |
| SO/9 | 5.595 |
- Full name Brandon John Holden
- Born 01/01/1988 in Coral Springs, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Marjory Stoneman Douglas
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Drafted in the 13th round (380th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 (signed for $155,000).
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Holden came on strong early in the spring, helping Douglas High to a national ranking and flashing improved velocity in front of lots of scouts who were also evaluating teammate David Christensen. He was lifted from a late March outing with a sore triceps muscle and had at least one MRI, and he never returned to the mound in game action. It was uncertain if he would be healthy enough to pitch in the Florida high school all-star game right before the draft. Holden has a loose, quick arm and a projectable body. His mechanics require some cleaning up. He often misses up in the zone, but when his delivery is online his fastball has good life at 88-92 mph. His hammer curveball is an above-average offering, though he gets around it occasionally. He had potential to be taken as high as the second or third round, but his inconsistent fastball command and health could cause him to slip.
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Holden was considered a potential high draft pick last year, with some projecting him to go as early as the second round, before triceps tendinitis ended his senior high school season early. He pitched just 28 innings, though he went 5-0, 0.99 with 45 strikeouts and led Florida's Douglas High to a national ranking when he was healthy. The Pirates took a flyer on Holden in the 13th round and wound up signing him for $155,000 in mid August. Because of his late signing and injury questions, he didn't play last summer. Holden's fastball is firm and sits at 88-93 mph, though he'll need to command it better. His out pitch is a big-breaking curveball that overwhelmed high school hitters. Like many young pitchers, he needs to work on his changeup. Because of his arm problems in 2006, there's a natural cause for concern that Holden is an injury risk, though the Pirates are convinced he's healthy. He showed a loose, quick arm in high school, though his mechanics will need to be cleaned up a bit. The Pirates will take it slowly with Holden after last spring, and he likely will remain in extended spring training and make his pro debut in June in the Gulf Coast League.
