- Full name Brett Evert
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Considered one of the top righthanders in the system as recently as a year ago, Evert has been mediocre since a hot start in Double-A earned him a trip to the 2002 Futures Game. His mechanics have broken down and he's unable to repeat his delivery, which led to a demotion to the bullpen last year. He showed signs of regaining his consistency and confidence during his stint as a reliever. When in sync, Evert has a low-90s fastball with a good downward angle and decent movement. His hard overhand curveball also can be a devastating pitch with its tight spin and straight drop. Evert's mechanical difficulties have hurt his command, and opponents have teed off when he can keep his pitches down in the strike zone. His changeup also hasn't developed enough depth, which has made him a two-pitch pitcher who may be better suited for the bullpen in the long term. Evert will get a look this spring as a potential reliever with the big league club, and he could move quickly if everything comes together. -
His ailing shoulder led the Braves to shut Evert down in late July 2001, but he proved healthy and durable last season. He started well in Double-A to earn Futures Game recognition, then slumped and was sent to high Class A. Evert's fastball gets into the low 90s and has natural movement. His curveball is also a plus pitch, featuring a tight spin and a hard, 12-to-6 drop. He continues to make progress with his changeup, which should be at least an average pitch. His command had been excellent before slipping in 2002. Evert's struggles began when his mechanics got out of whack. With his gangly frame, he must maintain control of his body and repeat his delivery. He also needs to keep his pitches down in the strike zone more often. The Braves admit that they may have overreacted last July when they sent Evert down to Myrtle Beach. But they wanted him to work with pitching coach Bruce Dal Canton, who got him back on track. Expected to begin 2003 in Double-A, Evert could be as close as a half-season away from Atlanta. -
Evert struggled in his first shot at the South Atlantic League in 2000, but overpowered low Class A hitters in a brief return to the league in 2001 before receiving a promotion to Myrtle Beach. He was shut down with a minor shoulder problem in late July but looked strong again during instructional league. Evert is the total package: a big, strong righthander whose body has matured a lot since he signed. He's developing into a quintessential workhorse as well as a power pitcher with big-time stuff, featuring a 92-95 mph fastball, a plus curveball and workable changeup. Fearless on the mound, Evert also has a good feel for pitching and excellent command. As with any pitcher who has battled an injury, he needs to stay healthy and prove his shoulder is 100 percent. Otherwise, experience against better hitters should lead to natural improvements in his game. Spring training will determine if Evert needs more seasoning at Myrtle Beach or if he's ready to pitch at Double-A Greenville. No one in the organization would be surprised if he moved quickly. -
Evert, who ranked 10th on this list last year after ranking second in the Gulf Coast League, opened 2000 in extended spring training before moving to Macon, which proved to be a bigger jump than he could handle. He was demoted to Jamestown when the New York-Penn League season started in mid-June and regained his rhythm, ranking second in the circuit in victories. Evert's body is continuing to develop, with the Braves believing he will become a strong, workhorse type once he fully matures. In the meantime, he's making continuous adjustments to his game as his body finds a comfort zone. Evert has an excellent feel for pitching despite hailing from a cold-weather state. He works off his plus fastball and is adept at setting hitters up with his average changeup. He's trying to tighten the spin on his curveball and improve his overall command. Braves coaches were impressed with how much Evert learned from his mistakes last year and believe those lessons will accelerate his progress this season in the Macon rotation. -
Background: The Braves were shocked when Evert still was available when they drafted him in June. He made them even happier with his pro debut in the GCL, placing second in the league in ERA. He was equally impressive during instructional league, where he was one of the camp's top performers. Strengths: Evert has a projectable body that will get stronger as he matures. He displays a good feel for pitching, particularly for such a young player, and has a good idea of how to mix his pitches and set up hitters. His fluid delivery also is impressive for a pitcher his size, especially with his lack of experience. Weaknesses: Evert sometimes depends too much on his plus fastball in an effort to compensate for a lack of overall command. He also needs to tighten his curveball. Evert has a good idea of what he is doing, but doesn't have all the ways and means to accomplish it just yet. The Future: The Braves expect Evert to spend his first full professional season pitching at Macon.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Evert progressed in the opposite direction as his teammate Bong. He pitched well in April, faded in May and bombed in June, prompting a demotion to the high Class A Carolina League. Even while he struggled, Evert continued to pile up strikeouts, a testament to his quality stuff. He has two above-average pitches: a fastball that reaches the low 90s, and a tight 12-to-6 curveball. But as his command slipped, so did his performance. Evert is young and just needs to pitch. He fared well in his last five starts in the Carolina League, setting the stage for his return to Greenville in 2003. -
The Braves have been known for their pitching for years. Betemit notwithstanding, their system currently is far deeper in mound prospects than it is in position players. Evert's emergence in 2001 added one more name to Atlanta's stockpile. Backman called Evert a 20-year-old kid with a big league arm. He was the best starter on a Pelicans staff that also featured Top 20 Prospects Jung Bong and Trey Hodges, the Carolina League co-pitcher of the year. Evert showed a 91-95 mph fastball, plus curveball and satisfactory changeup. "He's the total package," Snitker said. "There's more in there than you're even seeing now." The only downside was a shoulder strain that ended Evert's season in early July. -
As if fifth-round pick Matt McClendon weren't enough of a find in the Braves' 1999 draft, seventh-rounder Evert has been impressive in his own right. He has posted a strikeout-walk ratio of nearly 4-1 since turning pro, though he has been hittable because he has been around the strike zone so much. "Evert's got enough fastball, 90-93 miles an hour. And he has a good changeup and a breaking ball that has really improved," Saul said. "I like his attitude. He's a winning-type pitcher and very aggressive on mound."
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Carolina League in 2001
- Rated Best Control in the Carolina League in 2001
Scouting Reports
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As if fifth-round pick Matt McClendon weren't enough of a find in the Braves' 1999 draft, seventh-rounder Evert has been impressive in his own right. He has posted a strikeout-walk ratio of nearly 4-1 since turning pro, though he has been hittable because he has been around the strike zone so much. "Evert's got enough fastball, 90-93 miles an hour. And he has a good changeup and a breaking ball that has really improved," Saul said. "I like his attitude. He's a winning-type pitcher and very aggressive on mound."