- Full name Brian West
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A staple on the White Sox prospect list since 2000, West has climbed through the system one rung at a time. He hasn't yet had a winning season but has proven to be a durable starter. His total of 149 innings last year was his low as a pro. He's a large-framed guy who once was targeted by major-college football programs as a defensive end. Though the Sox see lots of upside in him, he hasn't been an all-star since pitching in the low Class A Midwest League in 2000. West throws a two-seam fastball that reaches the low 90s and features lots of movement, and he has developed an outstanding changeup. He sometimes struggles to put away hitters, however, and his ratio of strikeouts per nine innings fell from 6.9 in high Class A to 5.5 in Double-A. He continues to work on his curveball. A repeat of Double-A isn't out of the question at least to open the 2003 season, as West faded down the stretch in 2002 and lost five of his final six starts. -
Another product of a rich 1999 draft in which the White Sox selected pitchers with 14 of their first 15 picks, West continues a textbook, step-at-a-time climb up the system. The former Texas A&M football recruit pitched at age 20 in the high Class A Carolina League last year and figures to get a year in Double-A at age 21. He's strong, throws hard and is developing a good idea about pitching. West has a two-seam fastball that hits the low 90s. He made a major step forward in 2001 by developing a dynamite changeup to go with his slider. He's working on a curveball to use as his fourth pitch. He's also a good athlete who fields his position well. Given the arms ahead of him, it's hard to see West jumping to the big leagues from Birmingham, but a strong season there will put him on the threshold of what should be a long major league career. -
A highly regarded linebacker, West turned down a football scholarship at Texas A&M to sign with the White Sox. His potential as a power pitcher translated to a $1 million bonus. West was just 19 when he pitched in the Class A Midwest League all-star game, an impressive achievement for his first full season. He earned a promotion to the Carolina League but looked tired in two outings there. West is a terrific athlete with an intimidating build. He has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a decent curveball. He pitches down in the strike zone unusually well for a raw power pitcher. West still is developing an offspeed pitch. His control is sometimes shaky, which is why his strikeout-walk ratio belied his stuff in 2000. He needs to learn how to put away hitters. The White Sox will take it one step at a time with West, who is likely to open the 2001 season with high Class A Winston-Salem. He's at least two and probably three years away from getting serious consideration for a big league spot. He's the kind of kid who could stick around for a long time once he gets there.