Brandon Cooney
| IP | 164 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.512 |
| WHIP | 1.341 |
| BB/9 | 4.226 |
| SO/9 | 8.396 |
- Full name Brandon Samuel Cooney
- Born 08/02/1985 in Miami, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Florida Atlantic
- Drafted in the 30th round (909th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Cooney slogged through the college ranks, never putting together a strong season at Broward (Fla.) CC or Florida Atlantic. He turned down the White Sox as a 33rd-rounder in 2004 and the Cardinals as a 20th-rounder two years later before signing with the Orioles for $1,000 as a 30th-round afterthought in 2007. Baltimore discovered he had a shoulder injury after signing him, but rest and rehab got Cooney back to full strength without surgery. The Orioles sent him to the bullpen in 2008 to keep his innings down, and he pitched so well in relief that they decided to keep him there. He converted 22 of 25 save opportunities between two Class A stops in 2009. Cooney is a big, intimidating presence on the mound, and he usually dials his baseball to 93-96 mph with heavy sink. He had a 2.1 groundout/airout ratio and gave up just two homers in 59 innings last season. He has flashed a slider that could be an above-average pitch, but it still needs a lot of work. He also needs to sharpen his command. Things finally seem to be coming together for Cooney, as he's staying healthy and has found a role he can thrive in. He's 24, so the Orioles won't hesitate to move him aggressively if he continues performing well. He'll could start 2010 as the closer in Bowie. -
If you're looking for an Orioles breakout prospect for 2009, Cooney could be your man. He was drafted by the White Sox in 2004 (33rd round) out of Broward (Fla.) CC, then again by the Cardinals in 2006 (20th round) after he had moved on to Florida Atlantic. He again decided not to sign, hoping to better his position as a senior, but his ERA ballooned to 7.36 in 2007 and he fell to the 30th round. After he signed, he eventually was diagnosed with a shoulder problem that didn't require surgery. Rehab and a summer in the bullpen seem to have done the trick. Cooney showed a mid-90s fastball and touched 97 in 2008, and he also flashed a promising slider. He was on a tight leash, as Baltimore monitored his innings and didn't allow him to pitch on consecutive days. The results were so good that he'll stay in the bullpen. Cooney will pitch without restrictions in 2009 and probably will open the season in low Class A. He could move quickly if he continues to perform well.
