Brian Friday
| AB | 1715 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .251 |
| OBP | .344 |
| SLG | .355 |
| HR | 17 |
- Full name Brian David Friday
- Born 12/16/1985 in Houston, TX
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Rice
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Drafted in the 3rd round (98th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 (signed for $355,500).
View Draft Report
Friday went from hitting .256 with one homer as a freshman to a team-high .353 with nine home runs as a sophomore, helping lead Rice to a third-place finish at the 2006 College World Series. He hasn't hit with the same authority this spring, though he's doing a better job of controlling the strike zone. That will be key if he's going to be a leadoff or No. 2 hitter in pro ball, as will adding strength to his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. His plus speed, baserunning instincts and bunting ability are suited for the top of the order. Friday covers a lot of ground at shortstop and enhances his strong arm with a quick exchange. His lone defensive flaw is that he tends to sit back on grounders. He's not as physically imposing as Texas A&M's Brandon Hicks, but some area scouts believe in Friday's bat more than Hicks'.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Since a strong 2007 pro debut, Friday has yet to show the same performance, in part because he has had a hard time staying on the field. He missed a significant portion of 2008 with a strained lower back, then sat out nearly a month early last season with an inner-ear infection. The Pirats worried that he might have vertigo, and the infection affected him past his disabled list stay, though he did rebound to earn a selection to the Double-A Eastern League all-star game. Friday profiles as a classic No. 2 hitter. He works counts and takes his walks, and he controls the bat well enough to be an asset in hit-and-run and sacrifice situations. He has modest power and slightly above-average speed. Normally a reliable fielder, he has struggled defensively when he has been less than 100 percent the last two years. He has average range and a strong arm at shortstop. Friday will move up to Triple-A this season, and if he can get back on track, he could get an opportunity to stabilize Pittsburgh's unsettled shortstop situation. -
Friday jumped two levels to high Class A to begin his first full year in the minor leagues, but a promising start was short-circuited by back problems in June. He never was the same and then struggled in Hawaii Winter Baseball as well. A first-team All-American after his sophomore season at Rice, Friday profiles as a top-of-theorder hitter with his ability to work the count and draw walks. He's also an outstanding bunter and is willing to use that skill as a weapon. He doesn't have much power but he knows that isn't his game. He has slightly above-average speed but still is learning how to use it to become a true basestealing threat. Friday is an average defensive shortstop whose strong point is an above-average arm that allows him to make plays from deep in the hole. While he has decent range, he has a tendency to lay back on grounders and allow them to eat him up. The Pirates are giving Friday a mulligan on 2008 because of his strained back. They'll continue to aggressively promote him and he'll begin this season in Double-A, making it a possibility he could reach the major leagues by 2010. -
After hitting just .256 with one home run as a freshman at Rice, Friday blossomed into one of the best shortstops in college baseball. A third-round pick last June, he signed for $355,500. He has outstanding instincts and exceptional leadership skills, making up for his lack of size. He plays the little man's game well, as he's an outstanding directional bunter who's a threat to lay one down for a hit any time the bases are empty. He showed outstanding plate discipline in college, but pro pitchers got him to chase more pitches out of the strike zone and he'll have to prove that won't be a long-term problem. He has plus speed and an aggressive mentality on the bases. Friday has good range in the field to go with a strong arm and reliable hands. He needs to get stronger, though, or risk being overpowered by hard throwers as moves up the ladder. Friday should begin his first full season in low Class A.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008
Scouting Reports
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Friday jumped two levels to high Class A to begin his first full year in the minor leagues, but a promising start was short-circuited by back problems in June. He never was the same and then struggled in Hawaii Winter Baseball as well. A first-team All-American after his sophomore season at Rice, Friday profiles as a top-of-theorder hitter with his ability to work the count and draw walks. He's also an outstanding bunter and is willing to use that skill as a weapon. He doesn't have much power but he knows that isn't his game. He has slightly above-average speed but still is learning how to use it to become a true basestealing threat. Friday is an average defensive shortstop whose strong point is an above-average arm that allows him to make plays from deep in the hole. While he has decent range, he has a tendency to lay back on grounders and allow them to eat him up. The Pirates are giving Friday a mulligan on 2008 because of his strained back. They'll continue to aggressively promote him and he'll begin this season in Double-A, making it a possibility he could reach the major leagues by 2010.
