Tom Brady, SP

[AcesFull]

Scouting Report

Player: Tom Brady
Position: Starting Pitcher
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars
[Difficulty Level: Normal]

Personal/Physical Traits:
Strength: 3
Intelligence: 3
Dexterity: 2
Consitution: 2
Charisma: 2
Luck: 0
Team Captain

Talent/Potential Ratings:
Stuff: 7/70
Control: 19/60
Velocity: 57/70
Poise: 6/40
Endurance: 52
Defense: 11
Hitting: 1
Pitches: Fastball, Changeup, Slider


4/1/2004

I was drafted by Minnesota with the 17th pick in the first round! They gave me a $920,000 bonus, which will have to tide me over because they are only paying me $250/week in A-Ball. I’m playing for the Fort Myers Miracle in Florida, and have just learned from the skipper that I’m going to be the opening day starter.

Three other pitchers were drafted by the Twins organization this year; 1 starter, Jesus Caldera from the Dominican Republic, and 2 relievers, Patrick Carroll, another high schooler from Ohio, and Donny Holloway who just graduated from Binghamton University. He’s a little older and seems to want to hang out with the older guys even though he’s a rookie like the rest of us.

I'll write again as soon as I get my first win. I want to have something good to write about!

[AcesFull]

4/25/03

Well, I said I wouldn't write until I got my first win, and what a tough month it has been!

It took my fifth start before I notched a "W" for Fort Myers. I've been getting lit up! The coaches all say not to worry, it's a normal part of making the move to the pros, but I can tell you I never got burned like this back at Memorial High!
My very first two batters I faced back on April 1 were strikeouts--my adreneline was really pumping! But after that, it's been a rough ride. I seem to have a problem giving up the long ball right now. But, like I said, the coaches are very enthusiastic and insist they are seeing lots of improvement in my motion. They've also been teaching me a new pitch, and I think I'm ready to start pitching a slider in my next game. Coach said I needed four pitches if I wanted to get to the Show, and they wasted no time teaching me.

Well, anyways, I got my first win. My stats, if you haven't been following on the net, are not much to look at, but here they are:

1-2, 8.17, in 5 starts. 25.1 IP, 28 H, 23 ER, 15 BB, 17 K.

Coach says he likes my strikeout-to-walk ratio, and insists that I'm putting better stuff on the ball. I am feeling like I'm getting better, but my numbers are just horrible.

Well, I'll write again soon, with better news I hope.

[AcesFull]

7/4/03

Wow! What a holiday! We are at the All-Star break all across baseball. I was planning on going out to the fireworks with Patrick and Jesus, but I got an unexpected phone call this afternoon.... I've been called up to New Britain, our AA club!!!

Things really settled down for me in the last couple months. My numbers in Fort Myers, before my call-up, ended up as follows:

4-6, 5.52 in 16 starts. 93 IP, 90 H, 57 ER, 44 BB, 63 K.

I was surprised, with my ERA, that I got called up, but a lot of that number was from my horrible April. Coach says my hits/IP and my K/BB ratios are both right where they like to see them.

I'll let you know how my first start goes once I get settled up in New Britain.

------
7/8/03

Got my first start at AA. I pitched well in a no-decision, going 5.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits, with 6 K and 4 walks. The bats are a lot tougher up here, but I was able to keep 'em guessing tonight! OK, that's all for now.

[AcesFull]

Easy come, easy go. After two solid appearances, I went out and blew up tonight. 7 runs in 2 innings. They sent me back to Fort Myers. After going 1-0 in my first two starts, I really was beginning to think I belonged in AA, my ERA was under 2.00 and I was throwing well. I don't know what happened tonight, but it cost me.

The coaches all insist that I should not sweat it and my progress is great for an 18-year-old pitcher. Maybe, but it sure doesn't feel like it tonight. On my way to Bradley Airport to head back to Florida.

[AcesFull]

11/4/2003
MINNNESOTA TWINS POST-SEASON PLAYER REPORT

Re: Tom Brady, Starting Pitcher

           G GS  W L  ERA    IP  HA  R ER BB  K OAVG WHIP
2003   A  23 23  6 9 5.17 132.1 129 85 76 68 90 .253 1.49
2003  AA   3  3  1 1 5.93  13.2  12  9  9  8 10 .222 1.46

Talent/Potential

Stuff: 23/70  Control: 30/60  Velocity: 57/70  Poise: 16/40
Endurance: 54  Defense: 11  Hitting: 1
Pitches:  Fastball, Changeup, Splitter, Slider

Tom is a hard worker and has shown great improvement in control, poise, and overall stuff. He added a slider to his arsenal this season and seems to have improved his endurance slightly. Hopefully as he grows into his 20’s, we will start to see a little more arm strength and velocity.

Despite his inflated ERA this season, typical of 18-year-olds, I fully expect Tom to start the 2004 season in AA. If he needs a little more time in A-ball next season, it won’t be much. Keep an eye on this one, he should contribute at a major league level within the next 2-3 years.

[AcesFull]

11/4/2004
MINNNESOTA TWINS POST-SEASON PLAYER REPORT

Re: Tom Brady, Starting Pitcher

           G GS  W L  ERA    IP  HA  R ER BB   K OAVG WHIP
2003   A  23 23  6 9 5.17 132.1 129 85 76 68  90 .253 1.49
2003  AA   3  3  1 1 5.93  13.2  12  9  9  8  10 .222 1.46
2004  AA  26 26  8 9 4.60 154.2 139 86 79 65 125 .232 1.32

Talent/Potential

      STUFF CNTRL VELOC POISE ENDUR DFNSE HITNG
2002      7    19    57     6    52    11     1
2003     23    30    57    16    54    11     1
2004     44    42    60    28    57    12     1

Pitches:  Fastball, Changeup, Splitter, Slider

Tom’s work ethic is great, and the results are showing on the mound. He improved in every statistical category this year, despite the step up from A to AA. We got about 1/3 of an inning more out of him each start, his ERA was down, his K/BB ratio was up, and opponents were less successful getting on base. Although he is yet to post a winning record, that’s not what we’re really worried about from a 20 year-old in AA.
If Tom has a good off-season and good spring, he will probably be ready to start off the season in Rochester. At some point during the season, he certainly will be. Depending how things go in Minnesota, we may want to give him a taste of the bigs in September.

[AcesFull]

4/1/05

Well... the team made its final cuts and I'M GOING TO THE SHOW! I'm penciled in as the #5 starter in the rotation! The coaches told me not to sweat my wins and losses in the minors, and I guess they meant it. As the #5 man, I know I'll have to work hard to stay up in the majors, but for now, it's my job to lose.

4/5/05
I got the start today, and I pitched GREAT! I got the win! I only gave up 2 runs and 3 hits in 7-1/3 innings. We won the game 4-2, and the local TV station called awarded me the Player of the Game! This is the best day of my life!

[AcesFull]

11/4/2005
MINNNESOTA TWINS POST-SEASON PLAYER REPORT

Re: Tom Brady, Starting Pitcher

           G GS  W L  ERA    IP  HA  R ER BB   K OAVG WHIP
2003   A  23 23  6 9 5.17 132.1 129 85 76 68  90 .253 1.49
2003  AA   3  3  1 1 5.93  13.2  12  9  9  8  10 .222 1.46
2004  AA  26 26  8 9 4.60 154.2 139 86 79 65 125 .232 1.32
2005 MIN  26 26 12 9 4.64 149.1 152 83 77 68  97 .261 1.47

Talent/Potential

      STUFF CNTRL VELOC POISE ENDUR DFNSE HITNG
2002      7    19    57     6    52    11     1
2003     23    30    57    16    54    11     1
2004     44    42    60    28    57    12     1
2005     62    54    67    40    65    14     1

Pitches:  Fastball, Changeup, Splitter, Slider

Tom was asked to step into the major league roster at the age of 20, and we could not have asked for any more than he gave. He had occasional lack of concentration, and some pretty bad outings, but at times he showed the flair of a future #2 starter.

He was outstanding in September, going 5-1 with a 2.79 ERA.

We didn’t get quite the number of innings we would have liked, but that had less to do with conditioning than it did with an appropriately quick hook on some bad outings.

Tom was a first round pick, and is living up to all of our expectations.

[mauboy]

You still doin this?