11/26/13

Draft 14 - A Quick Look At - LHP - Brandon Finnegan - TCU


  
Brandon Finnegan

6-9-13  -  12.Brandon Finnegan, LHP (TCU): He’s overshadowed by Rodon as far as college lefties go, but Finnegan has touched the upper 90s with a plus breaking ball (and posted nearly an identical FIP to Rodon). http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/

6-11-13 - Player:  Brandon Finnegan -  Position:  LHP -  School:  Texas Christian -  Date of Birth:  4/14/1993 -  Height/Weight:  5’11/184 -  Bats/Throws:  L/L -  2014 Class:  College Junior -  Previously Drafted:  2011, 45th rd, Rangers -  Scouting Report:  Low 3/4 arm slot   Quick arm   Fastball 93-96 early, 91-94 late, has touched 97   Fastball shows very good life -  Slider, 85-88, shows above average potential -  Change 82-85 -  Does a good job of changing speeds -  Has some issues with command http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/11/2014-mlb-draft-profile-brandon-finnegan/

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 34. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU - He has reportedly hit triple-digits with his fastball. That alone will get you first-round attention. At 5-’11”, however, his size draws question marks for a frontline starter. He also features an upper-70s slurve and a decent change-up that has come a long way. He could end up a dominant closer in the mold of Billy Wagner. Had 86 K/35 BB over 79.1 innings as a sophomore. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

7-17-13 –  Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU - The stadium gun was off on Monday night but it was easy to see Finnegan was throwing heat, blowing his fastball past hitters and recording two strikeouts in his one inning of work.  Kevin Gallo tells me he topped out at 96 mph.  I mention Finnegan because he's just 5'11", 185 lbs and generates much of that velocity with tremendous arm speed.  Obviously there's not a lot of downward plane here and you wonder if his size will relegate him to the bullpen, though I'm told he can sustain that velocity late in games and he has a hard slider and a solid change-up to go with the fastball -- so he does have the necessary tools/skills to stick as a starter.   Either way, he's an interesting prospect whether he sticks as a starter or becomes a Billy Wagner type closer. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/looking-ahead-to-the-2014-and-2015-mlb-draft-notes-from-the-collegiate-national-team-games/ 

 

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 27 –  LHP Brandon Finnegan – TCU – In any other year Finnegan would be easily ranked as the top college lefty in the draft.  Fastball: 93-96, 97…  slider: 85-85... change 82-85… Very polished pitcher who mixes pitches well. Some project him out as an eventual closer.

10-6-13 – Kendall Rogers/PG – College Prospects -  4. Brandon Finnegan, lhp, Texas Christian (Drafted: 2011, Rangers -- 45th round) - The fact Finnegan is a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder, might turn off some because he’s a not an imposing physical specimen, but don’t let that fool you. Finnegan has a classic Texas gunslinger attitude, and has the stuff to complement that well. He’s 95-98 with his fastball, has good feel for an 82-84 changeup and continues to develop a low-80s slider. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9081 

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 23. Brandon Finnegan, lhp, Texas Christian: Smallish lefty holds upper-90s velocity deep into games and developed a plus slider during his time with Team USA. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 6. Brandon Finnegan / LHP / TCU — Finnegan gets rave reviews for his feel for pitching — and has touched 98 with his fastball to go along with an above-average slider and average change — although his size and arm action could give teams concerns. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/

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