Draft preview: A look at MTSU OF Bryce Brentz.

by Thundering Turtle on May 30, 2010 4:59 PM EDT

As we continue our preview of players the Reds might select with the 12th overall pick in the MLB Draft June 7-9, today we look at Middle Tennessee State outfielder Bryce Brentz.

Brentz, a 6-foot, 190-pound junior, is a relatively safe pick with the promise of plenty more. His sophomore season was one of the greatest in the history of college baseball. He hit 28 home runs, drive in 73 and posted a slash line of .465/.535/.930. Brentz led the nation in home runs, batting average, slugging and total bases. He followed by hitting two home runs, driving in 18 and batting .366 with Team USA last summer.

While he hasn’t been as productive this season, Brentz’s numbers remained strong, as he homered 15 times, drive in 49 and went .348/.440/.636. Opponents were much more wary of pitching to Brentz, who also was hindered by missing three weeks with a hairline fracture of his right ankle.

Some regarded Brentz as the No. 1 hitter in NCAA Division I entering the season. Brentz performed well outside the Sun Belt Conference, drawing raves from coaches throughout the SEC and elsewhere.

Regarded as a five-tool player, Brentz isn’t a slugger as much as he is a hitter with power. He has a solid frame and plenty of raw strength that generates bat speed via his quick hands. His swing features natural lift. Brentz consistently gets the barrel of the bat on the ball and uses a short, compact swing. If there’s a knock on him, generally it’s that he sometimes is too aggressive at the plate. Despite that aggressive nature, Brentz walked 49 times and struck out 44 this season. Brentz has used the entire field better this season.

Not a great base stealing threat, Brentz had a .934 fielding percentage this season. He has a tremendous right-field arm and has been clocked at 93 m.p.h. off the mound. He was a two-way player until this season and was MTSU’s Friday night starter.

Scouts project Brentz as an above average hitter with average-to-plus power to all fields. He features average speed, defense and range and is a solid base runner. Some compare Brentz favorably to former Reds draft choice, Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis.

Cleveland selected Brentz out of high school in the 30th round of the 2007 Draft. Will the Reds grab him in the first round? They certainly could do much worse.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

He sounds pretty good from this description

Do you think he’d be available with the 12th pick?

by Brendanukkah on May 30, 2010 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

Most of the mocks have him in the

12-17 range. With the plethora of pitching expected to go ahead of him, I’d say there’s a solid chance he’ll be there.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on May 30, 2010 6:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

“Brentz isn’t a slugger as much as he is a hitter with power. He has a solid frame and plenty of raw strength that generates bat speed via his quick hands. His swing features natural lift. Brentz consistently gets the barrel of the bat on the ball and uses a short, compact swing”

sounds like Votto.

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 30, 2010 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

We'd take that, wouldn't we?

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on May 30, 2010 6:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

a million times

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 30, 2010 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

or at least 25.

A Pete Rose by any other name would still smell of cheap hookers and pinetar.

by Pops Daniels on May 30, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd settle for the 13 position players

When you come to the fork in the road, take it.

by poojols on May 30, 2010 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

...but he throws 93!

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on May 30, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

but does he know where that 93's goin'?

Homer Bailey’d

by Highlifeman21 on Jun 1, 2010 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

but he can't pick it like Janish

who can also bend spoons with his mind.

"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville

by bbjones on Jun 2, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

There is no spoon

by Highlifeman21 on Jun 2, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

thats what i was thinking as i read this report

Retractions are for journalists! -Gray

by boobs on May 31, 2010 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions

votto's real value lay in his work ethic, though

im curious to hear about that from brentz

Retractions are for journalists! -Gray

by boobs on May 31, 2010 2:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know about this Bryce Brentz kid...seems like he's already peaked Dr. T.

My name is Madville and I'm a JonnyGomesLaynceNixaddict.

by Madville on May 30, 2010 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

I'd take either Wimmers or Brentz.

And actually, given the high percentage of pitchers taken high recently, and the youth of our current staff/prospects, I think taking a solid, projectable hitter would be a good idea.

see what I did there with uzr? it’s like a LOL cats saber-pun combo.--Verka Serduchka

by nycredsfan on May 30, 2010 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

Agree about the need for a hitter

The system could use some balance.

When you come to the fork in the road, take it.

by poojols on May 30, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

really?

most of our top prospects are hitters (Frazier, Alonso, Francisco, Heisey, Cozart, Yorman). i think if we are looking for some balance, we should get a pitcher.

but that’s no way to draft. we should get the best player available.

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 31, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Dunno about that

Wood, Leake, Boxberger, Maloney, Chapman

And those guys are all closer to contributing than most of the hitters you mentioned. All in all, I think we’re pretty balanced, but I’d like to see a polished hitter with a pretty high floor, a la Alonso.

see what I did there with uzr? it’s like a LOL cats saber-pun combo.--Verka Serduchka

by nycredsfan on May 31, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah

one of the nice things about the Dominican signings is that it gives the Reds a lot of high-ceiling types without having to burn a draft pick. The odds of Yorman or Duran of turning out as about as good as that of Billy Hamilton or Kelatvious Jones, but the former only cost a few hundred thousand. It’s a sweet gig. I’m running out of things to bitch about this organization.

by Cy Schourek on May 31, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions