July 17, 2015 at 2:54 PM
Report: Red Sox to sign 16th-round pick Marc Brakeman
With today's 5 p.m. signing deadline fast approaching, the Red Sox have reportedly agreed to sign their 16th-round draft pick, Stanford junior right-hander Marc Brakeman (pictured), for $225,000, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis.
The Red Sox have now signed each of their draft picks from the first 17 rounds and 27 of their 39 selections, plus two non-drafted free agents. Callis also reports that shortstop Yomar Valentin signed for $130,000, so the team has no more than $80,490 of cap space left to spend without forfeiting future draft picks, and is therefore unlikely to do much more, as Brakeman's signing itself was something of a surprise at this late hour.
Brakeman ran into some arm problems this season that caused him to miss the team's first 24 games of the spring. When he came back, he posted some very good numbers in his nine starts. He went 2-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Entering the year, he had been seen as a potential first-round pick after being ranked the seventh-best Cape League prospect according to Baseball America, ahead of players who did become first-round picks such as shortstops Richie Martin of Florida and Kevin Newman of Arizona. On the Cape, Brakeman threw 33 innings, striking out 47, walking just seven, and posting a 2.18 ERA.
Reports have Brakeman's fastball ranging from 90-95 MPH, with his changeup being his most effective secondary pitch.
Brakeman ran into some arm problems this season that caused him to miss the team's first 24 games of the spring. When he came back, he posted some very good numbers in his nine starts. He went 2-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Entering the year, he had been seen as a potential first-round pick after being ranked the seventh-best Cape League prospect according to Baseball America, ahead of players who did become first-round picks such as shortstops Richie Martin of Florida and Kevin Newman of Arizona. On the Cape, Brakeman threw 33 innings, striking out 47, walking just seven, and posting a 2.18 ERA.
Reports have Brakeman's fastball ranging from 90-95 MPH, with his changeup being his most effective secondary pitch.
Photo Credit: Marc Brakeman by Stanfordphoto.com