Jim Brower

Jim Brower
Brower with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in 2008
Pitcher
Born: (1972-12-29) December 29, 1972 (age 51)
Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 5, 1999, for the Cleveland Indians
NPB: August 3, 2008, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Last appearance
MLB: August 14, 2007, for the New York Yankees
NPB: September 16, 2008, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB statistics
Win–loss record33–32
Earned run average4.67
Strikeouts397
NPB statistics
Win–loss record0–2
Earned run average3.98
Strikeouts13
Teams
As player

As coach

James Robert Brower (born December 29, 1972) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for eight Major League Baseball (MLB) teams: the Cleveland Indians (1999-2000), Cincinnati Reds (2001-2002), Montreal Expos (2002), San Francisco Giants (2003-2004), Atlanta Braves (2005), Baltimore Orioles (2006), San Diego Padres (2006), and New York Yankees (2007).

Playing career

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Brower was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Minnetonka High School in the 56th round of the 1991 amateur draft, but did not sign, choosing instead to attend the University of Minnesota, where he was named a Big Ten Conference All-Star and Dave Winfield Award recipient in 1994. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 6th round of the 1994 draft, and signed on June 5. He spent nearly four years in the Rangers system before being released early in 1998. He quickly signed with the Cleveland Indians, spending the 1998 season in AA, then splitting the next two seasons between the Indians and their AAA club.

Brower was traded to the Cincinnati Reds following the 2000 season.[1][2] In June 2002, the Reds traded him to the Montreal Expos for pitcher Bruce Chen.[3] In March 2003, he was traded to San Francisco in the trade that sent Liván Hernández to the Expos.[4][5] In 2004, he tied the Giants' team record and led MLB in appearances with 89.[6][7]

Following a slow start to the 2005 season, Brower was released by the Giants on June 12,[8] and signed by the Atlanta Braves.[9] He signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles in February 2006 and made the Opening Day roster,[10][11] but was later released. On May 11, Brower signed with the San Diego Padres,[12] who traded him to the Florida Marlins on August 1.[13] He did not pitch for the Marlins at the Major League level, but appeared in 16 games for their AAA club.

Brower signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 2007 season,[14] but was given his release to sign a minor league contract by the New York Yankees, and served as the closer for their AAA club, posting a 1.65 earned run average and earning 20 saves. On August 6, 2007, he was promoted by the Yankees, replacing Mike Myers on the 40-man roster.[15]

In December, Brower agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On May 30, 2008, Brower was traded by the Reds to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations.[16] Brower was released in July and signed with the Houston Astros. After making only two appearances with Triple-A Round Rock, Brower had his rights sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball. He split the 2009 season between three teams: the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, the American Association's St. Paul Saints, and the Venezuelan team Caribes de Anzoátegui. Brower pitched one final season in 2010, with Telemarket Rimini of the Italian Baseball League before ending his playing career.

Coaching career

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In 2010, Brower was hired by the Kansas City Royals to be a minor league pitching coach.[17]

In 2016, Brower became the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Chicago Cubs.[citation needed]

The Seattle Mariners hired him to be their bullpen coach on the major league staff before the 2018 season and he was fired after the 2019 season.[18]

Personal life

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Brower and his wife had their first child in August 2007.[19] Currently he resides in Deephaven, MN.

References

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  1. ^ Haft, Chris (November 17, 2000). "Reds deal Stynes, Taubensee - and save a few million". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved April 29, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Indians re-acquire C Taubensee from Reds". ESPN.com. November 16, 2000. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "Astros sign Chen". Cincinnati Enquirer. Associated Press. March 15, 2003. Retrieved April 29, 2003.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Liván Hernández Dealt to Expos". New York Times. March 25, 2003. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  5. ^ "Hernandez Joins Brother With Expos After Trade". Los Angeles Times. March 25, 2003. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  6. ^ Kepner, Tyler (August 7, 2007). "Brower Takes His Spot in the Bullpen; Chamberlain Is Due Up Next". New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  7. ^ Schulman, Henry (March 4, 2005). "Durham shows off his legs". San Francisco Chronicle.
  8. ^ "Giants release Brower; more moves to come?". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 12, 2005. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "Atlanta agrees to contract terms with pitcher Jim Brower". MLB.com. June 15, 2005. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  10. ^ "Orioles sign and invite six players to Spring Training". February 6, 2006. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  11. ^ "Orioles add Brower to roster, reassign seven players to Minors". MLB.com. March 28, 2006. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Padres purchase pitcher Brian Sikorski; designate Jim Brower for assignment". MLB.com. May 31, 2006. Archived from the original on January 6, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  13. ^ "Beavers acquire Matt Blank". MILB.com. August 1, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "Pirates sign nine minor league free agents". MLB.com. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "Notes: Yankees designate Myers". MLB.com. August 6, 2007. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  16. ^ "Cubs acquire pitcher Jim Brower from Reds". The Pantagraph. Associated Press. May 30, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  17. ^ Hartman, Sid (October 31, 2010). "Decision on Favre in hands of coaches". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  18. ^ "Seattle Mariners make changes to 2020 coaching staff". October 2019.
  19. ^ Briggs, David (August 11, 2007). "Notes: Posada continues break". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
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