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I’m about to extend way too much effort and energy writing about a minor league signing, but what the hell…
The Royals announced on Tuesday they signed right hander Bryan Bullington to a minor league deal. From the press release:
The former top overall pick of the 2002 Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched in the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2009, mainly at the Triple-A level for Las Vegas. The 29-year old did make four relief appearances for the Jays in April, compiling a 3.00 ERA in 6.0 innings. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was 3-1 with three saves and a 3.52 ERA in 28 relief stints for Las Vegas, striking out 43 and walking just seven in 38.1 innings. Bullington is 0-5 with a 5.08 ERA in 13 games (5 starts) in his Major League career since breaking in with the Pirates in 2005. He also spent time with the Indians in 2008.
Wow. Looks like the kid is a bust. Former number one overall draft pick? Pitching for his fourth organization in as many years? Only 13 major league games?
The press release doesn't do his story justice.
Bullington is a cautionary tale of the high expectations that come with being a top pick in the draft, the misdiagnosed injuries and the mediocre results. To me, it’s interesting (some would say fitting) he landed with the Royals because these are all things we’re certainly used to as fans who follow the team.
The Draft
In retrospect, people will assume that Bullington was the number one overall choice by the Pirates because of signability. That wasn’t really the case.
Prior to the draft, Baseball America rated Bullington as the number one right handed pitching prospect - some kid named Zack Greinke was number five. Bullington was thought to have the best command and the best breaking pitches among his peers. While Bullington had some of the tools, the 2002 draft was thought to be deep in pitching, but there was no consensus top guy.
According to BA, the Pirates offered $4 million to Bullington before the draft. They did the same to BJ Upton and Adam Loewen. It’s not an uncommon practice. Teams will often be happy with nabbing a couple of different players in the draft, so with all things being equal, they’ll pick the guy who is most amenable to signing. That’s not necessarily a “signability” pick. It’s smart drafting.
While all three players turned the Pirates down, they still went with Bullington.
When Pittsburgh made the selection, they projected him as a number three starter who, even though he pitched three years in college, needed a couple more years in the minor leagues before he could make his mark with the big club. Negotiations dragged to September, which ensured Bullington wouldn’t make his pro debut until 2003.
The Minors
Bullington began his career in A ball in the Sally League and earned a mid-season promotion to High-A. He showed flashes of quality in his first three years, posting a combined ERA of 3.33 in 397 innings. His walk rate of 2.5 BB/9 illustrated that he was mostly as advertised when scouts discussed his command and his fastball was reaching 96 mph with what was described as “heavy sink.”
After posting a 3.38 ERA with a 2.1 BB/9 in 18 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis, Bullington was a September call-up for the Pirates in 2005. The plan was for him to pitch out of the bullpen over the final two weeks of the season. He appeared in just one game.
After his lone appearance, Bullington was shut down for the rest of the season as shoulder tendinitis that cost him a handful of starts in April, flared up again.
The Injury
Bullington was to pitch in the 2005 Arizona Fall League, but with the shoulder still troublesome, he pulled out. Initially the injury was thought to be just a strain or tendinitis but after an examination, it was determined the damage was much more extensive. He would need surgery to repair damage to his posterior labrum. Major shoulder surgery, the recovery time was thought to be six to eight months.
Bullington was slow to recover. Six to eight months stretched into 12 and he missed all of the 2006 season.
The Return
Bullington made 26 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis in 2007 in his return to action, but his command, once his calling card, had evaporated. His walk rate ballooned to 3.5 BB/9 IP and his strikeout rate tumbled to 5.3 K/9. The following year, he really struggled. His walk rate fell to 3.0 BB/9 IP, but perhaps in an effort to improve his control, he started catching more of the plate. I hypothesize this because he began getting hit - 90 hits in 75 innings. It was the highest hit rate of his minor league career.
Eventually, the numbers are going to catch up to a prospect who can’t force his way into the big leagues and the Pirates were forced to designate Bullington for assignment in order to remove him from their 40-man roster. He was picked up by the Indians, but didn’t pitch much better for their Triple-A team (and a couple of big league appearances) before moving on to Toronto for the 2009 season.
The Blue Jays decided to use him exclusively in relief and Bullington finally found some post-injury success. His walk rate of 1.6 BB/9 was the lowest of his career and his strikeout rate of 10.1 K/9 was the highest. That’s a good sign. Overall, he threw 39 innings, allowed 42 hits, 6 unintentional walks and had an ERA of 3.52.
Next
The Bullington signing further signals Dayton Moore’s attempt to stock the upper minor leagues with players who have the potential to contribute (likely in a brief, emergency situation) in the big leagues. That’s a good sign. We suffered through so many innings of John Bale and and Roman Colon because there wasn’t anybody else in the system.
Can Bullington contribute in the majors? He’s been through so much as this point in his career, who knows? I do like his Triple-A numbers from last year and it’s possible he could make the transformation from injured starter to effective reliever. He wouldn’t be the first.
Besides, he's an interesting story... So much promise with so little to show.
The bottom line is, this is a low risk, low cost move. It’s exactly the kind of move the Royals should be making.
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Comments
Good post as usual.. I gotta tell you, your site is about all that gets me through the post season these days. Thanks so much for staying up to date and keeping readers informed every day.
Seems like another low risk move for DM. I like it. I like all the moves he's made so far. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he spins the CF and Catcher positions. Just my opinion, but I think you have to take a look at trading Soria. That's the only way you will get the kind of talent you are looking for in return.
Anyway, keep up the good work, and thanks again!
RJ-Royals do have to be open to moving Soria, if a team overwhelmes them. This team is not that close to contending.