- Frank Brooks
Infobox MLB player
width = 150
name=Frank Brooks
position=Relief pitcher
team=Somerset Patriots
number=22
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|09|06
debutdate=August 27
debutyear=2004
debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
statyear=2007
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=0-1
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.58
stat3label=Strikeout s
stat3value=18
teams=
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|2004)
*Atlanta Braves (by|2005)Frank J. Brooks (born
September 6 ,1978 inBrooklyn, New York ) is aMajor League Baseball player who currently plays in the Atlantic League for theSomerset Patriots . Aleft-handed pitcher who bats from the left side, Brooks is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 pounds.His primary pitches are a low-90s
fastball and a low-80scurveball with a large break. [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/031209rule5preview.html]Baseball career
Brooks played ball at
Sheepshead Bay High School in Brooklyn, and after graduation attendedSaint Peter's College, New Jersey for three years. At the end of his junior season, thePhiladelphia Phillies selected him with the 396th overall pick of the 1999 June draft, as part of that draft's thirteenth round. He signed with the Phillies and began his professional career with theBatavia Muckdogs , where he was honored as a member of theNew York-Penn League 'sAll-Star team.Brooks began his professional career as a
starting pitcher , but he converted to relief partway through the by|2001 season. He was dominant in Double-A in by|2003, striking out 71 batters in 58 1/3 innings, while surrendering only 40 hits and fivehome run s. Brooks's performance caught the eye of thePittsburgh Pirates , who acquired him in a deadline deal for closer Mike Williams. After the trade, Brooks spent time with two of the Pirates' affiliates, theAltoona Curve and theNashville Sounds .The
New York Mets selected Brooks in theRule 5 Draft that off-season, and then immediately traded him to theOakland Athletics . Brooks was one of five players chosen from the Pirates in the major league portion of that Rule 5 draft, a series of events that resulted in a great deal of criticism of Pirates' general manager,Dave Littlefield . [http://209.116.71.39/today/columnists/askba03dec.html] [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04084/290582.stm] . Brooks failed to stick with the Athletics, but when placed on waivers onMarch 18 , was claimed by theBoston Red Sox . Boston likewise had trouble finding space for him on their roster, and when placed on waivers again onMarch 31 , cleared them and was sent back to the Pirates.After spending most of by|2004 at Triple-A, Brooks made his major league debut on
August 27 , 2004, and went on to appear in eleven games with the Pirates. He pitched well in relief, striking out 17 batters in 16 1/3 innings and surrendering only a .175batting average to opposing hitters [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlbhist/players/splits?statsId=7262&type=pitching&year=2004] , but his final season totals were distorted by a poor performance in an emergency start. The Pirates placed him on waivers to clear roster space at the end of the season, and he was claimed by theLos Angeles Dodgers . Brooks went throughspring training with the Dodgers, but was placed on waivers yet again onApril 13 , by|2005, and was claimed by theAtlanta Braves .Brooks spent the majority of the 2005 season with the Braves' Triple-A affiliate, the
Richmond Braves . He did earn a brief callup to Atlanta, pitching to two batters in a game against theSan Diego Padres onMay 16 . At the end of the year, Brooks signed with theNew York Yankees as a minor leaguefree agent . In mid April by|2006, Frank signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals . He was released onJune 12 and five days later signed with theBoston Red Sox . Brooks spent the rest of 2006 pitching for the Red Sox Double-A affiliate, thePortland Sea Dogs . OnNovember 8 , 2006, Brooks signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres and became a free agent after the season.On
April 14 , by|2008, Brooks signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League.External links
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brookfr01.shtml Brooks's major league statistics at Baseball-Reference.com]
* [http://tsf.waymoresports.thestar.com/thestar/baseball/player.cgi?3835 Brooks's minor league statistics at The Toronto Star]
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