On June 17, former Texas Christian University power-southpaw Brandon Finnegan pitched an eight-inning gem against eventual national runner-up Virginia during the College World Series. The 5’11” junior from Fort Worth, Texas threw 108 pitches that night, allowing an earned running, striking out five and walking two in a 15-inning losing effort to the Cavaliers.
12 days earlier, Finnegan was selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals with the 17th overall pick and, on June 28 following the end of the College World Series, the Royals inked Finnegan for a signing bonus of $2,200,600, which was the assigned value for the 17th overall selection in this year’s draft.
Normally, a recent signee like Finnegan would begin his minor league career with a rookie team or a low-A team. Las Vegas high school sensation Bryce Harper was assigned to the Class A Hagerstown Suns after the Washington Nationals took him with the first overall selection in the 2011 draft. Harper did not appear in the Majors until almost a year after playing 130 games for 3 different minor league teams. Mike Trout, perhaps the best current position player in the Majors, was drafted with the 25th overall selection by the Los Angeles Angles during the 2009 draft, and played in 266 games across four levels of minor league baseball before making his MLB debut on July 8, 2011. In addition, Clayton Kershaw, debatably the best overall pitcher in the Majors, was drafted seventh overall by the Los Angles Dodgers during the 2006 draft. Kershaw played at 3 different levels, appeared in 73 games, and pitched 342 1/3 innings in minor league baseball before making his MLB debut on May 28, 2008.
In contrast, Finnegan pitched at 2 levels, appeared in 13 games and pitched 27 innings before debuting for the Royals against the Yankees on September 6. That day, Finnegan pitched 2 scoreless innings and struck out Jacoby Ellsbury and Derek Jeter in succession. Finnegan’s presence became known on the national stage when he appeared in the American League Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics allowed one earned run and struck out three over 2 1/3 innings of work. On October 3, Finnegan became the youngest pitcher in Royals franchise history to earn a win when he appeared in relief in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels.
While Finnegan has not been stellar during the course of his 4 1/3 postseason innings of relief (4.15 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts), he has certainly impressed with his 3/4 arm slot, mid 90’s fastball with movement, coupled with his plus, mid 80’s changeup. The current reliever, who reminds me of a hybrid between Madison Bumgarner and Chris Sale, is sure to be a part of the Royals’ future for many years to come. Only a little more than four months removed from his dazzling performance versus the Virginia Cavaliers in Omaha, Finnegan is poised to appear in the World Series for the Royals – the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 1985 when they won their only title to date.
*Section Photo credit to Richard W. Rodriguez, Star-Telegram; Featured Photo (above) credit to H. Barr Beiser, USA Today Sports
