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Brown catching on quickly
A's prospects make up 'The Magnificent Seven'
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
"It's like a dream come true," says Jeremy Brown of the prospect of catching for Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder.
PHOENIX -- Being a team's first-round draft pick has caused many a young player considerable stress. Starting with their first Spring Training, these prospects face the intense pressure, both external and internal, of living up to the expectations that come with the tag "first-rounder."
Luckily for Oakland's Jeremy Brown, he's got plenty of company.
A catcher out of the University of Alabama, Brown is one of seven players -- all from the college ranks -- selected by the A's in the first and supplemental first rounds of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. Brown was taken in the supplemental round, an extra pick the A's received for Jason Giambi's departure to New York via free agency.
All seven picks began their professional careers last year with Vancouver in the short-season Northwest League, with varying degrees of success. But because of the shared experience of being drafted together, they all share a bond, which hopefully made the transition a little bit easier. Maybe the group needs a nickname: "The Magnificent Seven."
"We're all pretty good friends because we played together last year," Brown says. "I don't know if it lessens the pressure. I pressed a little in Vancouver last year."
Brown is being a bit modest. Fact is, he didn't spend much time in Vancouver at all. He hit .286 in 28 at-bats and showed a good grasp of Oakland's offensive philosophy by walking twice as often as he struck out. It didn't take long for him to be promoted to Visalia in the High-A California League. The bump up agreed with him; Brown hit .310, slugged .545 and had a .444 on-base percentage in 187 at-bats, officially placing him on the fast track. The A's plan to start him in Double-A Midland this season, putting him a step ahead of his first-round friends.
"I think it'll be a big challenge," says Brown, who was 1-for-10 with a homer this spring before he was sent back to minor-league camp. "I look forward to it if I get that opportunity."
Brown isn't a big talker. He registers a negative number on the flashiness scale, and his squat, stocky build fits his old-school personality. In today's age of speedy, athletic catchers, Brown, who didn't start catching until his junior year of college, looks like a backstop from a bygone era. Of course, as long as he keeps hitting, the A's won't care if he doesn't fit the modern-catcher mold.
"He's been the guy that's exceeded everyone's expectations," says A's Director of Player Development, Keith Lieppman. "They liked him a little, but nobody thought he'd be as good as he's been."
He was good enough to earn in invitation to big-league camp and get some playing time. He had only that one hit, but it was a two-run homer that won a game. And all the while, Brown kept his eyes and ears open, soaking in every aspect of the experience after getting over the initial jitters of walking into the Major League clubhouse.
"At first, it was hard to get comfortable, not knowing many of the guys," Brown admits. "But they've been great. I'm enjoying myself. I've learned a lot. It's been a good experience."
That's not to say Brown doesn't appreciate his situation. Hobnobbing with the 2002 AL West champions is something he won't soon forget. That's particularly true for a young catcher, who couldn't possibly come up with better on-the-job training than being on the receiving end of Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito, even if it is just in Spring Training.
"It's like a dream come true," Brown says. "They're the best in the business, and the opportunity to catch them has been great. This is way beyond any expectations I had for myself. Who knew I'd be in big-league camp one year after college ball?"
And there are far worse things than being drafted by the A's. Oakland has built a perennial contender with its ability to develop prospects into performers at big-league level, and Brown being in big-league camp wasn't just a courtesy. The A's wanted to give him a taste of what can become his reality before too long.
"I was thrilled [to get drafted by the A's]," Brown says. "It's a great organization to be in as a minor leaguer. You will move if you do well. You know you have a shot."
That goes for all of the A's first-rounders from a year ago. Maybe they should be called "The Lucky Seven." Nick Swisher, Joe Blanton, Ben Fritz, John McCurdy, Mark Teahen, Steve Obenchain and Brown all know they couldn't have asked for a better situation. The idea of having McCurdy and Teahen in the infield, Swisher in the outfield and Brown behind the plate to catch Blanton, Fritz and Obenchain, appeals to the young catcher.
"That'd be awesome," Brown says. "I hope we'll all be playing on the same team one day.
"My goal is to make it to the big leagues. Otherwise, what would I be playing for? We'll see what happens."
Brown catching on quickly
A's prospects make up 'The Magnificent Seven'
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
"It's like a dream come true," says Jeremy Brown of the prospect of catching for Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder.
PHOENIX -- Being a team's first-round draft pick has caused many a young player considerable stress. Starting with their first Spring Training, these prospects face the intense pressure, both external and internal, of living up to the expectations that come with the tag "first-rounder."
Luckily for Oakland's Jeremy Brown, he's got plenty of company.
A catcher out of the University of Alabama, Brown is one of seven players -- all from the college ranks -- selected by the A's in the first and supplemental first rounds of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. Brown was taken in the supplemental round, an extra pick the A's received for Jason Giambi's departure to New York via free agency.
All seven picks began their professional careers last year with Vancouver in the short-season Northwest League, with varying degrees of success. But because of the shared experience of being drafted together, they all share a bond, which hopefully made the transition a little bit easier. Maybe the group needs a nickname: "The Magnificent Seven."
"We're all pretty good friends because we played together last year," Brown says. "I don't know if it lessens the pressure. I pressed a little in Vancouver last year."
Brown is being a bit modest. Fact is, he didn't spend much time in Vancouver at all. He hit .286 in 28 at-bats and showed a good grasp of Oakland's offensive philosophy by walking twice as often as he struck out. It didn't take long for him to be promoted to Visalia in the High-A California League. The bump up agreed with him; Brown hit .310, slugged .545 and had a .444 on-base percentage in 187 at-bats, officially placing him on the fast track. The A's plan to start him in Double-A Midland this season, putting him a step ahead of his first-round friends.
"I think it'll be a big challenge," says Brown, who was 1-for-10 with a homer this spring before he was sent back to minor-league camp. "I look forward to it if I get that opportunity."
Brown isn't a big talker. He registers a negative number on the flashiness scale, and his squat, stocky build fits his old-school personality. In today's age of speedy, athletic catchers, Brown, who didn't start catching until his junior year of college, looks like a backstop from a bygone era. Of course, as long as he keeps hitting, the A's won't care if he doesn't fit the modern-catcher mold.
"He's been the guy that's exceeded everyone's expectations," says A's Director of Player Development, Keith Lieppman. "They liked him a little, but nobody thought he'd be as good as he's been."
He was good enough to earn in invitation to big-league camp and get some playing time. He had only that one hit, but it was a two-run homer that won a game. And all the while, Brown kept his eyes and ears open, soaking in every aspect of the experience after getting over the initial jitters of walking into the Major League clubhouse.
"At first, it was hard to get comfortable, not knowing many of the guys," Brown admits. "But they've been great. I'm enjoying myself. I've learned a lot. It's been a good experience."
That's not to say Brown doesn't appreciate his situation. Hobnobbing with the 2002 AL West champions is something he won't soon forget. That's particularly true for a young catcher, who couldn't possibly come up with better on-the-job training than being on the receiving end of Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito, even if it is just in Spring Training.
"It's like a dream come true," Brown says. "They're the best in the business, and the opportunity to catch them has been great. This is way beyond any expectations I had for myself. Who knew I'd be in big-league camp one year after college ball?"
And there are far worse things than being drafted by the A's. Oakland has built a perennial contender with its ability to develop prospects into performers at big-league level, and Brown being in big-league camp wasn't just a courtesy. The A's wanted to give him a taste of what can become his reality before too long.
"I was thrilled [to get drafted by the A's]," Brown says. "It's a great organization to be in as a minor leaguer. You will move if you do well. You know you have a shot."
That goes for all of the A's first-rounders from a year ago. Maybe they should be called "The Lucky Seven." Nick Swisher, Joe Blanton, Ben Fritz, John McCurdy, Mark Teahen, Steve Obenchain and Brown all know they couldn't have asked for a better situation. The idea of having McCurdy and Teahen in the infield, Swisher in the outfield and Brown behind the plate to catch Blanton, Fritz and Obenchain, appeals to the young catcher.
"That'd be awesome," Brown says. "I hope we'll all be playing on the same team one day.
"My goal is to make it to the big leagues. Otherwise, what would I be playing for? We'll see what happens."
