Jim Brower
Encyclopedia
James Robert Brower is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played for 8 MLB
teams: Cleveland Indians
(-), Cincinnati Reds
(-), Montreal Expos
(2002), San Francisco Giants
(-), Atlanta Braves
, Baltimore Orioles
, San Diego Padres
(2006), and New York Yankees
. He is currently the pitching coach for the Kane County Cougars
.
in the 56th round of the amateur draft, but did not sign, choosing instead to attend the University of Minnesota
, where he was named a Big Ten Conference
All-Star
in . 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 . 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. Midway through the 2001 season, the Reds traded him to the Montreal Expos for pitcher Bruce Chen
. That November, he was traded to San Francisco in the trade that sent Liván Hernández
to the Expos. In 2004, he tied the Giants' team record for appearances with 89.
Following a disappointing start to the 2005 season, Brower was released by the Giants on June 12, and signed by the Atlanta Braves. He signed a minor league
contract with the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2006 season, but was released three months later. He was subsequently signed by the San Diego Padres, who traded him to the Florida Marlins on August 1. 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, but was released after appearing in six games for their AAA club. He was signed to a minor league contract by the New York Yankees, and served as the closer
for their AAA club, posting a 1.65 ERA
and earning 20 saves. On August 6, 2007, he was promoted by the Yankees, replacing Mike Myers on the 40-man roster.
Brower pitched in three games for the Yankees, posting a 13.50 ERA in 3.1 innings, surrendering 8 hits
and two walks
. In August, he was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and later released by the Yankees after refusing a minor league assignment. In December, Brower agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On May 30, , Brower was traded by the Reds to the Chicago Cubs
for cash considerations. Brower was released in July and signed with the Houston Astros
. After making only two appearances with Triple-A Round Rock
, Brower was released so that he could sign with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japan
ese Central League
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played for 8 MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams: Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(-), Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(-), Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(2002), San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(-), Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(2006), and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He is currently the pitching coach for the Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
.
Career
Brower was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the 56th round of the amateur draft, but did not sign, choosing instead to attend the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, where he was named a Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
in . He was drafted by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
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 . 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. Midway through the 2001 season, the Reds traded him to the Montreal Expos for pitcher Bruce Chen
Bruce Chen
Bruce Kastulo Chen is a Panamanian professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.-Background:...
. That November, he was traded to San Francisco in the trade that sent Liván Hernández
Liván Hernández
Eisler Liván Hernández Carrera is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. He is the half-brother of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernández.-Playing career:...
to the Expos. In 2004, he tied the Giants' team record for appearances with 89.
Following a disappointing start to the 2005 season, Brower was released by the Giants on June 12, and signed by the Atlanta Braves. He signed a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
contract with the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2006 season, but was released three months later. He was subsequently signed by the San Diego Padres, who traded him to the Florida Marlins on August 1. 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, but was released after appearing in six games for their AAA club. He was signed to a minor league contract by the New York Yankees, and served as the closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for their AAA club, posting a 1.65 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and earning 20 saves. On August 6, 2007, he was promoted by the Yankees, replacing Mike Myers on the 40-man roster.
Brower pitched in three games for the Yankees, posting a 13.50 ERA in 3.1 innings, surrendering 8 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and two walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
. In August, he was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and later released by the Yankees after refusing a minor league assignment. In December, Brower agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On May 30, , Brower was traded by the Reds to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for cash considerations. Brower was released in July and signed with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. After making only two appearances with Triple-A Round Rock
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
, Brower was released so that he could sign with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
.