A Look Back at the Royals Top 31 Prospects: #16 Bryan Brickhouse

The KC Royals third round pick in 2011, right-handed pitcher Bryan Brickhouse, came in at number 16 in Baseball America‘s top prospect list for the Royals heading into the 2012 season. He received a $1.5 million signing bonus and is in a recent line of power pitchers to come out of The Woodlands in Texas. His fastball tops out at 97 mph and he throws both a curveball and a slider. His mechanics are still a work in progress.

Brickhouse signed late in 2011 and made his professional debut in 2012. He started the season with Idaho Falls (rookie ball). He made just one start and was roughed up (seven runs in just 1.2 innings). He then received a promotion to Low-A Kane County (just like Baseball America predicted). There he went 3-3 with a 5.61 ERA in ten starts before being shut down (his last start came on August 11th).

He made three really good starts for the Cougars, including his last. On July 3rd, he allowed just one hit, an unearned run, and a walk over six innings (while striking out six). On July 27th, he allowed one run on three hits over six innings (after being lit up by the same team three starts earlier). In his final start of the season, he allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks over seven innings. It was the longest start of his short professional career.

Brickhouse is currently participating in instructional league at the Royals spring training complex in Surprise, Arizona. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star ranks him as the Royals 25th best prospect.

Check out some video of Brickhouse at the Baseball Factory Under Armour All-American Game: