BRYAN BULLINGTON

9/30/80; '02 1st; Ball State U.
R/R; 6-5, 220

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA
2003 A+	8-4-0	17	17	97.1	101	27	67	3.05
2003 A	5-1-0	8	7	45.1	25	11	46	1.39
2004 AA	12-7-0	26	26	145.0	160	47	100	4.10

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA	OAVG	OOBP	OSLG
2005 NL	0-0-0	1	0	1.1	1	1	1	13.50	.250	.429	.500
2005 AAA	9-5-0	18	18	109.1	104	26	82	3.38	.251	.300	.406

The Pirates made Bullington the top pick in a 2002 draft that was universally regarded as lacking in top flight talent. After months of negotiating, he signed too late to play in the minors or in instructional league. The Pirates' decision to pick him has remained a source of controversy. According to various news stories, the team's scouts wanted to pick B.J. Upton, who was widely regarded as the most talented player in the draft. The team reportedly took Bullington, however, due to Kevin McClatchy's wish to get a college pitcher who would provide help at the major league level sooner. Bullington was generally regarded as a low risk pick who projected as a #3 starter. When Upton reached the majors before Bullington despite being four years younger, criticism of the Pirates' pick grew widespread.

The criticism was not based solely on time in reaching the majors. While Upton quickly became the most highly regarded prospect in the minors, Bullington generated further controversy when reports began appearing that his stuff was rather ordinary. Before his junior year, Bullington was not regarded as a top draft prospect. As a junior, however, he added velocity and improved his slider. He finished that year 11-3, 2.84, with 139 Ks and only 18 walks allowed in 104.2 IP. Opposing batters hit .222 against him. His velocity was around 93-94, occasionally higher, and his slider and curve were both considered above average with excellent command. After signing him, the Pirates chose to be conservative and started him off at Hickory. He dominated the hitters there and was promoted before mid-season. He did not impress scouts at Lynchburg, however. There were reports that his fastball had dropped into the high-80s and that his slider had lost its bite. The problems were reflected in his performance. Although his ERA was good, he allowed a lot of hits and his K rate was well below average for the league. He also pitched poorly in his two playoff starts. He was still named the league's 10th best prospect, drawing comments that he had shown good command and improved his curve and change, factors that observers believed would help him if his other pitches rebounded. The Pirates blamed his unimpressive stuff on the long layoff after college.

Bullington spent all of 2004 at Altoona. Early in the season, Baseball America reported that, according to the Pirates, his stuff had mostly rebounded. This turned out to be inaccurate. Bullington spent the season throwing in the mid- to upper-80s, with good command and decent but not dominating offspeed stuff. The results were similar to his stint at Lynchburg, except that AA hitters were better able to take advantage of his so-so offerings. His ERA climbed, his K rate remained low, and he got hit hard much of the time. He also gave up a fairly large # of HRs: 18 in 145 IP. In noting his absence from the Eastern League's top 20 prospect list, Baseball America stated that managers in the league were "uninspired" after seeing him pitch.

The controversy included a variety of conflicting statements. Bullington himself has said that his velocity was never as high as reported, that he was clocked once or twice at 95-96 mph in college but otherwise he threw no harder than he does now. The Pirates have generally avoided questions about his velocity, except that AAA manager Trent Jewett stated in a 2005 interview that Bullington didn't throw as hard as they thought he would. The team has maintained that he's made excellent progress, which is an absurd comment considering that he was the top pick in the draft. Seven pitchers selected after Bullington in the first round reached the majors before he did, including four chosen out of HS and one who had Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted. The Pirates also have sought to downplay expectations for Bullington, with Brian Graham stating in one interview that they only expected him to be a #3 or #4 starter.

Ironically, Bullington showed signs in 2005 of turning things around. After missing the first few weeks with a sore shoulder, he initially struggled in AAA, pitching much like he had in AA. He eventually started pitching much better, however, with a string of strong outings and much higher K totals. He finished with very good #s, including a respectable K rate that would have been better if not for his initial struggles. The improvement has been ascribed mainly to him rediscovering his slider. The Pirates added him to the roster so they could call him up in September. In a final irony, however, he pitched just once in relief before being shut down due to renewed shoulder problems. After the season it was announced that he needed surgery to repair a torn labrum. The Pirates initially thought it was just a slight tear and that Bullington would be ready in the spring, but the surgeon found that it was more serious. He's now expected to be ready to pitch around mid-season. Given the extensive recovery time often necessary for labrum surgery, he may not be ready to contribute in the majors until late 2007 or even later.

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