BRAD LINCOLN

5/25/85; '06 1st; Univ. of Houston
L/R; 6-0, 200

Level
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
 HR
BB
K
 BB/9
K/9
WHIP
OAVG
ERA
2004 NCAA
3-2-0
12
10
56.2
60
 2
19
35
 3.02
5.56
1.39
 
4.29
2005 NCAA
4-7-0
18
16
102.0
124
 12
25
106
 2.21
9.35
1.46
 
4.76
2006 NCAA
12-2-0
17
17
127.2
91
 8
32
152
 2.26
10.72
0.96
.198
1.69
2006 A
1-2-0
4
4
16.0
25
 2
6
10
 3.38
5.63
2.00
.368
6.75
2006 R
0-0-0
2
2
7.2
6
 0
1
9
 1.17
10.57
0.91
.222
0.00
2007 INJURED
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 A+
1-5-0
8
8
41.2
42
5
11
29
2.38
6.26
1.27
.259
4.75
2008 A
5-5-0
11
11
62.0
72
8
6
46
0.87
6.68
1.26
.288
4.65

Lincoln jumped up the charts with a big showing in the Cape Cod League in 2005, then dominated throughout the 2006 collegiate season.  He throws around 91-93, sometimes reaching the mid-90s, and has a very good curve and developing change.  Baseball America rated him as having the best command of any college pitcher in the draft.  As he's only 6'0", he'll probably face doubts about his health and stamina, but he's consistently held his velocity late into games.  Lincoln also played 1B and led his team in RBIs.  He was considered good enough that he might have made it to the majors as a hitter.  He signed two weeks after the draft for a reported $2.75M bonus.  He threw a few innings at Bradenton, then moved up to Hickory, where he struggled.  His season ended with an oblique strain.  It's possible he might have been able to return from it, but the Pirates appeared just as happy to shut him down until instructional league.  He then had to be shut down there as well, with the same problem.

Unfortunately, a more ominous problem than the oblique strain developed at the start of spring training, as Lincoln was shut down with a muscle strain in his forearm, a problem that can be evidence of ligament damage.  History wasn't exactly encouraging.  The Pirates had a string, broken only (so far) by Paul Maholm, of six first round pitchers (Kris Benson, Clint Johnston, Bobby Bradley, Sean Burnett, John Van Benschoten and Bryan Bullington) whose careers were ruined or severely interrupted by major arm injuries.  Some people might conclude that using first round picks on pitchers is a bad idea, but learning from experience is not the team's strength.  As always under Dave Littlefield, the team insisted that Lincoln did not have a serious injury.  And, as always, their initial statements soon became no longer operative.  Lincoln had Tommy John surgery at the end of spring training and missed the 2007 season.

Lincoln's rehab proceeded on schedule and he joined Hickory in mid-May, followed by a promotion to Lynchburg in July.  Although some fans were put off by the ERAs, Lincoln's return was successful.  He stayed healthy, his fastball sat around 93, and his control was very good.  It may have been a little too good, as he had a moderate gopher ball problem, but one article said he was concentrating mainly on throwing strikes.  He actually didn't allow many baserunners.  He tended to pitch very well for a while and then give everything up in just one inning.  The Pirates were pleased with his comeback and he should have a good chance of opening 2009 in AA.  Aside from recent acquisition Bryan Morris, he's the only starter in the system with a significant ceiling, so the Pirates have a lot invested in his success.

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