September 13, 2012
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Brandon Berl: Dependable Once Again
campaign=Linker&id=berl–001bra” target=”_blank”>Brandon Berl was just that kind of player for the Lansing Lugnuts this past season.
Back for a second tour of duty with the Lansing Lugnuts, Brandon Berl continued to anchor the team’s bullpen.
“Brandon has been solid the whole year,” Lugnuts pitching coach Vince Horsman said. “He’s the cement down there in the bullpen.”
After spending the entire 2011 campaign with the Lugnuts, Berl returned to Lansing once again this past season, logging a 3.02 ERA with 46 strikeouts in a career-high 46 appearances. Although his strikeout rate dipped to 6.6 per nine innings, Berl stayed healthy and tossed a career-high 62 2/3 innings.
He was lights out for the Lugnuts before the all-star break, to the tune of a 2.08 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings, and though his walk rate escalated this season, part of it was situational, considering four of his 15 free passes were intentional. Berl credits his deep pitch repertoire as the main reason for his success over the last two seasons.
“My strength is my command being able to locate my pitches for strikes,” he said. “I use a four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, and changeup. My fastball usually ranges from 88 to 90 mph.”
Eating relief innings is nothing new for Berl, as prior to being drafted the Blue Jays in the 40th round of the 2010 draft, he did the same thing as a senior at St. Mary’s College. Though he certainly enjoyed his time at SMC and playing for the Gaels, Berl was beyond excited to continue his baseball career with the Blue Jays.
“My time at St. Mary’s was good; I really liked it up there,” he said. “It was northern California and I’m from southern California, so I got to experience a different part of the state. It’s a good group of guys and coaches up there.”
“The draft experience was exciting, though; growing up everyone’s dream is to keep playing baseball. The Blue Jays gave me a chance to keep playing.”
Having just completed his age-24 season at A-ball, Brandon Berl might be old for his level, but his ability to get outs when his manager needs them is a commodity that’s valuable at any minor league stop.