Bryce Brentz

[ypioca]

[SIZE=12pt]Bryce Brentz - OF[/SIZE]
Born: December 30, 1988
Knoxville, TN
Height : 6-0
Weight : 195
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted : 1st round, 2010
College: Middle Tennessee St
High School: South Doyle HS (TN)

Signed on June 12th, for $892,000 (SoxProspects).

[SIZE=14pt]Starting in Lowell[/SIZE].

 

[ypioca]

Bryce hit his first professional HR last night.

His extreme agressiveness at the plate is (expectedly) producing a ton of strikeouts, 10 in 33 ABs already.

His line so far at Lowell: .152/.300/.273

 

[Brianish]

Article on Bryce: he attributes a lot of his struggles to getting used to the contacts the Sox have asked him to wear.

http://www.projo.com/pawsox/content/Red_So...v5.107eab4.html

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

QUOTE (Brianish @ Jun 30 2010, 09:03 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3053385
Article on Bryce: he attributes a lot of his struggles to getting used to the contacts the Sox have asked him to wear.

http://www.projo.com/pawsox/content/Red_So...v5.107eab4.html
QUOTE
“I can see the edge of the contact on my eyes when I look around, like in the peripheral,” he said.


I've worn contacts on and off for 30 years now, and I can't figure this part out. So, his eyeball (IOW, pupil) is moving, but the lens isn't?

Am I the only one who never really noticed the edge of the contact in my periphery? Or are his contacts just so durned small that it is that noticable?

 

[SoxScout]

I thought the same exact thing when I read it. I've never seen the edge of my contacts, even when looking as far to the left or right as possible.

 

[RFDA2000]

QUOTE (Omar's Wacky Neighbor @ Jun 30 2010, 10:49 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3053553
I've worn contacts on and off for 30 years now, and I can't figure this part out. So, his eyeball (IOW, pupil) is moving, but the lens isn't?

Am I the only one who never really noticed the edge of the contact in my periphery? Or are his contacts just so durned small that it is that noticable?


I don't think it's that the contact isn't moving, otherwise it wouldn't be just a peripheral vision thing. I think it must just be the size of the contact is smaller, or it has got a different shape/material at the edge/or something else. It could also just be a convenient excuse.

 

[Shore Thing]

QUOTE (Brianish @ Jun 30 2010, 09:03 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3053385
Article on Bryce: he attributes a lot of his struggles to getting used to the contacts the Sox have asked him to wear.

http://www.projo.com/pawsox/content/Red_So...v5.107eab4.html

Can anyone come up with any ideas about why the Sox would ask him to use different contacts? I find this baffling.

 

[Cuzittt]

QUOTE (Shore Thing @ Jun 30 2010, 01:58 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3053844
Can anyone come up with any ideas about why the Sox would ask him to use different contacts? I find this baffling.


Not different contacts... he didn't wear contacts. He has 20/20 vision (as I recall)... they wanted him to see BETTER (20/15, 20/10).

 

[Shore Thing]

QUOTE (Cuzittt @ Jun 30 2010, 02:00 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3053847
Not different contacts... he didn't wear contacts. He has 20/20 vision (as I recall)... they wanted him to see BETTER (20/15, 20/10).

Okay. That makes sense.

So now I'm curious - are these contacts really smaller than 'normal' ones and therefore causing some interference with his peripheral vision? Or are they uncomfortable and therefore distracting to him?

I assume that if it's truly a contact lens problem that the Sox will be all over this...problem should be corrected immediately. In any case, let's hope he starts making better contact.

 

[Niastri]

QUOTE (Shore Thing @ Jun 30 2010, 03:45 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=3054004
Okay. That makes sense.

So now I'm curious - are these contacts really smaller than 'normal' ones and therefore causing some interference with his peripheral vision? Or are they uncomfortable and therefore distracting to him?

I assume that if it's truly a contact lens problem that the Sox will be all over this...problem should be corrected immediately. In any case, let's hope he starts making better contact.


If you haven't worn contact lenses for a long time, I imagine they would be difficult. My time as a 10 year old wearing them for the first time involved a lot of vision problems and a lot of destroyed contacts.

Especially if they need him to get to better than good vision, the Sox are asking him to have an adjustment. Most people with glasses will have a big adjustment period without their glasses. A person new to them will have problems as well.

Tiger Woods got his eyes lasered, and he had good to great vision beforehand.

We hear about Wade Bodds and Ted Williams having great great vision. Seeing the baseball may not be good enough at "only" 20 20 vision. Those laces are small, and the ball spins fast.

We have all heard the story of Boggs complaining about the ball with a dirt spot on it... The Sox have identified a weakness, and they are willing to help him fix it, without surgery. Makes sense to me.

 

[OttoC]

Many studies on baseball players' vision have been done and the consensus is that they have much better eyesight than the general public in a number of areas, including better than 20/20 vision, depth perception, quickness of the eye to react. A lot of ballplayers today are in training programs that supposedly help improve their vision in these areas. An article in the Globe back in February discusses players' eyesight. Harvard professor Dr. Laby says that:

On average, a baseball players’ vision is 20-12, which means a baseball player can see from 20 feet what a normal person can see at 12 feet. The best the human eye can see is 20-8, so 20-12 is halfway to the best human vision possible.

An abstract of a paper--The visual function of professional baseball players--published in the American Journal of Opthalmology in October 1996 says:

Statistically significant differences were found between major and minor league players on tests of untimed distance contour and random dot stereopsis, and on contrast sensitivity testing with the 3.0- and 6.0-cpd gratings using the Contrast Sensitivity Viewer. CONCLUSIONS: Professional baseball players have excellent visual skills. Mean visual acuity, distance stereoacuity, and contrast sensitivity are significantly better than those of the general population.

A Google search for baseball players vision will turn up over one million entries, some discussing vision measurements and some discussing methods of improving vision for ballplayers.

 

[SoxScout]

So far, the new approach at the plate appears to be working just fine. After hitting .442 (15-for-34) with five multi-hit outings in his first eight games of the season, Brentz went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts and a walk on the against the Savannah Sand Gnats on April 16.

Since then, however, the Red Sox prospect hasn't had another hitless day at the plate. Selected 36th overall in the 2010 Draft, Brentz is hitting .345 (29-for-84) over his current 21-game hit streak.

"I've learned to be selectively aggressive, that is the key," said Brentz, who hit just .198 with five homers and 28 runs in 69 games with short-season Lowell last season.

"Last year I was trying to do too much and that was when I got into trouble. I was pressing too much and I missed a lot of balls trying to hit them 500 feet. Now I'm trying to stay calm and learn from every at-bat."

The Middle Tennessee State University product stands among the South Atlantic League leaders in virtually every offensive category.

He leads the league with 44 hits and 30 runs and his 78 total bases are second only to Lexington's Chris Wallace (80). His seven homers are tied for the third and his 25 RBIs put him behind Wallace and Delmarva's Kipp Schutz. His .629 slugging percentage is good for fifth and his .355 clip ranks ninth.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110510&content_id=18871244&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&tcid=tw_share&partnerId=rss_bos&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[SoxScout]

"I think it's pretty good to be a Bryce right now," Brentz said. "It's flattering to be compared with Harper and it's great to see we're both doing so well.

"Being a No. 1 overall pick is probably quite stressful, but I wish him the best. He can do great things."

With significantly less fanfare, Brentz is creating his own hype. In the four-game set against Asheville, the right fielder hit a scorching .636 (14-for-22) with 10 runs and nine RBIs.

The hot start is very different from 2010, when he hit .198 with 39 RBIs in 69 games with the short-season Lowell Spinners.

"Asheville didn't do anything wrong, I just happened to make some adjustments with how I hit with two strikes," he said.

"Sometimes you have to slow down, take a deep breath and let the pitch come to you. If you're in a pitcher's count, you have to battle and try to get it back to 2-2 or 3-2."

"It's all going pretty well right now and I can't ask for more," Brentz added.

"Baseball is full of ups and downs, and you'll always get hot and cold streaks. [Hitting coach] Luis Lopez is loving what I'm doing right now and I'm loving it too."

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110513&content_id=19003050&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb

In all of pro baseball he has the most hits at 55, Andre Ethier has 53.

 

[Detts]

Greenville paper with some quotes from Brentz today:



He struggled in the New York-Penn League last year after injuring a foot, but that hasn’t carried over with the Drive this season…”That was really the lowest I ever go [sic]” Brentz said of his initial pro experience. “That was the first year I actually struggled. It was bad. I thought there was no way in hell it could get any lower. But I view it as a blessing, too, because it showed me a lot about pro ball – what I need to work on and what I needed to do."

“It wasn’t mechanical, it was just effort level. It was more mental. Instead of being selective, I was swinging at everything that came across, came out of the pitcher’s hand."

 

[Tim Salmon]

Can anyone shed some light on his eight errors? Are these easily correctable mistakes, or is he really that much of a butcher in the outfield?

 

[SoxScout]

Can anyone shed some light on his eight errors? Are these easily correctable mistakes, or is he really that much of a butcher in the outfield?

couple of overthrows (powerful arm), and just misjudging balls (dropped fly balls, missing grounders)

https://twitter.com/#!/ericsjarinko/status/66646559516934144

 

[bringbackburks]

does anyone have an idea when the first round of promotions traditionally occur for a prospect like Brentz. He's clearly not being challenged at the plate (.388/.448/.701) so it would be nice to see what he could do at Salem.

 

[OttoC]

does anyone have an idea when the first round of promotions traditionally occur for a prospect like Brentz. He's clearly not being challenged at the plate (.388/.448/.701) so it would be nice to see what he could do at Salem.

He seems to be challenged in the outfield, though (going by errors).

 

[SoxScout]

does anyone have an idea when the first round of promotions traditionally occur for a prospect like Brentz. He's clearly not being challenged at the plate (.388/.448/.701) so it would be nice to see what he could do at Salem.

First rounders like him usually dominate Lowell, start the next season in Advanced-A for 60 games, then get promoted to AA. See: Ellsbury

Who knows what they are doing with Brentz? Since he sucked last year maybe treating this like Lowell, then going to Salem and maybe a cup of coffee in Double-A to end the year.

He seems to be challenged in the outfield, though (going by errors).

Their media relations guy on Twitter: "couple of overthrows (powerful arm), and just misjudging balls (dropped fly balls, missing grounders)"

Also:

If Bryce Brentz challenges Mitch Hilligoss' four-year-old South Atlantic League record for hitting in 38 straight games, then Sunday's contest will be the one remembered for making it possible.

The 22-year-old Red Sox right fielder came into the ninth inning carrying an 0-for-3 line (he'd also walked). Brentz needed at least two low Class A Greenville batters to reach in order to come to the plate a fifth time. The first two batters flied out, but then Felix Sanchez singled. Heiker Menses then tripled, giving Brentz one more chance to extend the streak. He responded by hitting a home run, his 10th of the year, that easily cleared the fence in straightaway center field.

Brentz also homered in his final at-bat on Friday to keep his streak alive. He now leads the SAL in average (.388), home runs, RBIs (35), hits (57), slugging (.701), runs scored (40), total bases (103) and extra-base hits (23).

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2011/05/daily-dish-bryce-brentz-extends-hit-streak-with-dramatic-home-run/

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion about Brentz lately. He finished his stint in Greenville with a .359/.414/.647 slash line over 185 PAs and his current line in Salem is .300/.343/.689 through 99 PA's. After a disappointing debut in 2010 he's finally hitting like the prospect we were hoping for.

The big area of concern is his K/BB rate. He struck out 35 times and walked 14 in A ball, and so far has struck out 22 times with 7 walks in A+. But the power we were told about is there, with 20 home runs in just 284 PAs at two levels this season.

http://firstinning.com/players/Bryce-Brentz-a/

 

[Clears Cleaver]

[quote name='Snodgrass'Muff' timestamp='1310592759' post='3632862']
I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion about Brentz lately. He finished his stint in Greenville with a .359/.414/.647 slash line over 185 PAs and his current line in Salem is .300/.343/.689 through 99 PA's. After a disappointing debut in 2010 he's finally hitting like the prospect we were hoping for.

The big area of concern is his K/BB rate. He struck out 35 times and walked 14 in A ball, and so far has struck out 22 times with 7 walks in A+. But the power we were told about is there, with 20 home runs in just 284 PAs at two levels this season.

http://firstinning.com/players/Bryce-Brentz-a/
[/quote]

KLaw had him as an honroable mention in his mideason top-50 prospect list. Implies he is top-60 in all baseball now

 

[jsinger121]

Two recent articles on Bryce Brentz.

http://news.soxprospects.com/2011/07/q-with-bryce-brentz.html

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/12458/soxprospects-hr-hitter-brentz-figuring-it-out

 

[Granite Sox]

Seems like a perfectly safe, relaxing way to spend an off-day...

(From yeterday's Extra Bases)

290 lbs.

Is this real, or is he just putting Jenks/Joba out of their misery?

 

[SoxScout]

According to Tim Britton of the Providence Journal, Pawtucket outfielder Bryce Brentz underwent what will likely be season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He originally injured the knee on a slide into second base on July 5.
 
Thus would end what has been a thoroughly disappointing year for a player who entered the season viewed as not far from ready to help the Red Sox in the big leagues. Brentz, a 2010 supplemental first-rounder, had his invitation as a non-roster player in big league camp rescinded after he shot himself in the leg while cleaning a gun. He was healthy in time for the start of minor league games in spring training, and indeed, he made a favorable impression with some offensive impact in some games in big league camp.

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/07/27/report-red-sox-outfield-prospect-bryce-brentz-done-for-the-year/

 

[BosRedSox5]

http://nesn.com/2014/06/bryce-brentz-currently-not-an-option-for-red-soxs-struggling-outfield/
 
Apparently he's rehabbing down in Fort Myers now. It's too bad to see a 25 year old prospect have a lingering happy issue like this, is he ever going to be able to get healthy? Time's ticking. 

 

[Darnell's Son]

https://twitter.com/brianmacp/status/613478605050519552

 

[soxhop411]

https://twitter.com/brianmacp/status/613478605050519552

Tough break

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

At 26 years old, this might effectively end the Bryce Brentz era.

 

[tonyarmasjr]

Well, it's two years later now, and he's certainly not a prospect anymore at 28. But I stumbled across him having a decent season at Pawtucket. Currently at .255/.329/.491 with 14 HR in 237 PA. K%/BB% at 20.3%/9.7%, compared to 25.2%/7.8% in his previous 1096 PA in AAA. He's been hampered by injuries, but I didn't realize last year was actually the most games he's played (91) since 2012. If the drop in K rate is sustainable, he could be a pretty useful corner OF/bench bat.

 

[keninten]

Try him at 3rd. Don`t know if he`s ever played but he had a good arm pitching at MTSU

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Bryce Brentz is now up to a .282/.354/.563 slash line for the year in 274 PA. 27bb/56k. Since the toe tap: 157 PA, .372/.452/.781 on a .381 BAbip, 14 HRs, 19bb/26k. Prior to toe tap: 112 PA, .162/.205/.286 on a .181 BAbip, 4 HRs, 6bb/30k.

The 19bb/26k to 6bb/30k suggests the toe tap actually has had a huge impact on his timing/approach and it's not just SSS noise. Granted he isn't going to OPS over 1.200 forever, but the change appears real.