Jake Brentz

Position: LHRP
Level: Double-A
Affiliate: Altoona Curve
League: Eastern League
Born: 09/14/1994 (Age: 29)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: 11th Rd., 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (TOR); Acquired to complete 8/16/16 trade for Arquimedes Caminero 9/1/16 (PIT)

Prospect Spotlight

Brentz will always be on scouts’ follow lists given his tantalizing 80-grade velocity from the left side. When I saw him on the backfields this March, I was told he has only been working from the stretch this year in order to combat longstanding issues with control. There’s obvious effort in his delivery and he struggles to throw consistent strikes. His fastball ranges from 96-to-98 mph and it can scrape triple digits at times, though limited pitchability and command cause the heater to play under its raw velocity. I was enthused at the developments Brentz has made with his breaking ball: with sharp, downer action in the 82-to-84 mph range, it was a much better pitch than I have seen in the past. A new wrinkle in his in-game arsenal is a power splitter in the 91-to-93 mph range. It doesn’t always show dive-and-die turnover action, but it flashed quality movement at times and got a handful of hitters on their front foot. Brentz’ elite velocity will allow him plenty of chances to crack a big league bullpen. The ceiling is that of a flamethrowing left-handed setup piece.