Sizing up Eric Brown

Even with a crystal ball I couldn't predict whether Eric Brown would ever pitch at Shea; however, if size increased the likelihood that a pitcher would make it to the big leagues then Brown's chances would get a giant boost.

At 6'6" and 225 pounds, Brown's the tallest pitcher on the St. Lucie Mets roster and only five pounds lighter than the heaviest player, pitcher Joe Hietpas. Compared with current New York Mets, reliever Guillermo Mota matches Brown's height, but is 40 pounds lighter, while reliever Aaron Heilman matches his weight, but is an inch shorter.

The Mets drafted the 23-year-old out of Wingate University in 2005 in the 18th round.

An article on Wingate University's Web site contained this information on Brown:

Brown led the South Atlantic Conference in strikeouts with 111 this past year, while only walking 30 hitters in 95 innings. The 21-year-old features four pitches - a fastball, slider, curve and changeup - with his fastball in the 88 to 91 mile per hour range and his devastating slider as his out pitch.

“(McPhail) [a Mets scout] didn’t really care for his velocity as much as his location and movement,” Drennen noted. “He was impressed with the ease of his delivery.”

Rich Drennen is Wingate's pitching coach.

Now in his second season of pro ball, Brown's having a tougher time than he did last year pitching for the Brooklyn Cyclones. With the NY-Penn League team he was 7-1 with a 1.16 ERA. At St. Lucie this season, he's 9-8 with a 4.35 ERA. However, he pitched well last night. In seven innings the right-hander surrendered just five hits and no runs while walking just one batter.

Eric Brown. A man who just might make it onto the New York Mets roster before our next president completes her first term.