Crack of the Bat

By Jim McDonald

 

Scottsdale Chaparral’s Brewer Emerges as Top Pitching Prospect

 

The pitching performance of Charles Brewer at Scottsdale Chaparral High School has been nothing short of remarkable thus far this season. Brewer emerged as a true standout on the national scene as a junior last season and entered this year ranked among America’s Top 100 high school players. Before the year was over and after impressive performances at the Area Code games and the Perfect Game Nationals, he had committed to pitch in college at UCLA, turning down the likes of the University of Arizona, Stanford, Arizona State University, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine and the University of San Diego.   This year, he is quickly being recognized as a significant prospect for professional baseball. Signs so far indicate that he is under consideration for selection in the top three rounds of June’s amateur draft.  At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Brewer looks like a pitcher ought to look. The results have been even better. And the combination of current performance and the promise of tomorrow have scouts literally flocking to watch Chaparral play whenever the fluid and lanky right-hander takes the mound.

Most times, 10 or more are there to watch Brewer pitch each time out. Included in this group have been national cross checkers and high level scouting brass including representatives from the Mariners, the Astros, the Reds, Tigers, Brewers, Diamondbacks and Dodgers, among others.

 

What they have seen (and what they appear to like) is a fastball that moves in a way that is unpredictable to hitters and is traveling consistently at 90 to 91 and topping out at 92/93. The key word is consistency. Brewer has great command of his pitches, locating his pitches precisely even on tough counts and walking very few hitters. He throws his 12/6 curve ball 76 mph for strikes and has mixes in a change up that on the high school level is freezing opposing batters. He also is learning another curve (under the guidance of former Big League pitcher Steve Ontiveros) that is more suited to professional baseball than to high schoolers. UCLA Coach John Savage, who has directed the development of Mark Prior, Barry Zito and Mets rookie Brian Bannister, believes Brewer has a chance to be one of his best.

 

“Charles has the kind of ability that we like to see in a young pitcher and he projects extremely well with his frame and arm action,” said Ken Phelps, who played 11 years in the Big Leagues for the like of the Mariners, Yankees and A’s and who recently spent two years broadcasting games for the Arizona Diamondbacks. “The question, of course, is does he want to sign or does he want to go to school? He has the talent, the makeup and the consistency to be worthy of a high pick and to have success very quickly. Either way, he has a very bright future.”

 

The results support that kind of conclusion. Last year – his first with the nationally ranked Chaparral varsity – Brewer was impressive and undefeated at 7-0 and an earned run average of 0.78. He also got the save, closing with two scoreless innings in the state championship game victory over Tucson Catalina Foothills, another nationally recognized program. This year, Brewer has been even better. With Chaparral at 20-3-1 and among the elite teams in Arizona and across the nation, Brewer is 7-0 (and undefeated overall for his high school career) with a microscopic 0.54 earned run average in 48 innings pitched. He also has 50 strikeouts and just six walks. As a bonus, he has been Chaparral’s best hitter and among the most consistent in the state so far this year with an average well over .400.

 

Along with the scouts, representatives from the firms of Scott Boras and Alan Nero (who represents Randy Johnson and others) have expressed strong interest in becoming advisor to Brewer.

 

It is not clear what path Brewer will take over the next few months and years, but it is clear that he ought to be a lot of fun to watch and that his story is part of what makes baseball so interesting at all levels.

 

This column represents the thoughts and opinions of the author and are not necessarily those of Perfect Game.