Brad Lincoln
From BR Bullpen
Brad Eric Lincoln
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
- School University of Houston
- High School Brazoswood High School
- Born May 25, 1985 in Lake Jackson, TX USA
Brad Lincoln was the 4th overall pick of the 2006 amateur draft, becoming the highest selection ever out of Conference USA. Lincoln began his collegiate career in 2004, going 3-2 with a 4.29 ERA and hitting .333/.500/.381. In 2005, Brad slipped to 4-7, 4.76. He walked only 21 in 102 innings, but allowed 124 hits. At the plate, he hit .337/.414/.519.
Lincoln first drew attention in the Cape Cod League after the 2005 season, posting a 1.32 ERA. In his junior year, he was one of the top collegiate players in the country. That season, Brad went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings while walking only 32. At the plate, he hit .295/.368/.536 with 14 HR as a first baseman/DH. He won multiple awards and trophies for his dazzling season, most prominently the Dick Howser Trophy and the ABCA Player of the Year. While he had only had one great season, he was a highly-ranked prospect due to his dominant year.
The Pittsburgh Pirates took Lincoln with the 4th pick in the draft and assigned him to the GCL Pirates, a surprisingly low start for a top-five pick chosen out of college. He struck out 9 and walked one in 7 2/3 innings in two starts for the Bradentown-based team, allowing one run (unearned) and was quickly promoted to the Hickory Crawdads. With Hickory, he also saw very limited action, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four outings and allowing a .368 average before being sidelined for the rest of the year with a strained oblique.
On April 3, 2007, Lincoln underwent Tommy John surgery by James Andrews and would miss the season. This marked a major injury for the 6th of the 7 most recent pitchers taken in the first round by the Pirates. For the first time, GM Dave Littlefield said the team might consider it a reason not to draft pitchers in the first round.
Lincoln finally returned to the minors in 2008. He went 5-5 with a 4.65 ERA for Hickory and was moved up to the Lynchburg Hillcats in July.
