Brian Mazone

From BR Bullpen

Brian Keith Mazone

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 4", Weight 200 lb.

School University of San Diego
High School San Dieguito High School

Born July 26, 1976 in Mission Viejo, CA USA

Brian Mazone has pitched for 11 baseball teams (through 2008) since finishing college, not counting winter ball.

As a sophomore at San Diego, he went 5-5 with a save and a 3.74 ERA. He joined Randy Wolf and another hurler as the All-Star starting pitchers in the West Coast Conference. He improved to 7-6, 3.25 as a junior. His senior year, he went 11-3 with a save but his ERA rose to 4.88; he led the WCC in victories.

Mazone was undrafted out of college and signed with the Atlanta Braves. In 1998, he went 1-6 with a 5.53 ERA while allowing 91 hits in 68 1/3 IP. He was released by Atlanta. The Boston Red Sox signed him that fall but released him before he appeared in their system. Brian signed with the independent Zion Pioneerzz and was 5-5 with a 5.60 ERA in '99, surrendering 141 hits in 101 1/3 innings. He signed with the Detroit Tigers in February 2000 but never pitched in their organization. In 2000, southpaw improved to 7-1, 3.86 for Zion and made the Western Baseball League All-Star team. He did not play in 2001 due to injury.

In 2002, Brian made major strides, going 15-3 with a 2.51 ERA for the Joliet JackHammers. He led the Northern League's Central Division in wins, was second in strikeouts (128) behind Bobby Madritsch and was 5th in ERA. That earned him a trip back to Organized Baseball as he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Californian was horrendous for the 2003 High Desert Mavericks, dropping all 7 decisions and posting a 9.31 ERA. He gave up 97 hits in 59 innings for a .368 opponent batting average. Released once more, he was signed by Joliet. He was 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA for the JackHammers after his return, finishing third in the Northern League in ERA.

Mazone starred for Joliet again in 2004, posting a 9-2, 1.73 record. He gave up just 77 hits (3 homers) and 15 walks in 104 1/3 innings. He led the Northern League in shutouts (4) and ERA and was named to the All-Star team. He joined his fifth MLB organization when the San Francisco Giants gave him another shot. He did well for the Norwich Navigators (1-1, 2 Sv, 2.08, 19 K in 17 1/3 IP) and also pitched with the Fresno Grizzlies (1-0, 4.63 in 2 G).

In 2005, the journeyman went 11-8 with a save and a 3.20 ERA for Norwich. He tied Jon Lester and Matt Peterson for 4th in the Eastern League in victories and was 5th in ERA behind Lester, Matt DeSalvo, Cory Morris and Chris Begg. It was his first full season in Organized Baseball since 1998.

Mazone moved to his 6th MLB organization in 2006 by signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. He continued to improve, going 1-3 with a 2.39 ERA for the Reading Phillies and earning a promotion to AAA. The 29-year-old veteran went 13-3 with a 2.03 ERA for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, giving up only 108 hits in 128 1/3 IP. He led the International League in ERA by a considerable margin (.93 ahead of Heath Phillips) and tied for second in wins, one behind Charlie Haeger. Despite his success, he did not get called up to the majors. He was left off the League All-Star team as Phillips was named the best starting pitcher and also took home Most Valuable Pitcher honors.

In 2007, the left-hander had a 3-2, 2.21 record after six games for the Ottawa Lynx. He was then sold to the Samsung Lions. He went 7-11 with a 4.18 ERA for Samsung and was 5th in the Korea Baseball Organization in losses.

Brian returned to the Phillies system for 2008 and went 9-12 with a 4.10 ERA for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs; his record was somewhat deceptive as the team overall was 55-89, making Mazone above-average for the staff. He went 2-1 with a 3.77 ERA that winter for the Yaquis de Obregón. Mazone was then on Italy's provisional roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.