Brad Salmon

From BR Bullpen

Brad Salmon.jpg

Bradley Keith Salmon

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Brad Salmon made his MLB debut in 2007, his 8th year in the Reds organization.

Salmon was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the 31st round of the 1998 amateur draft out of high school and signed by scout Bob Filotei. After a year at community college, Cincinnati chose him in the 21st round of the 1999 amateur draft. he debuted professionally with the Billings Mustangs, going 2-2 with one save and a 7.48 ERA while allowing 67 hits in 49 1/3 IP.

In 2000, Salmon pitched regularly for the Clinton Lumber Kings, going 7-5 with a 4.29 ERA. He spent 2001 with the Mudville Nine, having a 5-8 record with a 4.06 ERA. He was sent back down to mid-level A ball in 2002, posting a 12-9, 4.46 record for the Dayton Dragons.

Salmon was moved to the bullpen in 2003. He split the year between the Potomac Cannons (3-2, 1 Sv, 4.56) and the Chattanooga Lookouts (4-0, 1 Sv, 5.11). In 2004, the 24-year-old again spent time with the same two clubs; his line for Chattanooga was 4-2, 3 Sv, 4.27 in 39 games, while he was 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA in five games for Potomac.

Another year with the Lookouts brought Salmon's ERA to the lowest point of his six-year professional career to that point, 3.34. He was 3-8 with 4 saves in 38 appearances, striking out almost a batter per inning. He also pitched 9 games for the AAA Louisville Bats, with a 3.31 ERA.

Salmon continued to improve in 2006. In 16 games for Chattanooga, he was 2-1 with 2 saves and a 2.70 ERA. In 39 games for Louisville, he went 5-1 with 3 saves and a 2.34 ERA in 39 outings. Opponents hit .184 against him while he was in Louisville and he whiffed 11.24 batters per 9 innings.

In his first 8 games for the Bats in 2007, Brad won one, saved two and had a 2.16 ERA while striking out 9 in 8 1/3 IP. He was called up to replace Rhéal Cormier on the Reds' roster and debuted on May 1st with a scoreless 9th inning. He retired Adam Everett on a pop-up, walked Brad Ausmus, then got a game-ending double play ball from Mark Loretta. He pitched in 26 games for Cincinnati, all in relief, with a record of 0-1 and a 4.13 ERA in 24 innings. It was the only season in which he pitched in the majors.

Primary sources: 1999-2007 Baseball Almanacs

Related Sites[edit]