Brian West

Brian Daniel West

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 230 lb.
• High School West Monroe High School

• Born August 4, 1980 in West Monroe, LA USA

BR minors page

Biographical information

1999-2003

Pitcher Brian West was drafted by the Chicago White Sox as the 35th overall selection in the 1999 amateur draft. He was one of three pitcher the White Sox chose in the first round that year, along with Jason Stumm and Rob Purvis. He had previously signed a letter of intent to play both football and baseball at Texas A&M, but opted to instead play professional baseball for the White Sox.

His minor league career started in 1999 with stints at Arizona and Bristol, both Rookie-level clubs. His ERA was 13.50 in two games at Arizona, and 10.50 over an eight game stretch with Bristol.

West spent most of 2000 in the rotation at Burlington, a White Sox single-A affiliate. He started twenty-four games in the midwest league, winning eight of them. His ERA was 3.78 and he allowed just three home runs in 147.2 innings. West also made two starts for high-A, Winston-Salem; he surrendered eight runs on ten hits and six walks.

2001 was arguably West's best season in the White Sox organization. He made twenty-eight starts for Winston-Salem. He posted career bests in ERA (3.46), innings (169.0), complete games (3), and strikeouts (130). Baseball America named West the eleventh best prospect in the White Sox system.

The following season was spent in Double-A, Birmingham. West earned nine wins in 2002, but saw his ERA tumble to 4.34. He also fell four spots in the ''Baseball America'' organizational rankings.

2003 was no better. West pitched 54.1 innings with Birmingham, and made a start at triple-A Charlotte, his ERA was well over 5.00 at both levels.

Football

West left baseball following the 2003 season, choosing to play college football for the LSU Tigers. He saw playing time at defensive end, and was a member of the school's 2004 national championship team.

2006

West returned to the White Sox organization in 2006, spending the entire season at Birmingham. Previously a starter, he was converted to a reliever in his second stint in professional baseball. In 52 appearances, all out of the bullpen, West's ERA was 6.00.