Grizzlies Starter Mark Brackman Traded to Lancaster
Published on February 8, 2012 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
After spending three seasons as the ace of the Gateway Grizzlies pitching staff, star pitcher Mark Brackman has been traded to the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. Gateway receives a player to be named later as part of the trade.
Brackman, 26, will leave Gateway as one of the best pitcher's to ever wear the Grizzlies uniform. The 6-7 235-pound right-hander started 55 career games, while notching 26 wins. He completed ten games during his career, compiling 380 2/3 innings and striking out 332 batters. The Kansas City, MO native wraps up his Grizzlies career tied for the all-time lead in shutouts with three and one shy of Gateway's all-time complete game mark.
"Mark is an outstanding talent and we enjoyed having him in our rotation for the last three seasons," Grizzlies Manager Phil Warren said. "This is a move that we feel gives Mark a better chance to get back to affiliated ball. He will get the chance to play against numerous former major leaguers and triple-A players on a big stage."
Brackman capped off an injury-plagued 2011 season with a 7-5 record and a league-best 2.15 ERA. In 100 1/3 innings, the two-time Frontier League All-Star struck out 78 batters while only walking 23.
Brackman's best season with Gateway was in 2010, when he went 13-4 with a 3.18 ERA and posted a 10-0 record after the All-Star break.
Before his time in a Grizzlies uniform, Brackman spent two seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization, who selected him in the 16th round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
"Mark was in affiliated ball early in his career before he gained the maturity level he's at now," Warren remarked. "He has really grown up on the mound and is a much different pitcher. There's no doubt in my mind he can get back to affiliated ball after throwing well in Lancaster. It's tough to let him go, but Mark deserves this chance."
Fans can purchase season and group tickets now by calling the Grizzlies office at 618-337-3000.
Frontier League Stories from February 8, 2012
- Grizzlies Starter Mark Brackman Traded to Lancaster - Gateway Grizzlies
- Crushers' Clubhouse Manager Picked up by New York Yankees Organization - Lake Erie Crushers
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