Connor Brogdon

Early life

Connor Brogdon came into the world on January 29, 1995, in Clovis, California. He went to Liberty High School in Madera, where he played alongside future San Francisco Giants prospect J.J. Santa Cruz. The Atlanta Braves picked him in the 40th round of the 2013 MLB draft, but Brogdon turned down the offer to go to college. He initially signed with Fresno State but ended up at Fresno City College instead.

Over two seasons there, he went 9–0 with a 1.85 ERA, earning Central Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. He then moved on to Lewis–Clark State College, shifting into a starting role.

In his first year there, he put up a 6–0 record, a 2.81 ERA, and 48 strikeouts across 11 starts. The following season, he went 8–1 in 15 games, led the squad in innings pitched, and helped the team win the NAIA World Series. During his senior year, his fastball velocity dropped from the mid-90s to the mid-80s.

Professional career

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Connor Brogdon in the 10th round of the 2017 MLB draft, picking him 293rd overall. He became the highest draft pick from Lewis-Clark State College since Beau Mills was selected in the first round. Brogdon signed for a $5,000 bonus and debuted on June 26, 2017, with the Low-A Williamsport Crosscutters, throwing 1 1/3 innings in a loss to the Auburn Doubledays. Originally a starter, he shifted to the bullpen to clear a rotation spot for Spencer Howard and Connor Seabold.

That season, he appeared in 16 games, covering 34 2/3 innings, and finished with a 3-1 record and a 2.34 ERA. In 2018, he made the preliminary Opening Day roster for the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws alongside Howard. Overall, he went 5-3 with a 2.47 ERA, but his ERA as a reliever dropped to 1.42 over 38 innings. The next year, he started with the High-A Clearwater Threshers, made 10 appearances, then moved up to the Double-A Reading Phillies and later the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Across all three levels, he posted a combined 6-2 record and a 2.61 ERA in 51 appearances. When the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the pandemic, the Phillies sent Brogdon to an alternative training site in Allentown.

He joined the major league roster on August 11, 2020, and debuted on August 13, allowing two home runs in the eighth inning. He rebounded in September, striking out 14 batters over 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He ended the season with a 1-0 record and a 3.97 ERA across 11 1/3 innings.

Pitcher profile

Brogdon works with three pitches: a fastball, a changeup, and a cutter-slider hybrid. His 2020 fastball averaged 96 mph, faster than his minor league numbers, and he aims to sustain 97 mph for longer outings. He crafted his changeup, which tops out at 83 mph, with the Reading Phillies. The cut-slider is his newest offering, created during his 2019 minor league season.