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Baltimore Orioles: Aaron Brooks Reportedly Leaving Organization

By Nick Stevens

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 07: Aaron Brooks #38 of the Baltimore Orioles walks off the field after the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 7, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 07: Aaron Brooks #38 of the Baltimore Orioles walks off the field after the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 7, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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According to a late-night tweet from The Athletic’s Dan Connolly, RHP Aaron Brooks is leaving the Baltimore Orioles for another adventure.

If you had Aaron Brooks penciled into your way too early 2020 Baltimore Orioles starting rotation, you might want to start looking for a replacement.

Per The Athletic’s Dan Connolly, Brooks is leaving the Orioles organization and joining the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization. Brooks is currently on the Orioles 40-man roster and was expected to compete for a rotation spot/long-man role next season.

The move has not been made official, but Connolly quotes another source that claims (through Google translation), that the move will be announced shortly. Maybe if I had paid attention when my aunt and cousins tried to teach me Korean when I was younger I’d be able to read the article for myself. Oh well.

Since becoming a ninth-round pick of the Kansas City Royals back in 2011, Brooks has pitched in the majors for three different organizations (Royals, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles) without finding much success in the big leagues. He also saw time with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, but only pitched in the minor leagues during his tenure with both franchises.

After making 15 appearances (six starts) with the A’s to begin 2019, Brooks was designated for assignment and claimed by the Orioles.

He made 12 starts in Baltimore (14 total appearances), going 4-5 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Brooks had his moments, like six shutout innings against the soon-to-be World Series champion Washington Nationals back on August 27th and his September 20th outing against the Seattle Mariners where he allowed just one run on one hit across seven innings.

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There weren’t very many more positives to take away from his short stint with the Orioles. He allowed more than 10 hits per 9 IP, gave up nine home runs in 59 innings, walked three hitters per game, and failed to record a strikeout rate higher than 6.0/9 IP.

Without impressive strikeout numbers, an ability to keep the ball in the park or limit walks, and ranking very low among major league pitchers in average fastball velocity and spin rate, there’s really nothing to point to that makes Brooks an interesting option for a rotation spot in 2020.

He was better as a reliever during his major league career, but not by much.

As Connolly points out, the Orioles will see some buyout money coming their way and an additional spot on the 40-man roster opens up, either to add a free agent pitcher with more upside, or to protect another Rule 5 draft eligible prospect. The roster will stand at 35, once the transaction is complete.

Overall, the 29-year-old Brooks is 9-13 with a 6.49 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 47 major league appearances since making his debut in 2014.

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