Just a few months ago, Brandon Finnegan was pitching in the College World Series. On Tuesday, it was the left-hander who was taking major-league batters to school.
The Kansas City Royals' first-round pick in this year's draft capped a remarkable few months that saw the Texas Christian University grad make the jump from Class-A to Double-A, and, finally, a pennant chase.
If that wasn't enough, the 21-year-old was summoned to pitch high-leverage innings during a single-elimination playoff game less than four months out of school.
"Honestly, it took me back to the College World Series," Finnegan said after the game, via MLB.com. "Big stage, big crowd, it's all I could think of. I've been in situations like this before, so I just had to go out and do my job."
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Despite nearly suffering the loss, Finnegan more than held his own after relieving Royals closer Greg Holland in the 10th. The 17th overall pick struck out three over 2 1/3 innings, getting tagged for one earned run on a sacrifice fly after getting pulled for Jason Frasor.
Finnegan's sinker was particularly effective against both righties and lefties, inducing five swinging strikes with the low- to mid-90s pitch.
"You don't want to make judgments too soon and I hate to use clichés, but as we saw tonight and what we've seen the last month this kid's just not afraid," pitching coach Dave Eiland said. "He comes right at you."