| Brandon Finnegan | |
|---|---|
 Finnegan with the Cincinnati Reds. | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1993-04-14)April 14, 1993 (age 32) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 6, 2014, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 6, 2018, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 16–18 |
| Earned run average | 4.11 |
| Strikeouts | 230 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Brandon Kyle Finnegan (born April 14, 1993) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theKansas City Royals andCincinnati Reds.
Prior to his professional career, Finnegan attendedTexas Christian University (TCU) and playedcollege baseball for theTCU Horned Frogs baseball team. He was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the2014 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut that season. The Royals traded Finnegan to the Reds during the 2015 season.
Finnegan attendedSouthwest High School inFort Worth, Texas. TheTexas Rangers selected Finnegan in the 45th round of the2011 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign and attendedTexas Christian University (TCU) and playcollege baseball for theTCU Horned Frogs.[1]
As a freshman in 2012, Finnegan pitched in 23 games with 11 starts. He finished the season 4–5 with a 3.47earned run average (ERA) with 56strikeouts in62+1⁄3 innings. As a sophomore in 2013 he pitched in 16 games with 15 starts, going 0–8 but with a 3.18 ERA and 86 strikeouts in79+1⁄3 innings. After the 2013 season, he briefly playedcollegiate summer baseball with theFalmouth Commodores of theCape Cod Baseball League,[2] and also pitched for theUnited States collegiate national team.[3][4] After not winning a game during his sophomore season, he earned a victory in his first start of his junior season in 2014.[5] During the season, he missed a few starts due to a minor injury.[6][7] He finished the year 9–3 with a 2.04 ERA and 134 strikeouts in105+2⁄3 innings.
Finnegan was considered a top prospect for the2014 Major League Baseball draft.[8] TheKansas City Royals selected Finnegan in the first round, 17th overall, of the draft.[9] He signed with the team on June 28, receiving asigning bonus the $2,200,600 slot value of the 17th pick.[10]
The Royals promoted Finnegan to the major leagues for the first time on September 1, 2014, becoming the first player from the 2014 draft to be promoted to the majors.[11] He made his major league debut on September 6 against theNew York Yankees. He struck outJacoby Ellsbury for his first Major League strikeout. He earned his first major league hold on September 22 by pitching a scoreless seventh inning against theCleveland Indians. He made hisMLB postseason debut in theAmerican League Wild Card game vs theOakland Athletics on September 30, 2014. He pitched2+1⁄3 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out three in the extra innings victory.[citation needed]
On October 3, 2014, in the second game of the2014 American League Division Series, Finnegan came in relief and picked up the 4–1 win, becoming the youngest relief pitcher in Royals postseason history to log a win.[12] Finnegan became the first player to play in aCollege World Series and an MLBWorld Series in the same year when he took the mound in the seventh inning of Game 3 of the2014 World Series against theSan Francisco Giants.[13] Finnegan took the loss in Game 4, allowing five runs in one inning of work.[14]
In 2015, Finnegan began the season with theOmaha Storm Chasers of theTriple–APacific Coast League, working as a starting pitcher.[15] During the season, the Royals promoted him to the major leagues, shifting him between the starting rotation and bullpen.[16]
On July 26, 2015, Finnegan was traded to theCincinnati Reds, along withJohn Lamb andCody Reed, forJohnny Cueto and cash considerations.[17] Although Finnegan was traded from the team before theRoyals won the 2015 World Series, Finnegan was awarded a World Series ring for his contributions before the trade. After the trade, he pitched for the Reds’ Class AAA affiliate, theLouisville Bats, as a starting pitcher and was promoted to the majors on September 1 as a relief pitcher.[16]
Finnegan began the 2016 season pitching out of the rotation for Cincinnati, opening as the team's second starter behindRaisel Iglesias due to a plethora of injuries. In 5 starts in April, Finnegan went 1–1 with a 3.86 ERA, striking out 23 and walking 15 in 28 innings. In 6 starts in May, Finnegan went 0–3 with a 4.37 ERA, striking out 21 and walking 16 in 35 innings. However, in one of his losses, Finnegan threw a complete 8 innings against theLos Angeles Dodgers, giving up one run and losing toClayton Kershaw's two-hit shutout.[18] He finished the 2016 season with a 10–11 record and a 3.98 ERA in 31 starts.
Finnegan began the 2017 season in the Reds rotation, but on April 15, he was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. On June 26, he was activated off the disabled list. However, on June 27, in his first start back off the disabled list against theSt. Louis Cardinals, he re-injured his shoulder and had to leave the game. He was put back on the DL the next day.[19] He finished the year with 4 starts and was 1–1 with a 4.15 ERA in 13 innings. He was designated for assignment on March 28, 2019.[20] On April 2, 2019, he cleared waivers and was outrighted off the 40 man roster.[21]
Finnegan spent the 2019 season with the Double-AChattanooga Lookouts, struggling to a 6.60 ERA in 13 appearances for the team. Finnegan did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[22] In 2021, Finnegan spent the year with the Triple-ALouisville Bats, recording a 5.53 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 55.1 innings of work across 40 games. He was released by the Reds on November 18, 2021.[23][24]
On December 11, 2021, Finnegan signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox.[25] Finnegan was assigned to the Triple-ACharlotte Knights to begin the 2022 season. He appeared in 31 games, pitching to a 1–2 record and 6.13 ERA with 45 strikeouts in39+2⁄3 innings of work. Finnegan was released by the organization on August 10, 2022.
On March 4, 2023, Finnegan signed with theAcereros de Monclova of theMexican League.[26] However, prior to the season on April 17, Finnegan signed with theKansas City Monarchs of theAmerican Association of Professional Baseball.[27] In 19 starts for the Monarchs, he posted a 7–5 record and 4.33 ERA with 89 strikeouts across 104 innings pitched. After the 2023 season, Finnegan became a free agent.
On September 18, 2024, Finnegan announced his retirement from professional baseball.[28]
· Baseball Almanac