The Decade’s Best: No. 48 Brad Lincoln

Brad Lincoln
Bourne 2005
Pitcher/DH
Houston

Every spring, there’ll be a handful of college players who shine at the plate and on the mound. But when summer rolls around, those guys usually focus on one thing, especially on the Cape.

Brad Lincoln was the exception.

One of the few two-way regulars, Lincoln gets a nod here not just because he did both, but because he did both well.

Playing for a Bourne team that lost in the championship series, Lincoln made nine starts on the mound and saw action in 39 of 44 games as a hitter. He was one of the league’s busiest players in 2005, and also one of the best.

As a hitter, he batted .243, but made up for that low average with 12 extra-base hits, six home runs and 25 RBI.

He shined a little brighter with the ball in his hand. In his nine starts, he went 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA, putting himself in the same company as standout contemporaries Tim Norton, Andrew Miller and Daniel Bard. He struck out 56 and walked only 10 in 54.2 innings. He was also honored with the 10th Player Award.

His performances on the mound garnered the most attention. Baseball America rated as the league’s best prospect, noting that his 90-95 mph fastball and his power curveball sent him on a track toward a pitching future.

After the Cape

The Pirates made Lincoln the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft. He was one of seven Cape Leaguers to go in the top 10 picks.

In April of 2007, Lincoln needed Tommy John surgery, but he returned last year and he has been healthy since.

All the way along, he has been ranked among the top four prospects in the Pirates system every year. In the 2009 season, he posted a 2.28 ERA in Double A before getting a promotion to Triple A Indianapolis, where he had a 4.70 ERA.

He was recently added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster.

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