Former Fresno City baseball star called up to the big leagues. ‘There’s a lot of upside’
Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi got a peek of what Connor Brogdon can do in a big league ballpark when Major League Baseball resumed play in summer camp last month.
The former Liberty High-Madera Ranchos and Fresno City College pitcher was called up by the Phillies on Tuesday.
“There’s a lot of upside with Connor,” Girardi told reporters prior to the game against the Baltimore Orioles. “He’s got a swing-and-miss changeup and he’s been throwing the ball well.”
The 25-year-old Brogdon wasn’t used in Tuesday’s game in which the Phillies lost 10-9 at Citizens Bank Park.
Brogdon was selected by the Phillies in the 10th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft out of Lewis-Clark State.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander was impressive in the minor leagues last season when he had a 2.61 ERA and 106 strikeouts in three levels.
Brogdon joins Tom Seaver, Jim Maloney, Mark Gardner, Dan Boitano, Dick Selma, Ted Lilly, Bill Simas, Jaime Cerda, Shad Williams and Marcus Walden as former Fresno City players to make it to MLB.
“So happy for this guy,” Rams pitching coach Eric Solberg said. “Dedication, hard work, perseverance come to mind to complete Connor’s journey. He truly stayed the course and this has happened.”
Added Fresno City coach Ron Scott: “I’m really happy for Connor and his family. He really worked hard and never stopped believing in himself.”
This story was originally published August 11, 2020 at 10:55 PM.
