 Brant Rustich (Ryan Lafferty)
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Biographical Data | |
| Player Name: | Brant Allen Rustich |
| Position: | Relief Pitcher |
| School: | UCLA |
| School Type: | Four-Year College |
| Academic Class: | Red-shirt junior |
| Birthdate: | 01/23/85 |
| Height: | 6'6" |
| Weight: | 225 lbs. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Report Date(s): | 02/02-02/04/07 |
| Game(s): | Winthrop |
Focus Area | Comments |
| Fastball: | Rustich features a fastball that sits in the 93-94 mph range. |
| Slider: | Rustich's slider is a plus pitch at times. |
| Changeup: | Rustich has thrown a changeup in the past, but didn't throw one in the weekend series against Winthrop. |
| Split-fingered fastball: | He's thrown a split in the past, but didn't in his two outings over the weekend, perhaps scrapping it because of 2006 finger surgery. |
| Control: | The closer commanded both pitches well over the weekend. |
| Physical Description: | Big, imposing presence on the mound. |
| Medical Update: | Rustich pitched in just six games in 2006 before a finger injury forced him to red shirt. He had surgery, but seemed to throw fine in the opening weekend, albeit without the split. |
| Strengths: | Good two-pitch mix, presence for back bullpen. |
| Weaknesses: | He doesn't have the pure power stuff necessarily to be a big league closer and he lacks deception. Some felt he'd have more value as a starter. |
| Summary: | Overall, it was a good opening weekend for Rustich, who answered some questions about his finger. His delivery had improved from the previous year, with a slightly higher arm slot. |