Brandon Caples Alabama St 2016It’s unusual, but every once in a while players switch Valley League teams in the middle of a season. More often, teams are added for the playoffs, but even that is pretty rare.

In this case, the 8th best starting pitcher in the 2016 Valley League season, Brandon Caples, started the season with the Purcellville Cannons, but was traded to the Harrisonburg Turks on July 13th. (Terms were not disclosed.)

The senior righthander from Alabama State went 4-2, 2.77 overall, in 55 1/3 innings. He had a 1.049 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9, and 5.7 K/9. He walked only 9 batters in his 55 innings. He was a workhorse; he pitched 9 innings twice, and 8 innings 3 times, which is pretty rare these days. Brandon finished 2nd in the league in innings pitched, tied for 3rd in BB/9, 7th in WHIP, and tied for 9th in strikeouts (with 35). He also started a game in the playoffs for the Turks, and allowed 10 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 1 walk, and struck out 7 in a losing effort.

Brandon’s best game with the Cannons was on June 14th against Strasburg, when he threw 8 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, and struck out 4 in the win. For the Turks, his best game was on July 22nd at Front Royal, when he again threw 8 innings and allowed 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and struck out 7 in the win.

This was a “return” summer for Brandon, too, as he pitched in Charles Town in 2015. That summer, he went 1-3, 4.14, with a 1.06 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, and 8.3 K/9 in 41 1/3 innings.

Now, on to his college stats (large profile today, eh?). In 2014 as a freshman, Brandon went 0-0, 3.75, with 2 saves, 26 hits, 7 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched, all out of the bullpen.

In 2015, he went 3-2, 6.75 in 15 games and 28 innings, again out of the bullpen. He allowed 32 hits, 10 walks, and struck out 30. He got to start 3 times in 2016, and also appeared 9 times out of the ‘pen. Overall, he went 3-1, 3.76, with 43 hits, 15 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.

Whew. That’s a ton of stats. Congrats, Brandon, and good luck this spring at Alabama State!

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