Brandon Kyle Finnegan is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.
Education
Prior to his professional career, Finnegan attended Texas Christian University (Texas Christian University) and played college baseball for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs baseball team Finnegan attended Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 45th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and attended Texas Christian University (Texas Christian University).
He finished the season 4–5 with a 3.47 earned run average (European Research Area) with 56 strikeouts in 62 1⁄3 innings.
Career
He has also played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals. He was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, and made his MLB debut that season. The Royals traded Finnegan to the Reds during the 2015 season.
As a freshman in 2012, he pitched in 23 games with 11 starts.
As a sophomore in 2013 he pitched in 16 games with 15 starts, going 0–8 but with a 3.18 European Research Area and 86 strikeouts in 79 1⁄3 innings. During the summer he pitched for the United States collegiate national team
After not winning a game during his sophomore season, he earned a victory in his first start of his junior season in 2014. During the season he missed a few starts due to a minor injury.
He finished the year 9–3 with a 2.04 European Research Area and 134 strikeouts in 105 2⁄3 innings.
Kansas City Royals
Finnegan was considered a top prospect for the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. The Kansas City Royals selected Finnegan in the first round, 17th overall, of the draft. He signed with the team on June 28.
Finnegan was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2014 becoming the first player from the 2014 Draft to be promoted to the majors.
He made his major league debut on September 6 against the New York Yankees. He earned his first major league hold on September 22 by pitching a scoreless seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians.
He made his MLB postseason debut in the American League Wild Card game vs the Oakland Athletics on September 30, 2014. He pitched 2 1⁄3 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out three in the extra innings victory.
Finnegan became the first player to play in a College World Series and an MLB World Series in the same year when he took the mound in the seventh inning of Game 3 of the 2014 World Series.
In 2015, Finnegan began the season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class American Automobile Association Pacific Coast League, working as a starting pitcher. During the season, the Royals promoted him to the major leagues, shifting him between the starting rotation and bullpen. Cincinnati Reds
He pitched for the Louisville Bats of the Class American Automobile Association International League as a starting pitcher, and was promoted to the Reds on September 1 as a relief pitcher.