Career
He played for 8 MLB teams: Cleveland Indians (1999-2000), Cincinnati Reds (2001-2002), Montreal Expos (2002), San Francisco Giants (2003-2004), Atlanta Braves (2005), Baltimore Orioles (2006), San Diego Padres (2006), and New York Yankees (2007). He is currently the pitching coach for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Brower was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Minnetonka High School in the 56th round of the 1991 amateur draft, but did not sign, choosing instead to attend the University of Minnesota, where he was named a Big Ten Conference All-Star and Dave Winfield Award recipient in 1994.
He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 6th round of the 1994 draft, and signed on June 5.
He spent nearly four years in the Rangers system before being released early in 1998. He quickly signed with the Cleveland Indians, spending the 1998 season in Associate of Arts, then splitting the next two seasons between the Indians and their American Automobile Association club
Brower was traded to the Cincinnati Reds following the 2000 season. Midway through the 2001 season, the Reds traded him to the Montreal Expos for pitcher Bruce Chen.
That November, he was traded to San Francisco in the trade that sent Liván Hernández to the Expos.
In 2004, he tied the Giants" team record and led MLB in appearances with 89. Following a slow start to the 2005 season, Brower was released by the Giants on June 12, and signed by the Atlanta Braves. He signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 2006 season, but was released three months later.
He was subsequently signed by the San Diego Padres, who traded him to the Florida Marlins on August 1.
He did not pitch for the Marlins at the Major League level, but appeared in 16 games for their American Automobile Association club Brower signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 2007 season, but was given his release to sign a minor league contract by the New York Yankees, and served as the closer for their American Automobile Association club, posting a 1.65 European Research Area and earning 20 saves.
On August 6, 2007, he was promoted by the Yankees, replacing Mike Myers on the 40-man roster. In December, Brower agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
Brower was released in July and signed with the Houston Astros.
Jim Brower has been a pitching coach in the Kansas City Royals organization for the last 5 years and has been the pitching coach for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals for the last 3 years. Currently he resides in Deephaven, Minnesota.