Oakland Athletics Player Profile: Jaycob Brugman

Because having a young stud named ‘Ryon’ wasn’t enough, here comes... Jaycob! Fresh out of the bin of guys-with-names-spelled-slightly-off-from-what-we’re-used-to-but-they’re-good-at-baseball-so-they-can-do-what-they-want (lookin at you, Huston Street), Jaycob Hull Brugman is fresh to Athletics turf and ready to show us what he’s got. (We’re not even going to bring up Jaff here. Nope. Not even once)

Brugman hails from the heart of Cactus League Baseball in Phoenix, Arizona, though how was little baby Bruggy to know a couple of decades later, he’d heading to Spring Training to play pro ball in the Oakland Athletics organization? Everyone can dream, few see that dream become reality.

Brugman was named All-State junior and senior year playing ball for Desert Vista Thunder high school, catching the eye of eager New York Yankees scouts. The Pinstripes plucked him in the 39th round of the Draft, however, Brugman declined and took his bat over to Brigham Young University instead (thank goodness). He was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year. His stats dropped in his sophomore year and big-league interest turned their interest elsewhere.

The A’s, on the other hand, liked what they saw. They scooped Bruggy up on day three of the 2013 draft, pick #521 overall, plopping him into the waiting cone of the Vermont Lake Monsters. (A couple other cool dudes from the 2013 draft: Ryon Healy, Chad Pinder, Bobby Wahl — this is also the year we managed to draft FOUR guys named “A.J.”, but that’s a story for a much more boring, long, winter day)

Brugman saw his opportunity and did everything he could to move up through the ranks — This climb was spearheaded by our own Alex Hall who single-handedly pulled Bruggy up to his June 9th major league debut*

(*A’s hitting coaches may have helped a little bit)

On Saturday, June 24th, Brugman hit his first career home run along with Matt Olson and Franklin Barreto in the same game against the White Sox on Mark Buehrle Day (with Fatrolf in attendance somewhere up in the nosebleeds).

Brugman is a member of the LDS church, meaning Adam Rosales is no longer the lone Mormon on the team. His wife, Ali, is a graphic designer and owner of DIVI.co (shopdivi.com), a clothing shop specializing in unique and affordable fashion. Ali also runs smudgey.com on the side of everything else she does.

Bruggy’s parents are named Jayson and Jaylene. He also has three siblings whose names also start with “Jay”. Picking up on a theme?

The A’s season may not be in the best place (ahem), but that’s given room for the Youth Movement to come up in a big way this year. It’s time to sit back, relax and ...