Rob Brown got split-finger working, saw 5 seasons, AAA

Rob Brown's manager at AAA Oklahoma City was more than pleased with Brown's outing in this May 1993 game, according to The Daily Oklahoman.

Brown notched his first win while giving up eight hits, one run and getting out of multiple jams, The Daily Oklahoman wrote.

"Brown was outstanding," Oklahoma City manager Bobby Jones told The Daily Oklahoman of Brown's work. "He had his split-finger fastball working tonight and he was moving his fastball around. He did a heckuva job."

Brown did that job in his fifth season as a pro and second with time at AAA. That 1993 campaign, however, would also prove to be his last. He didn't make it higher.

Brown's career began in 1989, taken by the Rangers in the 16th round of the draft out of San Diego State University.

Brown started with the Rangers at single-A Gastonia. He went 6-1, with a 2.54 ERA over 18 games, four starts. That August, he struck out five and gave up one earned in six innings of work and drew praise from his manager Orlando Gomez, according to The Charlotte Observer.

"I'm very happy," Gomez told The Observer. "He went after the hitters real good."

Brown moved to high-A Port Charlotte for 1990. He went 8-5, with a 1.90 ERA over 40 outings, four starts. He also saved four games.

Brown played 1991 at AA Tulsa, then spent most of 1992 there. He saw seven outings, four starts, at Oklahoma City in 1992. He went 1-2 there, with a 2.87 ERA.

Late that August in 1992, Brown went eight innings against Iowa, giving up three hits and no runs, The Des Moines Register wrote.

"He gave up, what, three hits?" Iowa manager Brad Mills told The Register after the game of Brown. "He silenced our bats. That's why it wasn't typical, because we've been able to swing the bats better than this. A lot of credit has to go to Rob Brown."

Brown then returned to Oklahoma City for 1993. He went 5-8. with a 6.09 ERA over 60 outings, 16 starts, to end his career.

• Charlotte Observer, Aug. 13, 1989: Rangers, Hvizda Role On
• Des Moines Register, Aug. 28, 1992: 89ers pound I-Cubs
• Daily Oklahoman, May 27, 1993: 89er Pitching Puts Out Fire With 4-1 Victory Over Indians

More: The 1990 Port Charlotte Rangers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,947
Made the Majors:1,317-33.4%
Never Made Majors:2,630-66.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:538
10+ Seasons in the Minors:328

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Don Brown showed maturity, leadership, saw 6 pro seasons, 11/4/21
 - Jackie Brown made 7 ML seasons as player, later as coach, 6/19/14
 - Jarvis Brown's hard work paid off in majors, World Series, 11/7/13

 - Jimmy Brown saw some success in GCL, played 3 pro seasons, 5/14/19
 - Keith Brown saw 4 majors seasons, then fought cancer, 12/24/10
 - Kevin Brown showed poise, made 3 major league seasons, 6/1/12

 - Kurt Brown kept working over seven pro seasons, made AAA, 5/30/13

 - Marty Brown took hard-nosed play to bigs, Japan, manage, 5/20/22

 - Matt Brown sometimes got lucky over 6 seasons, made AA, 7/10/24
 - Mike Brown played 9 seasons, including 2 as pitcher, made AA, 2/26/20