Brandon Waring

Brandon Waring

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 195-210 lb.
• School Wofford College
• High School Airport High School

• Born January 2, 1986 in Columbia, SC USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Brandon Waring began his professional career in 2007.

Waring hit .401 with 27 homers, 74 RBI and 83 runs as a junior at Wofford College. He led the Southern Conference in average and homers, setting a Conference home run record. He was named the All-American at third base by both Collegiate Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association. Baseball America picked him second-team behind Pedro Alvarez. Brandon was second in NCAA Division I in homers, one behind Kyle Russell. He was also second in Division I in slugging behind one player from the Ivy League. He tied Yonder Alonso and Dustin Ackley for 8th in Division I in RBI. He was named All-Conference at third base but somehow lost Conference Player of the Year honors, which went to Kenny Smith instead. The Cincinnati Reds took Brandon in the 7th round of the 2007 amateur draft, the highest draftee from Wofford in 24 years.

Waring was signed by scout Steve Kring and made his pro debut that summer with the Billings Mustangs, hitting .311/.369/.614 with 61 RBI while leading the Pioneer League with 20 homers, 164 total bases and 63 runs scored in 68 games. He also was 1 for 1 for the Dayton Dragons. That gave him 47 homers for 2007 between college and the minors. He was given the MLB.com's Short Season Round Tripper Award for the most home runs in a rookie league circuit. He was second in the Pioneer League in slugging, trailing Travis Vetters and was 3rd in RBI, 5 behind leader Clint Robinson. Waring also led the league's third basemen in putouts (46), assists (130) and double plays (13, tied). He was 3 homers shy of Greg Morrison's league record. He was somehow left off the league All-Star team (Jay Brossman was picked at third base). Baseball America named him the #5 prospect in the league, right behind Aaron Poreda.

The next year, he hit .270/.346/.467 with 20 home runs, 71 RBI and 156 strikeouts for the Dayton Dragons to earn a spot on the Midwest League All-Star team at third base. He was only 6 strikeouts shy of the MWL lead. He was 5th in the MWL in slugging, 3rd in home runs (2 behind leader Mike Moustakas) and 2nd in OPS.

Following the season, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles with Ryan Freel and Justin Turner as part of the deal that brought Ramon Hernandez to the Reds.

Waring spent most of 2009 with the Frederick Keys and hit .273/.354/.520 with 26 homers and 90 RBI to earn the Carolina League Most Valuable Player award. He led the league in slugging, OPS, total bases (246), extra-base hits (63) and RBI. He was 6 homers behind leader Cody Johnson. Brandon was named to the All-Star team at 1B alongside Chris Marrero in addition to his MVP award. He was promoted to the AA Bowie Baysox late in the year, hitting .292/.414/.542 in 8 games with the team.

He played for the Baysox in 2010 and hit .242/.338/.458 with 22 home runs, 70 RBI and 179 strikeouts in 129 games. He tied Shawn Bowman for 6th in the Eastern League in home runs, was 10th in total bases (216), was 8th with 59 walks (between Chase d'Arnaud and Matt Hague), first in strikeouts (23 more than anyone else). Among Orioles farmhands, he tied Michael Aubrey for second in dingers (11 behind Joel Guzman) and led in strikeouts (20 more than runner-up Ronnie Welty).

In 2011, again with Bowie, he hit .222/.288/.443 with 21 home runs, 59 RBI and 127 Ks in 115 games. He tied Travis d'Arnaud and Bill Rhinehart for 4th in the EL in homers. He led O's farmhands in home runs, two ahead of Josh Bell. He split 2012 between the Baysox (.276/.389/.551 in 52 G) and Triple-A Norfolk Tides (.248/.337/.466 in 66 G), hitting a combined .260/.360/.504 with 24 home runs, 82 runs, 63 RBI and 142 strikeouts in 118 games. He led Baltimore minor leaguers in runs (three ahead of L.J. Hoes), was 5th in doubles, again led in home runs (two more than Aaron Baker), was fourth in RBI and was second to Jai Miller in whiffs.

He began 2013 with Bowie.

Notable Achievements

• 2009 Player of the Year Carolina League Frederick Keys