Justin Brunette

Graduated in 1993 from Ocean View (Calif.) High School... lettered in both baseball and football... was all-league both his junior and senior years and was named to the all-Orange County team his senior season... played both Connie Mack and Pony League baseball... was member of Pony National Team that won championship in 1993... attended San Diego State University where he lettered four years... was scouted by Marty Keough... nickname is "Bru"... resides in Huntington Beach, Calif.

2000

Justin started the season at Double-A Arkansas but was called up to St. Louis after making only three appearances...pitched two scoreless innings in his major league debut 4/13 at COL... first strikeout victim was Darren Bragg in one-two-three third inning 4/13... had an infield hit in first big league at bat on 4/13... came in optioned to Memphis the following day...allowed only 1 ER in his first five appearances with Memphis... recalled back to St. Louis 4/28... made three more appearances for the Cardinals... optioned back to Memphis 5/16... pitched well in four relief appearances in the next week (1 R, 6 K, 1 BB in 6 IP) placed on the D.L. 5/25... activated from the D.L. 7/7... finished the year in Memphis with a 1-2 record and 6.15 ERA over 33.2 innings of work.

1999

Showed promise after missing entire 1998 season due to injury. In 38 games at Midwest League Peoria (A) he posted a 1.81 ERA while striking out 44 in 44.2 innings pitched... was named to the Midwest League West All-Star team... did not allow a run in eight games 5/15-6/1, striking out 15 in 11.1 innings pitched... earned the first of his two saves for Peoria on 4/14 vs. Beloit, his first professional save. His second and final save didn't come until 7/4 at Kane County... success continued following promotion to Arkansas (AA) where he posted a 1.96 ERA and fanned 23 batters in 18.1 innings. Gained his lone win for the Travs in nightcap of 8/7 doubleheader vs. Shreveport... took part in Arizona Fall League where he posted a 1-0 mark with a 3.45 ERA for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Fanned 16 in 15.2 innings pitched while walking just five.

1998

Missed the entire season as he continued rehabilitation of his injured left elbow.

1997

Was drafted by the Cardinals in the 20th round of the June free-agent draft... appeared in just six games for New Jersey (A) of the New York-Penn League before suffering a season-ending left elbow injury in late June... underwent Tommy John surgery, performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, in September, 1997 to repair damage to the medial collateral ligament in his left elbow.