2003 Outlook
One of the Midwest?s top junior college pitchers, John Brownell returns to Nebraska after a stint at Butler County Community College. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander was drafted in the 47th round by the Colorado Rockies, and Pitching Coach Rob Childress thinks Brownell could play a significant role, either as a starter or in the bullpen this spring.

"He really had a jump in his velocity at junior college, but the thing that sets him apart is that he knows how to pitch," Childress said. "He has an idea of how to attack hitters and is always around the strike zone.

Whether it is as a starter or in relief, I think he has a chance to pitch a lot of innings for us this season."

Brownell spent the summer playing for Coach Bob Steinkamp?s Beatrice Bruins in the M.I.N.K. League, helping the Bruins to a fifth-place finish at the NBC World Series. At the tournament, he went 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA, earning a spot on the All-America team. For the summer, he went 6-2 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 53 and allowing 57 hits in 72.2 innings.

Before Nebraska
Brownell starred for Coach Trent Nesmith at Butler County Community College. In his lone season at the El Dorado, Kan., school, he posted an 8-2 record and a 3.10 ERA, striking out 83 and walking 22 in 69 innings. He earned first-team Jayhawk West Conference honors and was tabbed as the league?s freshman of the year by the league?s coaches.

During his prep career, Brownell pitched for Millard West High School and Coach Frank Ryan. As a senior, he earned first-team All-Nebraska honors from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star, compiling a 7-1 record and a 1.59 ERA as the Wildcats went 33-6 and placed second at the state tournament. He was third in the state with 69 strikeouts in 56 innings, while finishing fifth in ERA.