Oakland University right-handed pitcher Brandon Decker throws a pitch during a game. Decker was selected in the 19th round by the New York Yankees.
By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | C&G Newspapers | Published July 25, 2024
ROCHESTER HILLS/FARMINGTON HILLS — Oakland University right-handed pitcher Brandon Decker’s Instagram post, “Official,” said it all.
Decker repped the pinstripes and iconic New York Yankees hat to celebrate his draft selection in the 19th round (571 overall) in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
A 2020 North Farmington High School graduate, Decker was dominant for the Golden Grizzlies, earning Reliever of the Year in 2023 and Pitcher of the Year in 2024 while earning first team All-Conference honors both seasons.
Decker is the first Oakland pitcher to receive Pitcher of the Year honors since the university joined the Horizon League in 2013 and was also the first player in Horizon League history to ever win Reliever and Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back seasons.
“On the surface, he’s got a great size, great frame, and he’s got a very versatile arm, but he’s got great stuff,” Oakland head coach Brian Nelson said. “Stuff is not the question. The thing that makes Brandon Decker so enticing, especially at the next level, is all the intangibles. Him between the ears is as good as anybody out there. He knows himself better than anybody else out there. He has an unbelievable work ethic.”
From 2022-2024, Decker compiled a 19-13 record with a 4.97 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 222.2 innings of work. His arsenal consists of a mid-to-low 90s fastball, a changeup, a cutter, a curveball and a slider.
Decker’s best statistical season came in 2023, when he tallied an 8-3 record with 71 strikeouts in 69.2 innings of work for the right-hander.
Collecting 16 saves in three years, Decker’s versatility was vital to Oakland’s pitching staff, utilizing him as a starter, a reliever and a closer throughout the season.
“That’s what makes Brandon Decker so enticing in the big leagues, is that he can fit in multiple roles,” Nelson said. “He’s just like a utility position player. I’m not sure where he fits, but he’s got a lot of options. If it doesn’t work out here, he can go over here. I think that’s what’s special about Brandon, with how he could legitimately have a career path as a starting pitcher, a long reliever, a short guy, or a back end guy because of just having that mentality of wanting to be on the mound with the ball in his hand is just so important to him.”
The Yankees’ strong suit for the past several years has been its bullpen, and versatility such as Decker’s would fit well.
It’s a grueling journey to the MLB stage, but Nelson said he believes Decker still has yet to reach his full potential.
“I think the things that will help Brandon Decker continue to climb the ladder will be physical development and maturation of his body,” Nelson said. “He’s still a young man with great physical skills, but as he continues to get older and his body continues to mature I think you’ll see another significant increase in stuff with Brandon Decker. By stuff I mean more break, more spin, more explosion and more velocity. I think a lot of that is coming.”