Brandon Poulson

Brandon Clifford Poulson (born February 16, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher in Minor League Baseball. He is a member of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Twins signed Poulson out of the Academy of Art University, when he demonstrated that he could throw a fastball of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

Poulson attended Piner High School in Santa Rosa, California. He tried out for the school's baseball team, but did not make it as a freshman. After he graduated, he enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played American football as a linebacker for two years.

After a year, Poulson went to work for his father's excavation business as a truck driver. His father encouraged him to give sports another opportunity, so he joined a Sunday night league. There, he was referred to a coach of the Academy of Art University's baseball team, and the school offered Poulson a scholarship to enroll. He pitched to a 8.38 earned run average (ERA) in  19 1⁄₃ innings pitched. After the season, he joined the Healdsburg Prune Packers of the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League. Through coaching, he became able to throw a 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) fastball. He recorded a 1.45 ERA with 31 strikeouts in  12 1⁄₃ innings, allowing only six hits.

Poulson was not selected in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. After the draft, Poulson threw for scouts at the Art Academy, who were impressed with his velocity. The Twins signed Poulson to a free agent contract with a $250,000 signing bonus. He made his professional debut with the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League.

On April 5, 2016, Poulson signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.