WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2017
A-:  2-4-1, 5.31 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 40.2 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 7.3 K/9

Sulser served in a swing role at Morgantown.  He wasn’t especially effective in either role and his K rate dropped sharply as a starter.  He had a reverse platoon split.

2018
A:  5-8-8, 2.35 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 57.1 IP, 0.6 BB/9, 9.9 K/9

Sulser spent the season in the West Virginia bullpen, where he shared closer duties with Matt Seelinger (who was traded for Adeiny Hechavarria).  Sulser put up impressive numbers, with great walk and K rates.  Opponents had just a 205/228/286 line against him.  He held left-handed batters to a measly .388 OPS.  He was 24 most of the season, which is old for the level.

2019
AA:  8-3-2, 2.72 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 96.0 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

It’s a little interesting that the Pirates didn’t promote Sulser at any point in 2018, given how good his numbers were, all the more so because Bradenton’s bullpen was awful.  In 2019, though, they jumped him up to Altoona, where he pitched in a swing role.  He got very good results despite a very low K rate.  He was much more effective as a reliever, holding opponents to a .618 OPS compared to .741 as a starter.  He gave up only four home runs and had a minimal platoon split.

2020
DNP

2021
AAA:  7-9-0, 5.65 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 122.2 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 7.5 K/9
AAA (Balt):  2-2-0, 4.70 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 9.4 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 3.72 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 5.6 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
MLB (Balt):  0-0-0, 3.55 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 12.2  IP, 2.1 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

A little surprisingly, the Pirates put Sulser in the Indianapolis rotation.  Along with James Marvel, he served as an innings-eating mainstay, finishing fifth in the league in innings and tied for first in starts.  He wasn’t very effective, with opponents batting 299/368/498 against him.  He had no platoon split at all.  Longballs were a problem, as Sulser allowed 21.

2022
AAA:  1-2-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 12.2 IP, 1.4 BB/9, 9.9 K/9
AAA (Balt):  2-2-0, 4.70 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 9.4 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 3.72 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 5.6 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
MLB (Balt):  0-0-0, 3.55 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 12.2 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Sulser pitched well for Indianapolis in three early-season starts, and the Pirates called him up in late April.  They needed a fresh arm due to their inability to manage with 14 pitchers.  In 8.2 innings to start his career, he gave up no earned runs, although he did allow five walks and five earned runs.  He followed that with one bad inning because Derek Shelton left him in too long in a game against the Dodgers.  Shortly after that the Pirates designated Sulser for assignment to make room for Tyler Beede.  The Orioles claimed him and he spent most of the rest of the season with their AAA affiliate, although he got into six games with the O’s in five separate callups.  Sulser’s results in AAA with Baltimore weren’t so good, but a lot of it resulted from a .371 BABIP.  The O’s designated Sulser for assignment after the season and the Pirates claimed him.

It was a classically Pirate maneuver to give Sulser away when he was pitching well and then get him back when he wasn’t.  He pitches with little margin for error and he’ll turn 29 early in the 2023 season, but the improved K rates in 2022 may be a good sign.  The Pirates outrighted Sulser to AAA after the season.