WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
DSL:  3-1-0, 5.18 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 24.1 IP, 9.6 BB/9, 5.9 K.9

Didn’t allow many hits in his debut season, but walked more than a batter an inning.

2011
DSL:  0-0-0, 7.94 ERA, 2.47 WHIP, 5.2 IP, 12.7 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
R:  0-0-0, 12.46 ERA, 2.60 WHIP, 17.1 IP, 11.4 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

Despite his problems in 2010, Almonte moved up to the GCL in 2011.  Before appearing there, however, he pitched a few games in the DSL, which starts play before the GCL.  The Pirates did that with several other pitchers as well, probably because age/identity investigations are taking much longer in the Dominican.  That prevented the Pirates from getting most of their new signees on the field until late in the DSL season.  Once he got to the GCL, Almonte continued to walk hitters in droves.  He also threw seven wild pitches.

2012
DSL:  2-1-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 10.3 BB/9, 4.9 K/9

The Pirates took the unusual step of sending Almonte back to the DSL.  He doesn’t appear to have made much progress in harnessing his control problems.

Control problems have been common among the Pirates’ young pitching prospects in the last few years, especially Latin American prospects, as they seem to be emphasizing stuff, or at least projectability.  This is a higher risk approach than that of the previous regime, which emphasized pitchers who were ready to pitch effectively right away.  That approach mostly produced mediocre finesse pitchers who seldom got very far.  Almonte so far appears to be a risk who’s not panning out at all.