WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2002
R+:  3-3-0, 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 65.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 10.6 K/9

Had a very strong debut in advanced rookie ball.

2003
A:  4-4-0, 2.87 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 81.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 10.5 K/9
A+:  3-6-0, 2.87 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 78.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Pitched well again, splitting season between the two class A levels and posting a 2.87 ERA at both stops.  His WHIP also was nearly identical between low and high A, although his K/9 dropped.  After the season, Baseball America rated him the sport’s #82 prospect.

2004
AA:  6-3-0, 2.22 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 65 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 11.9 K/9
AAA:  3-3-0, 2.79 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 61.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 8.8 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 4.5 K/9

Continued moving up quickly, splitting the season between AA and AAA.  His ERA was very good at both stops, but his peripherals weren’t nearly as strong in AAA as in AA.  His walk rate, for one thing, more than doubled.  He made his major league debut for Braves in September.  BA rated him baseball’s #43 prospect prior to 2005.

2005
AAA:  2-8-0, 5.36 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 89 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Atlanta traded Meyer to Oakland prior to the season as the primary compensation for Tim Hudson.  The Braves under John Schuerholz had an uncanny knack for identifying which prospects to trade and which to keep, and it didn’t let them down this time.  Meyer failed to win a rotation spot with the A’s, then struggled in AAA, making multiple trips to the disabled list.

2006
AAA:  3-3-0, 5.07 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 49.2 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 5.3 K/9

Meyer continued struggling.  He made ten AAA starts and eventually had surgery to remove bone chips from shoulder.

2007
AA:  0-0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 4 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
AAA:  8-2-0, 3.28 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 115.1 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 8.2 K/9
MLB:  0-2-0, 8.82 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

Had a bounce-back season in AAA, going 8-2, 3.39.  His K/9 climbed back close to his earlier rates, but he was still walking a lot.  He pitched briefly for the A’s in September and got bombed.

2008
AAA:  10-5-0, 4.48 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 122.2 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 8.0 K/9
MLB:  0-4-0, 7.48 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 27.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

The A’s sent Meyer back to AAA.  Despite the higher ERA, all his other numbers were virtually identical to 2007.  He struggled again in a late season callup.  The Marlins claimed him off waivers after the season.

2009
MLB: 3-2-2, 3.09 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 8.6 K/9

Meyer spent the year in the Marlins’ bullpen and had his only good major league season, pitching mainly as a LOOGY.  He appeared in 71 games and allowed a .219 average.

2010
A+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 4 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 18.00 K/9
AA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
AAA:  1-2-2, 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 40 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 6.1 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 9.64 ERA, 2.89 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 11.6 BB/9, 3.9 K/9

Struggled badly with the Marlins early in the season.  Florida sent him to AAA and he had a good ERA there, although his K rate dropped.

2011
AAA:  0-0-0, 7.45 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 8.4 BB/9, 5.6 K/9

The Pirates sent Meyer to Indianapolis after signing him and he pitched in relief, but ran into control problems.  He walked 18 in 19.1 IP, including a six-walk outing outing in early July.  He went on the DL at that point and did not return.

The Pirates were desperate to find left-handed relief options when they signed Meyer, but he obviously didn’t work out.  He’ll be a free agent in the off-season.