WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
A-:  0-1-0, 2.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 5.1 K/9

After signing a week before the deadline, Cumpton got into brief action at State College, pitching reasonably well.

2011
A:  7-4-0, 4.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 67 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
A+:  3-3-0, 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 5.7 K/9 

Cumpton opened the season in the West Virginia rotation and got off to a terrible start, allowing exactly seven runs in each of his first three starts.  After a brief move to the bullpen, he returned to the rotation and immediately began pitching well.  Cumpton himself credited the fact that he started throwing inside.  After posting an ERA of 13.83 in April, his ERA in May and June was 2.28.  He didn’t, however, miss a lot of bats.  The Pirates promoted Cumpton to Bradenton at the end of June and he was a little less effective.  His ERA was solid, but opponents hit .280 against him.  His walk and K rates were low.  His fastball generally sat in the low-90s.  He was much more hittable against right-handed batters, with a higher BA and much lower K rate, but he had more trouble with longballs against left-handed batters.

2012
AA:  12-11-0, 3.84 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 152.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Cumpton pitched in the Altoona rotation all year and had a solid season, although the low K rate leaves some question about how he’d do at higher levels.  He had a very high groundball rate, but had some trouble against left-handed batters.  They batted .272 against him, compared to .253 for right-handed batters, but they also had a higher walk rate and hit seven of the nine HRs he allowed.

Cumpton still might profile best as a reliever, although the fact that he’s been a solid starter at least has allowed him to get a lot of work.  His fastball got up to 96 mph when he was pitching in short stints in spring training.  The Pirates will return him to AA in 2013, where he’ll be back in the rotation.