WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
A-:  3-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 24 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 7.9 K/9

Pitched rather sparingly for unknown reasons.  He did well in July, but struggled a little in August.  He only threw eight innings that month, so maybe the Pirates were concerned about his workload.  For the season opponents hit .309 against him.  He did have good walk and K numbers.  At the time, he was throwing mainly in the upper-80s.

2011
A:  5-5-4, 2.43 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 66.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Sadler opened 2011 in extended spring training but joined West Virginia in mid-April.  Except for one start he pitched in relief, mostly in roughly two-inning stints.  He pitched decently early in the season, but starting around mid-season was lights-out.

First half:  31 IP, 32 H, 11 BB, 25 K, 1.39 WHIP, 3.48 ERA.
Second half:  35.3 IP, 19 H, 6 BB, 32 K, 0.70 WHIP, 1.51 ERA.

For the season he had a .213 opponents’ average, with a huge platoon split:  left-handed batters hit .290 against him, right handers .157.  This probably has something to do with the fact that he throws sidearm.  I’m not sure whether that’s a new development.  I do know that his velocity increased in 2011, as he was sitting around 92 and touching a little higher.

2012
A+:  4-6-2, 3.73 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 130.1 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Sadler opened the season in the Bradenton bullpen, but he made a spot start in May and then shifted permanently to the rotation in June.  He was surprisingly successful, posting a 3.56 ERA as a starter until he seemingly tired in August.  He probably won’t be a starter over the long term.  For one thing, his K rate was 5.7, compared to 8.1 as a reliever.  For another, he continued to have a significant platoon split, holding right-handed hitters to a .232 average, while left-handed hitters batted .280 against him with a much lower K rate.  The fact that the Pirates were inclined to keep him in the rotation for much of the year–he even led the Marauders in innings, with the help of Tyler Waldron’s and Jameson Taillon’s promotions–shows that they regard him as more than an organizational pitcher.

Sadler open the season at age 23, as a starter in AA.  In the long run his chance of reaching the majors is probably as a reliever who’s tough on right-handed batters.