WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2009
R:  1-2-0, 5.84 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 5.8 K/9 

Singh made 11 appearances in the GCL and held his own.  His ERA was high, but his other numbers, while not good, weren’t terrible.  That by itself is remarkable considering the circumstances.  Every year dozens of pitchers who’ve played baseball all their lives in the US and Latin America do considerably worse at that level.

2010
R:  2-0-1, 2.61 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 20.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 8.7 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 2 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 4.5 K/9 

Singh returned to the GCL and pitched well, fanning about a batter an inning.  The team was impressed enough to promote him at the end of the GCL season and he got in two scoreless innings at State College.

2011
DSL:  1-0-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 11 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 5.7 K/9
R:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.25 WHIP, 4 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 11.2 K/9
A-:  0-2-0, 2.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8.1 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 7.6 K/9
A:  2-1-0, 3.18 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 17 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

Singh opened the season in the DSL.  The Pirates assigned him and several other pitchers slated for the US leagues to the DSL because MLB’s age verification procedures held up approval of a number of their contracts with Dominican prospects, creating a need for extra players.  Singh pitched well in eight games spread over the DSL, GCL and New York-Penn League, then joined West Virginia in mid-July.  He pitched respectably there, allowing more baserunners than ideal.

Singh appears to have the arm to go higher in the minors, although his lack of instinct for the game will increasingly be a barrier.  It’s remarkable what he’s done already.  He could reach Bradenton in 2012, although he started the season in West Virginia.