WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
R+: 4-6-0, 5.67 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 54.0 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.7 K/9

Arizona sent Rowland to the Pioneer League, which is a tough assignment for a pitcher just drafted out of high school. It’s a more advanced rookie league than the Gulf Coast or Arizona League, and it’s an extreme hitter’s league. On top of that, the D’backs’ affiliate plays in an extreme hitter’s park relative to the league. Rowland pitched respectably under the circumstances.

2011
R+: 1-7-0, 8.07 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 68.0 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

The Diamondbacks sent Rowland back to the Pioneer League and he altered his pitching motion, moving his arm slot to straight over the top from a three-quarters angle in order to throw a 12-to-6 curve. He got hit much harder, including an alarming 15 HRs, one every four and a half innings. The one positive sign was a very low walk total, but that sometimes happens when hitters find a pitcher very easy to hit.

2012
A:  9-5-0, 3.30 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 106.1 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Rowland started off in extended spring training, then joined West Virginia in mid-May.  He made a dramatic turnaround and was the Power’s most effective starter the rest of the year.  He still has a very low K rate and allowed slightly more than a hit per inning, but considering his 2011 struggles, as well as the facts that he was moving up a level and pitched the year at age 20, it was a very good season.  He may have been helped by the Diamondbacks having moved his arm slot back to three-quarters before the trade.  That’s already a trend in the Pirates’ organization.

The concern with Rowland obviously is going to be whether he can start to miss some bats.  He’ll be a good age for the Florida State League in 2013, where he’ll be part of the Bradenton rotation.