WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
A:  9-9-0, 5.05 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 119.1 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

Mazzaro signed too late to play in 2005, then the A’s started him off aggressively in full season ball.  He put up mediocre numbers in 24 starts, but considering his experience level that’s not surprising.

2007
A+:  9-12-0, 5.33 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 153.1 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 6.7 K/9

Mazzaro got another tough assignment, making 28 starts in the hitting-happy California League.  His home park inflated HR totals, so the fact that he allowed 13 in 153.1 IP wasn’t bad.

2008
AA:  12-3-0, 1.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 137.1 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
AAA:  3-3-1, 6.15 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 33.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 7.2 K/9 

Mazzaro had a big year, winning the Texas League ERA title and reaching AAA at age 21.  Baseball America ranked him the 8th best prospect in Oakland’s system after the season.

2009
AAA:  2-2-0, 2.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 56.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
MLB:  4-9-0, 5.32 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 91.1 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 5.8 K/9 

Mazzaro got off to a strong start in AAA and the A’s called him up at the beginning of June.  He stayed in their rotation through the end of August and mostly struggled.  His groundball rate was only 39.1% and he gave up a lot of line drives, leading to a BABIP of .350.  He also had trouble with gopher balls, allowing a dozen.

2010
AAA:  3-1-0, 3.13 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
MLB:  6-8-0, 4.27 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 122.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 5.8 K/9

The A’s sent Mazzaro back to AAA to start the season and he pitched well there, posting his career high K rate.  The team called him up for one start in early May and then for good late in the month.  He ended up making 18 starts and six relief appearances.  He continued to have trouble with HRs, allowing 19.  After the season, the A’s traded Mazzaro to the Royals for David DeJesus.

2011
AAA:  7-2-0, 4.29 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 123.2 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 7.8 K/9
MLB:  1-1-0, 8.26 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 3.2 K/9

Mazzaro spent most of the season in the AAA rotation and didn’t pitch especially well there.  He had control problems and opponents hit .286 against him.  The Royals brought him up for several brief stints, which included a not-so-memorable outing against the Indians in which he allowed 14 earned runs in two and a third innings.

2012
AAA:  2-2-5, 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 67.0 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
MLB:  4-3-0, 5.73 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 5.3 K/9

Mazzaro split the season between AAA and the majors, serving as a swing man at both levels.  The Royals brought him to the majors briefly several times, then brought him up to stay in September.  In AAA, he pitched much better in relief, with a 1.80 ERA, as opposed to 4.40 starting, and much better peripherals, including more than a strikeout per inning.  In the majors he was also better as a reliever, but still didn’t pitch well, walking the same number he fanned.  He continued to struggle with a very high BABIP, in this case .354.  He got his groundball rate up to 45.9%, but he had a very high line drive rate of 27.4%.

Mazzaro was out of options when the Pirates acquired him, but it didn’t entirely matter in the end because they outrighted him to AAA when they signed Francisco Liriano.  The days when he could be considered a top prospect are gone, but he could still prove to have value as a reliever, a role in which he has only limited experience so far.  Surprisingly, he lasted until near the end of spring training before he was sent to the minors, despite the fact that he mostly struggled.  He could see time as both a starter and reliever at Indianapolis.

UPDATE:  The Pirates recalled Mazzaro in mid-April when they had a severe need for relief innings.