WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
R:  4-3-0, 2.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 54.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 5.6 K/9

Gomez made nine starts in rookie ball and also made the only two relief appearances of his minor league career through 2012.  He pitched very well, but with a low K rate, which has been typical for him.

2007
A:  11-7-0, 4.80 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 140.2 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

The Indians moved Gomez up to full season ball and he made 27 starts.  He continued to put up a good walk rate and a low K rate, but got hit a lot harder, including 19 HRs.  Considering that he was making the jump to low A at age 19, though, it wasn’t a bad showing.

2008
A+:  5-9-0, 4.55 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 138.1 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Gomez had largely the same season in high A as in 2007, although he did improve his K rate.

2009

A+:  2-2-0, 2.62 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 24.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 5.6 K/9
AA:  10-4-0, 3.43 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 123.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 8.0 K/9

Gomez had his best season, which included a nine-inning perfect game and got him ranked #21 on the Indians’ prospect list.  He moved up to AA after four strong starts in high A and pitched very well at the higher level, with a career-high K rate.

2010
AAA:  8-8-0, 5.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 116.0 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 6.1 K/9
MLB:  4-5-0, 4.68 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 57.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 5.3 K/9

Gomez didn’t adjust nearly as well to AAA, as he got hit hard and allowed 16 HRs.  His K rate dropped back to below average.  The Indians called him up in mid-July and again at the beginning of August, and he made 11 starts in the majors.  He got hit hard there, with opponents batting .307 against him.

2011
A-:  0-0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
AAA:  10-7-0, 2.55 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 137.2 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
MLB:  5-3-0, 4.47 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 4.8 K/9

Gomez made 21 starts in AAA and ten, plus one relief appearance, in the majors.  He was called up briefly to fill in several times, then for good at the end of August.  His performance was much better in AAA, including a HR rate that was half what it was in 2010.  In the majors, he fared about the same as the previous year, with a very low K rate.

2012
AAA:  6-5-0, 4.41 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 69.1 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
MLB:  5-8-0, 5.96 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 90.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 4.7 K/9

Gomez opened the season in the Indians’ rotation, but after pitching well initially, he struggled to a 5.18 ERA through 13 starts and one relief appearance.  He didn’t pitch as well as the previous year in AAA.  Cleveland brought him back up in late August and he made four more starts and two relief appearances, allowing 18 earned runs in just 17.2 IP.  He actually improved in some areas over his previous major league stints, but was hurt by 15 gopher balls.  The Indians designated him for assignment after the season.

The best thing that can be said for the Pirates’ acquisition of Gomez is that it didn’t cost them anything, as Latimore is no longer a prospect.  The primary positives Gomez has going for him are youth and consistently good health.  He has very little upside; even after his strong 2009 season, BA characterized his ceiling as 5th starter or long reliever.  He had a poor spring but, rather disturbingly, made the Pirates’ opening day roster anyway as a reliever.  With Jeff Karstens and Francisco Liriano hurt, and Jeff Locke and Kyle McPherson having unimpressive springs, the Pirates probably wanted to be sure to hang onto Gomez, who has no options.  The fact that they’d have to carry a pitcher with such a poor track record and with so little upside speaks badly of their efforts with their farm system.  It remains possible, though, that Gomez will be designated for assignment once some pitchers start getting healthy.