WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
R:  222/375/278, 18 AB, 1 2B, 4 BB, 5 K, 0-1 SB
A-:  297/430/625, 64 AB, 3 2B, 6 HR, 13 BB, 6 K 

After a brief tuneup in rookie ball, Larish dominated the NY-Penn League in a short stint.

2006
A+:  258/379/460, 457 AB, 34 2B, 2 3B, 18 HR, 81 BB, 101 K, 9-16 SB

Larish didn’t overwhelm in high A, but his K:BB ratio was good.  His profile–lots of walks and Ks, with good power–was one that doesn’t always work well at higher levels.

2007

AA:  267/390/515, 454 AB, 25 2B, 2 3B, 28 HR, 87 BB, 108 K, 6-8 SB

In AA, Larish had a better version of his high A performance.

2008
AAA:  250/341/477, 384 AB, 20 2B, 2 3B, 21 HR, 50 BB, 109 K, 0-1 SB
MLB:  260/306/375, 104 AB, 6 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 34 K, 2-4 SB

In AAA, Larish’ K rate started to increase, but he still hit for good power.  The Tigers called him up in late May and he spent most of June and part of July in the majors.  He came back up again in late August for the rest of the season.  He hit decently in the majors, but with a high K rate.

2009
AAA:  265/397/412, 211 AB, 13 2B, 6 HR, 42 BB, 56 K, 2-4 SB
MLB:  216/344/446, 74 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 25 K, 0-1 SB

Larish opened the season with the Tigers.  He hit for good power and drew a lot of walks, but fanned in a third of ABs and hit for a low average.  Detroit sent him to AAA in early June and his power dropped off a lot at that level.

2010
AAA (Det):  275/373/497, 298 AB, 21 2B, 15 HR, 45 BB, 84 K, 1-1 SB
AAA (Oak):  361/410/833, 36 AB, 2 2B, 5 HR, 3 BB, 9 K, 0-1 SB
MLB (Det):  200/200/200, 10 AB, 4 K
MLB (Oak):  175/277/333, 57 AB, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 20 K, 1-1 SB 

Detroit brought Larish up only briefly and he otherwise spent his time in AAA.  At the end of July the Tigers designated him for assignment and Oakland claimed him off waivers.  He didn’t hit much in his brief time in Oakland and the Athletics removed him from the roster after the season.

2011
AAA:  240/330/449, 254 AB, 12 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 33 BB, 85 K, 1-2 SB

Larish signed a minor league deal with the Phillies and played about half a season with their AAA affiliate before breaking his leg.  He didn’t hit as well as he had in the past, as he fanned in a third of his ABs.

The Orioles signed Larish for 2012, but he didn’t make their roster and they released him.  He then signed a minor league deal with Boston, but never played in their organization before being dealt to the Pirates for cash considerations shortly after Nick Evans broke his hand.  Larish will head to Indianapolis, although it’s hard to see how he’ll get much playing time.  Even with Evans out, the Indians still have Jeff Clement, Jake Fox, and Matt Hague to play the infield corners.  It could be an indication that the Pirates expect Hague and maybe Fox to spend significant parts of the season in Pittsburgh.

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILE

2003
R:  2-6-0, 5.35 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 38.2 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

VandenHurk struggled in rookie ball, but as a European player who’d just turned 18 it wasn’t a bad showing.

2004
A+:  2-3-0, 3.26 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 58.0 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 6.7 K/9

The Marlins moved VandenHurk up to high A for 14 starts and he posted a good ERA, although his peripherals weren’t as good.  Considering his age, it was an impressive performance.

2005
A:  1-2-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
A+:  0-1-0, 4.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

Had Tommy John surgery and missed most of the season.

2006
R:  0-0-0, 1.20 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 15.0 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 15.6 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 13.5 K/9

VandenHurk made eight starts during his recovery from surgery.

2007
AA:  2-2-0, 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 53.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 10.2 K/9
AAA:  2-0-0, 2.25 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 10.5 K/9
MLB:  4-6-0, 6.83 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 81.2 IP, 5.3 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

The Marlins brought VandenHurk to the majors in early April.  He got hammered in his second and third starts, though, so they sent him down.  He returned for three starts in June, then came up for good in mid-July.  He missed a lot of bats at all levels, but allowed a lot of walks and HRs (15) in the majors.

2008
AA:  3-3-0, 4.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 55.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 9.4 K/9
AAA:  2-1-0, 4.08 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 5.6 BB/9, 10.7 K/9
MLB:  1-1-0, 7.71 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 14.0 IP, 6.4 BB/9, 12.9 K/9

VandenHurk opened the season in the Marlins’ rotation, but he suffered a nerve injury in his right arm after two starts.  He was out for six weeks, then spent the remainder of the season in the minors except for two starts in July.  He pitched about the same in the minors as in 2007, despite the higher ERAs.  He had some gopher ball problems, allowing more than one every seven innings.

2009
A+:  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 6.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  5-2-0, 2.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 62.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 7.8 K/9
MLB:  3-2-0, 4.30 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 7.5 K/9

After pitching well in AAA, VandenHurk joined the Marlins’ rotation in mid-July and stayed there the rest of the season.  He had his one good stint in the majors, putting up an average ERA with much-improved control.  Longballs continued to be a problem, as he allowed better than one every five innings.

2010
AAA (Fla):  8-4-0, 4.68 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 98.0 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 8.0 K/9
AAA (Balt):  1-1-0, 2.18 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 20.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 3.0 K/9
MLB (Fla):  0-0-0, 6.75 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1.1 IP, 6.8 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
MLB (Balt):  0-1-0, 4.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

Florida sent VandenHurk back to AAA; he made just two relief appearances with the Marlins.  He didn’t pitch as well in AAA as previously.  Florida traded him to the Orioles in a deadline deal for reliever Will Ohman.  The Orioles brought him up in late August and he pitched mainly in relief.  The results were better than the ERA indicates.

2011
AAA:  9-13-0, 4.43 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 154.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 6.3 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 8.00 ERA, 2.22 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 8.0 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

VandenHurk spent the minor league season in the AAA rotation.  He put up good numbers except for a lower-than-normal K rate and a high gopher ball rate (23 in 154.1 IP).  The Orioles brought him up in September and he struggled through two starts and two relief appearances, allowing four more HRs in nine innings.

The Pirates will probably send VandenHurk to Indianapolis, where he should work out of the bullpen at least at first.  He hasn’t had much success the last two years, so it’s hard to see him contributing in the majors.  It’s possible he could turn his career around as a reliever.

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.

The Pirates no doubt consider Rowland a worthwhile project.  Arizona already had him move back to his old three-quarters delivery during fall instructionals..  He’s still only 20, so it’s far too early to come to any definitive conclusions about him.  He’ll most likely pitch at State College in 2012.

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2009
DSL:  268/340/459, 183 AB, 10 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 16 BB, 40 K, 6-13 SB

Vasquez hit for good power at age 17, although his plate discipline was marginal at best.

2010
DSL:  265/324/429, 170 AB, 13 2B, 5 HR, 10 BB, 36 K, 11-13 SB

Vasquez had a similar but weaker season, with his walk rate dropping to a low level.

2011
DSL:  324/435/572, 222 AB, 20 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 41 BB, 58 K, 21-34 SB

In his third year, Vasquez finished tied for second in the DSL in HRs, second in slugging, and first in OPS.  He dramatically increased his walk rate, but his K rate was high, better than one every four ABs.

Vasquez was finally expected to attend spring training in 2012, but he didn’t make it to training camp due to visa issues.  If those get cleared up, the Pirates could move him up to State College considering the time he spent in the DSL.

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2009
DSL:  161/255/218, 87 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 14 K, 4-6 SB

Fortunato got into 29 games after signing in June.  He played mostly left and struggled at the plate.  He had seven outfield assists in just 27 games.

2010
DSL:  209/287/277, 220 AB, 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 19 BB, 48 K, 22-26 SB

Fortunato was the regular in center, but hit very little.  He did very well on the bases and had 13 assists in 67 outfield games.

2011
DSL:  324/409/491, 244 AB, 10 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 30 BB, 49 K, 34-45 SB

In his third year, Fortunato was one of the top hitters in the DSL.  The only negative was a somewhat high K rate.

Fortunato should move to one of the US teams in 2012.  Given that he’ll play the season at 21, he could start the season at State College.  The Pirates have sometimes skipped the GCL with prospects who are older than ideal for players just coming to the US from Latin America.

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2011
VSL:  308/413/472, 214 AB, 19 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 32 BB, 40 K, 16-24 SB

Herrera had a strong debut, hitting for good power, especially for his size.  The one negative was a somewhat high K rate

Herrera should be in the GCL in 2012.

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2011
DSL:  269/382/352, 108 AB, 9 2B, 20 BB, 10 K, 3-5 SB

In his debut season, Espinal hit for a solid average and had twice as many walks as Ks.  He played first exclusively, except for one cameo at third, and also missed some time with an injury.

Espinal was in minor league camp in spring 2012 and so will probably appear in the GCL.  The team had him working at third during camp, but that seems pretty optimistic given his size, as well as the fact that he doesn’t appear all that athletic.

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES