Jared Lakind

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
R:  214/267/500, 14 AB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 7 K, 0-1 SB

Managed to get into four GCL games.  Lakind fanned five times in seven at-bats in the first two, but in the second two went 3-for-7 with a double and HR.

2011
R:  148/264/287, 108 AB, 3 2B, 4 HR, 17 BB, 43 K, 1-2 SB

Showed some power, but struggled severely to make contact, striking out in 40% of his ABs.  He also had problems in the field, with six errors and a .978 fielding percentage.  Played only ten games in August as the Pirates moved Jose Ozuna to first.

2012
A-:  169/235/210, 124 AB, 5 2B, 11 BB, 36 K, 1-3 SB

Lakind was swinging the bat much better in training camp in 2012 than the previous year and the Pirates moved him up to State College, where he split time at first with Samuel Gonzalez.  He struggled to hit, not even showing much power.  He also struggled defensively, committing ten errors in just 38 games at first.

2013
A-:  2-2-0, 4.56 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

In his first season on the mound, Lakind pitched out of the Jamestown bullpen.  He didn’t put up especially good numbers, but it was his first shot at pitching as a pro.  Left-handed hitters batted only .222 against him.

2014
A-:  0-0-1, 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
A:  0-1-0, 4.44 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 24.1 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 7.4 K/9

The Pirates sent Lakind to West Virginia in mid-May.  He got into seven games in relief and struggled, posting a 7.11 ERA, with six walks and six Ks in 12.2 IP.  When Jamestown’s season opened, the Pirates moved him down and he dominated in eight appearances.  In late July they sent him back to West Virginia and he got much better results in ten games through the end of the season.  In 11.2 IP, he had an ERA of 1.54, with three walks and 14 Ks.  He was tougher again on left-handed hitters, allowing them an OPS of .695 on the season, as opposed to .792 for right-handed hitters.

2015
R:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 10.3 K/9
A:  2-1-0, 2.29 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Lakind had surgery to remove a cyst from his leg in spring 2015, so he wasn’t able to pitch until late June.  After a five-game rehab in the GCL, he went to West Virginia, where he pitched out of the Power’s bullpen.  He put up good numbers there, although not quite as good as the ERA suggests, and he held left-handed hitters at both stops to a .527 OPS.  The innings, though, were very limited.

2016
AA:  5-1-7, 2.59 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 66.0 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

The Pirates moved Lakind all the way up to Altoona.  The move was surprising, considering that he’d never pitched above low A and had only 85.2 IP of pro experience altogether.  It’s likely the Pirates thought Lakind was at least potentially a prospect and wanted to get a look at him at a higher level because he was due to become a minor league free agent after the season.  Whatever the reason, Lakind stayed healthy and had a very good season, holding opponents to a 216/298/310 line.  He was tough on both left-handed and right-handed hitters, holding them to an OPS of .587 and .623, respectively.  He struggled a little at the start of the season, which is hardly surprising given his experience level.  In April, opponents hit 318/418/386 against him, with nine walks and ten strikeouts.  Lakind dominated for the next two months, holding opponents to an OPS of .320 in May and .397 in June.  He had a very rough July in which he allowed over half the extra base hits he gave up all year, leading to a 1.019 OPS, but he finished well.  He had issues with the strike zone occasionally, but that’s hardly surprising given his limited experience.

Like many of his Altoona teammates, Lakind left the Pirates with a tough call to make.  He would have been eligible for minor league free agency, but they signed him for 2017.  He was still eligible for the Rule 5, but wasn’t selected.  Somewhat disappointingly, he’ll open 2017 back at Altoona.