Nestor Oronel

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2014
DSL:  2-7-0, 3.99 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 4.8 K/9

The Pirates kept Oronel in the DSL rotation all season even though he got hammered for a .354 opponents’ average.

2015
R:  0-6-0, 5.12 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 38.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

Oronel moved up to the GCL despite being hit so hard in 2014.  He pitched the entire 2015 season at age 18 and, despite the ERA, improved significantly, with his opponents’ average dropping all the way to .230.  He also improved his K rate, but had a little gopher ball trouble, allowing five.  He pitched in relief twice but otherwise stayed in the rotation.

2016
R+:  0-6-0, 5.53 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 42.1 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Oronel opened the season in the Bristol rotation, but had a very rough time and eventually moved to the bullpen.  He got hit extremely hard, with opponents slugging .531 against him, with more than a HR every five innings.  Left-handed hitters really hammered him, slugging .738 and hitting four HRs in just 42 ABs.  He was probably even worse than the ERA indicates, as he 15 unearned runs to go with 26 earned runs.  He wasn’t much better in relief than starting.

Oronel’s won’t turn 20 until December 2016, so he’s still young.  The Pirates must think he could turn into a prospect or they wouldn’t have promoted him each year despite the results.  He could try starting in Bristol again in 2017, or move up and pitch in relief.