Brandon Cumpton

BRANDON CUMPTON, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: November 16, 1988
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 205
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 9th Round, 267th Overall, 2010
How Acquired: Draft
College: Georgia Tech
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

When he was drafted, scouting reports on Cumpton said he threw around 89-93, but his command of his fastball and breaking ball were inconsistent.  According to Baseball America, he reached the mid-90s out of the bullpen, so that may be where he’s destined to end up.  He also threw a curve.  His K rate obviously fell off a lot as a junior.  By the time he reached the majors in 2013, he was sitting at 91-92, with a decent slider and a change that still needed improvement.  His fastball, although a four-seamer, has natural sink, so he’s generally been a strong groundball pitcher.  He’s been a lot tougher against right-handed than left-handed hitters.

2010
A-:  0-1-0, 2.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 5.1 K/9

After signing a week before the deadline, Cumpton got into brief action at State College, pitching reasonably well.

2011
A:  7-4-0, 4.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 67 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
A+:  3-3-0, 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 5.7 K/9 

Cumpton opened the season in the West Virginia rotation and got off to a terrible start, allowing exactly seven runs in each of his first three starts.  After a brief move to the bullpen, he returned to the rotation and immediately began pitching well.  Cumpton himself credited the fact that he started throwing inside.  After posting an ERA of 13.83 in April, his ERA in May and June was 2.28.  He didn’t, however, miss a lot of bats.  The Pirates promoted Cumpton to Bradenton at the end of June and he was a little less effective.  His ERA was solid, but opponents hit .280 against him.  His walk and K rates were low.  His fastball generally sat in the low-90s.  He was much more hittable against right-handed batters, with a higher BA and much lower K rate, but he had more trouble with longballs against left-handed batters.

2012
AA:  12-11-0, 3.84 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 152.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Cumpton pitched in the Altoona rotation all year and had a solid season, although the low K rate leaves some question about how he’d do at higher levels.  He had a very high groundball rate, but had some trouble against left-handed batters.  They batted .272 against him, compared to .253 for right-handed batters, but they also had a higher walk rate and hit seven of the nine HRs he allowed.

2013
AA:  0-1-0, 7.45 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 6.5 K/9
AAA:  6-7-0, 3.32 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 122.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 6.6 K/9
MLB:  2-1-0, 2.05 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

The Pirates sent Cumpton back to Altoona to begin the season.  He had two bad starts, but with Kyle McPherson and Phil Irwin both hurt, they needed him in AAA anyway.  He pitched well there, not dominating but getting a very high percentage of grounders, keeping the ball in the park (just six HRs), and keeping the walks to a reasonable level.  He had a large platoon split, yielding a .776 OPS to left-handed hitters and only .542 to right-handed.  The Pirates called him up for three short stints during the season, the first when A.J. Burnett went on the disabled list.  He also got a September callup.  He pitched remarkably well over six games, five of them starts, including a game against St. Louis in which he threw seven three-hit, shutout innings.

2014
AAA:  5-4-0, 3.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 71.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 4.7 K/9
MLB:  3-4-0, 4.89 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 70.0 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Cumpton divided his time between Indianapolis and the Pirates, including ten starts in the majors due to various injuries to the team’s starters.  He was called up for two starts near the end of April, spent over a month in the major league rotation starting in late May, then went back to AAA for one start and returned to the Pirates for one July start.  Starting in mid-August, Cumpton made a half dozen relief appearances with the Pirates.  His fastball gained some velocity in relief, topping out a little over 95.  In AAA, Cumpton got good results but missed very few bats.  His high ERA in the majors was probably the product in part of a BABIP of .338, which is on the high side (the Pirates as a team came in at .290).  His xFIP was considerably better, at 3.98.

2015-16
INJURED

Cumpton figured once again to go to AAA to serve as starting depth, but he had elbow problems in the spring and underwent Tommy John surgery.  That cost him the 2015 season.  Then, in September 2015, he had shoulder surgery, which cost him all of 2016 as well.  He still had an option left, but the Pirates outrighted him off the 40-man roster, clearing a roster space for the off-season.

2017
A+:  1-0-0, 2.53 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 7.6 K/9
AA:  3-3-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 8.1 K/9
AAA:  1-1-0, 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

Cumpton wasn’t ready to pitch until June.  He worked his way up to AAA, where he made five relief appearances in late August.

Cumpton will be eligible for minor league free agency in the fall.  The Pirates could try to bring him back.  He didn’t really do more than rehab in 2017, so it’s hard to say whether he’s back yet to where he was in 2014.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2017: Minor League Salary
2015: $520,500
2014: $507,000
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $124,500
MiLB Debut: 2010
MLB Debut: 6/15/13
MiLB FA Eligible: 2017
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 6/15/13
Options Remaining: 1  (USED:  2013, 2014)
MLB Service Time: 0.127
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2010: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 9th round, 267th overall pick; signed on August 9.
June 15, 2013: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
November 6, 2015: Outrighted to Triple-A by the Pittsburgh Pirates.