Aaron Slegers

AARON SLEGERS, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: September 4, 1992
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 245
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 5th Round, 140th overall pick, 2013 (Twins)
How Acquired: Waivers (from Twins)
College: Indiana University – Bloomington
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

Slegers is a very tall right-hander whom the Twins drafted out of college.  He pitched very little there until his last year, when he was the best starter on a good team.  As a pro, he moved up gradually without making any prospect lists.  He’s always had very good control, but has never missed many bats.  He throws a sinker and four-seam fastball, both of which average slightly over 90 mph.  He also throws a slider and change, neither of which is a swing-and-miss pitch.  He’s not a ground ball pitcher and hasn’t had much of a platoon split.  The Pirates claimed him off waivers from the Twins.

2013
R+:  0-0-3, 0.47 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 19.0 IP, 0.9 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

Slegers appeared nine times in relief and pitched very well, although it was at advanced rookie level.

2014
A:  7-7-0, 4.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 113.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 7.1 K/9
A+:  2-1-0, 3.32 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 19.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

The Twins moved Slegers up to low A, where he pitched in the rotation, with three late-season starts in high A.  He showed very good control but was also fairly hittable.

2015
A+:  8-6-0, 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 119.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 6.0 K/9
AA:  1-4-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 36.2 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Slegers returned to high A and pitched well, although with a low K rate.  He had more trouble in six late-season starts in AA.

2016
AA:  10-7-0, 3.41 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 145.1 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

In a full season in the AA rotation, Sleger got fairly good results, still with a low K rate.

2017
AAA:  15-4-0, 3.40 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 148.1 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 7.2 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 6.46 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 15.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 5.3 K/9

Slegers moved up to the AAA rotation and continued pitching as before, except for an increase in his K rate.  The Twins called him up for a spot start in August, then brought him back in September.

2018
AAA:  5-7-0, 3.80 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 85.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9
MLB:  1-1-0, 5.27 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 13.2 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 4.0 K/9

Back in AAA, Slegers was marginally less effective than the year before.  He got called up three times, making two starts and two relief appearances for the Twins.  He also missed several weeks late in the season with shoulder inflammation.  Minnesota designated Slegers for assignment after the season and the Pirates claimed him.

There isn’t much evidence that Slegers has more upside than, at most, a fifth starter.  He has two options left, but he figured from the start to be a candidate to be designated for assignment if the Pirates needed a roster spot.  That’s exactly what happened at the end of spring training.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2019: Major League Minimum
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $380,000
MiLB Debut: 2013
MLB Debut: 8/17/2017
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: 2024
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Added to 40-Man: 8/17/17
Options Remaining: 2 (USED: 2018)
MLB Service Time: 0.136
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2013: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 5th round, 140th overall pick; signed on June 28.
August 17, 2017:
Contract purchased by the Minnesota Twins.
January 3, 2019: Designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins.
January 11, 2019: Claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Minnesota Twins.
March 28, 2019: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.