Andy Otamendi

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2011
VSL:  2-1-0, 3.15 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 40.0 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

Otamendi had a solid VSL debut, with decent walk and K rates, although he had more hits allowed (45) than innings pitched.  He held left-handed batters to a .188 average, while right-handed batters hit .307 against him.

2012
R:  2-0-1, 3.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

The Pirates brought Otamendi to camp after just one year in the VSL, so they probably think he has some potential.  He pitched mostly in relief and was more effective than his ERA indicates.  He was a strong flyball pitcher and had a reverse platoon split, with left-handed batters hitting .282 against him and right-handed .213.

2013
R:  3-0-3, 1.62 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 12.4 K/9
A-:  2-2-0, 5.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 9.3 K/9

The Pirates sent Otamendi back to the GCL initially and he dominated out of the bullpen, with a very high K rate.  He moved up to Jamestown in late July and wasn’t nearly as successful.  He didn’t give up more hits, but his walk rate quadrupled and he had gopher ball problems, allowing one every four and a half innings.

2014
A-:  1-0-0, 2.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 10.0 K/9
A:  1-0-0, 1.19 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 22.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 7.71 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 11.6 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Other than a couple outings filling in for Bradenton, Otamendi stayed in extended spring training until Jamestown started play.  He pitched well there in a handful of outings, then moved up to West Virginia for good in the second week of July.  He continued to pitch well there, still strictly in relief.  The Pirates generally used him sparingly, often with 4-6 days between appearances, which may indicate they consider him an organizational pitcher.  Excluding his time at Bradenton, hitters posted just a 195/252/257 line against him.  He allowed no HRs all year.

2015
A:  1-0-3, 1.88 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 14.1 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 5.0 K/9
A+:  4-5-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 46.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 7.5 K/9

The Pirates sent Otamendi to Bradenton to have him pitch out of the bullpen and he mostly struggled, with a 6.65 ERA through May 23.  At that point he went on the disabled list for a month.  After returning, he went at first to West Virginia for a month and then spent the last six weeks of the season back in Bradenton.  He pitched much better in his second go-round, with an ERA of 1.56, although he had control problems.  On the season he was far more effective against left-handed batters, allowing them an OPS of only .508, while right-handed hitters posted an .816 mark.

Otamendi is eligible for the Rule 5 draft, but isn’t likely to be added to the roster or selected.  He could open 2016 at Bradenton or Altoona.