Arquimedes Caminero

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
DSL:  1-2-0, 5.54 ERA, 2.12 WHIP, 26.0 IP, 8.0 BB/9, 4.2 K/9

The Marlins used Caminero strictly in relief in his pro debut.  He struggled, walking nearly twice as many as he struck out.

2006
DSL:  0-1-0, 7.36 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 8.2 K/9

Caminero went back to the DSL and improved his walk and K rates significantly, but still got poor results.

2007
DSL:  2-3-0, 2.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

Caminero made further progress, putting up good numbers for the first time.  He started four games and otherwise relieved.

2008
R:  0-1-3, 1.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 17.1 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 10.4 K/9
A-:  1-0-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 7.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Caminero started off in the GCL, then moved up late in the season to the NYPL.  He also made one appearance in low A.  He pitched only in relief — in fact, at the time the Pirates acquired him his only four pro starts had been the ones he made in 2007 — and continued to make progress, striking out well over a batter an inning but also showing some control problems.

2009
A-:  3-1-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 24.0 IP, 6.0 BB/9, 15.8 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 5.65 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 14.1 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 10.7 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 30.86 ERA, 3.86 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 7.7 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Caminero started the season in extended spring training, then had two very poor outings in high A at the end of May and beginning of June.  The Marlins sent him down to the NYPL, then promoted him to low A in early August.  He put up prodigious strikeout numbers at both locations, but also had trouble throwing strikes.  You have to wonder whether he was getting enough experience from pitching just 25-40 innings per year.  Caminero was eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the season, but the Marlins successfully gambled that no team would think he could stick in the majors all year.

2010
A:  5-2-3, 3.01 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 74.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 11.7 K/9

Caminero had his first truly good year, getting his walk rate under control, holding opponents to a .200 average, and missing lots of bats.  The Marlins added him to their 40-man roster after the season.  Baseball America ranked him the 20th best prospect in the Marlins’ system after the season.

2011
R:  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9

Caminero missed the entire season, except for one outing, due to an elbow injury.

2012
A+:  1-0-1, 0.44 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 20.2 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 11.8 K/9
AA:  0-0-2, 3.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 8.7 K/9 

The elbow injury kept Caminero out until the beginning of June.  He split his season between high A and AA, putting up impressive numbers for the former and not-so-good numbers at the end of June.

2013
AA:  5-2-5, 3.61 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 52.1 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 11.7 K/9
AAA:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 8.3 K/9

Caminero made great strides with his control and put up better numbers than his ERA in AA.  Miami called him up in mid-August, sent him back to the minors for one stat at the end of the month, then brought him up for September.  He pitched well in the majors.  BA rated him the Marlins’ twelfth best prospect after the season.

2014
AAA:  4-1-0, 4.86 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 63.0 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
MLB:  2-1-0, 6.18 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 10.8 K/9

The Marlins evidently obtained a fourth option for Caminero and sent him to AAA for nearly the whole season.  He didn’t pitch well, allowing too many walks and hits.

2015
MLB:  5-1-0, 3.62 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 74.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 8.8 K/9

Caminero was out of options going into spring training, but he made the Pirates’ decision easy by having a strong spring.  He got off to a very strong start, holding hitters to a .512 OPS in April and .574 in May.  Through three months, he had a 1.09 WHIP and 10.03 K/9.  He had a rough July, getting ripped for a .971 opponents’ OPS, before rebounding with his best month (.389 opposing OPS) in August.  He then had a mediocre Sept/Oct (.786 OPS).  Caminero actually saw his velocity jump, averaging just under 98 mph and regularly topping 100 mph.  At the same time, his control improved, although sometimes-faltering command probably accounts for the rough stretches he had at times.  The Pirates frequently used Caminero in a 7th inning role in the season’s first half, setting up Tony Watson and Mark Melancon.  After the Pirates acquired Joakim Soria at the trade deadline, Caminero often appeared in tie games and other random, tight situations. He sometimes pitched multiple innings, including three in an extra-inning win against Arizona.

Caminero was an outstanding find for the Pirates and yet another triumph for pitching coach Ray Searage.  He’d need to improve his command to move into an 8th inning or later role — major league hitters can hit 100-mph fastballs — but he should be a very useful reliever regardless.  He also won’t be eligible for arbitration for another two years, so he’ll provide outstanding value.