Colin Selby

COLIN SELBY, RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER
Born: October 24, 1997
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 218
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 16th Round, 474th Overall, 2018
How Acquired: Draft
College: Randolph-Macon College
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
Selby was a three-year starter at Randolph-Macon College who piled up strikeouts in his junior year.  After making 14 starts total in his first two seasons, he made 14 starts and one relief appearance in 2018, with a 2.60 ERA and 126:30 SO:BB ratio in 97 innings in 2018.  He signed quickly after the draft.  After the Pirates signed him, he was sitting in the low-90s, while also throwing a slider and curve.  By 2019, he was sitting at 94-96, at least early in starts, while relying on the slider and a change, with the curve as a fourth pitch.  By 2022 he was sitting in the upper-90s as a reliever.  Both breaking balls are regarded by at least some scouts as above-average, with the slider generating a high rate of swings and misses.

2018
R+:  1-3-0, 4.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Selby pitched in the Bristol rotation.  He was moderately effective, with a reverse platoon split; he held left-handed hitters to a .573 OPS, but right-handed hitters put up an .812 OPS against him.

2019
A:  6-3-0, 2.97 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 88.0 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 8.9 K/9

The Pirates sent Selby to Greensboro in mid-May and he spent the rest of the season in the rotation, until he was shut down in mid-August.  He got through 5-6 innings in 12 of 17 innings and never threw fewer than four.  Opponents had just a .613 OPS against him and he had no platoon split.

2020
DNP

Right after baseball shut down due to the pandemic, Selby had Tommy John surgery.

2021
A+:  3-1-6, 4.37 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 59.2 IP, 5.3 BB/9, 10.1 K/9

The Pirates used Selby in relief in his return from Tommy John.  He struggled early, walking exactly a batter an inning and posting an 8.53 ERA the first two months.  After that, he walked 3.5 per nine innings and had an ERA of 2.43.  The Greensboro ballpark hurt his numbers:  He had a 5.50 ERA, five home runs allowed, and .773 OPS allowed at home.  On the road, those numbers were 2.66, two and .370.  Selby also had a big platoon split, holding right handed hitters to a .503 OPS, while left-handed hitters posted an .803 OPS.

2022
AA:  2-2-8, 2.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 32.2 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
AAA:  0-1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

Selby opened the season with Altoona and got off to a very good start, but in mid-May went out for two months with an unknown injury.  He had a few subpar outings after returning, then pitched well the rest of the season, including three outings with Indianapolis.  Selby kept his walk rate at manageable levels and continued to miss bats.  He had no real platoon split.  The Pirates sent him to the Arizona Fall League to make up for the missed time.

Selby was eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the second time and this time the Pirates put him on the 40-man roster.  They chose him over Tahnaj Thomas and J.C. Flowers, both of whom were a bit better known to Pirate fans; one factor may have been a good showing in the Arizona Fall League, where Thomas struggled.  It’s very likely Selby will make his major league debut in 2023 if he can stay healthy.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2023: Major League Minimum
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $125,000
MiLB Debut: 2018
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: 2028
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Added to 40-Man: 11/15/2022
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 6, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 16th round, 474th overall pick; signed on June 13.
November 15, 2022: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.