Curtis Partch

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2007
R:  0-0-2, 1.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 5.1 K/9
R+:  1-0-1, 3.29 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 6.9 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Partch divided his time between rookie and advanced rookie ball, pitching in relief except for one start at the latter level.  He walked 28 batters, more than he struck out, in 34.1 IP.

2008
A:  5-11-1, 5.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 111.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

The Reds sent Partch to low A for the season.  He made 17 starts and 16 relief appearances, cutting his walk rate by more than half but not striking out many.

2009
A:  8-7-0, 4.67 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 104.0 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.7 K/9
A+:  3-2-0, 4.35 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 39.1 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 5.7 K/9
AA:  1-0-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 3.6 K/9

Partch spent the season as a starter, mostly in low A except for August, which he spent in high A, and one fill-in game in AA.  He continued putting up weak walk and K rates.

2010
A+:  7-11-0, 4.98 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 132.0 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 6.5 K/9
A:  0-0-1, 21.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 3.o IP, 6.0 BB/9, 3.0 K/9

The Reds sent Partch to the Carolina League, where he mostly pitched out of the rotation.  He had a rough year, with opponents batting 312/372/479 against him.

2011
A+:  6-11-0, 5.25 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 121.2 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 6.9 K/9
AA:  2-2-0, 6.92 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 39.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 7.6 K/9

The Reds sent Partch back to high A, but their affiliate had moved to the extreme-offense California League.  It wasn’t a welcome change for Partch, who got hit hard, including gopher ball problems.  He struggled even more in seven late-season starts in AA.  Opponents put up another big batting line against him at 322/369/486.

2012
A+:  0-0-2, 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 11.2 K/9
AA:  7-4-6, 4.73 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 70.1 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 8.2 K/9

Partch made four starts in AA and got torched for a 378/465/649 batting line.  The Reds then moved him to the bullpen, where he made seven appearances in high A and 41 after returning to AA.  The move worked out well, as Partch held opponents to .637 OPS, with a WHIP of 1.20 and K/9 of 9.0 in relief (his AA stats were severely inflated by the four terrible starts).  After the season, Cincinnati added him to the 40-man roster.  Baseball America ranked him 27th in the Reds’ system.

2013
AA:  0-0-4, 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 8.1 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 15.1 K/9
AAA:  1-2-2, 4.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 6.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 6.6 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Partch started the season in AA, but moved up after eight dominant outings.  He didn’t dominate in AAA, but continued to fan well over a batter an inning.  The Reds called him up for nearly two months starting in early June, then brought him back in September.  He struggled in the majors, especially with his control.  BA rated him the team’s 28th best prospect after the season.

2014
AAA:  4-1-6, 4.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 47.1 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 10.3 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Partch made the Reds’ opening day roster, but was soon sent down and made only a few brief returns to the majors.  He didn’t pitch well in AAA, with control issues being part of the problem.  He didn’t allow any runs in seven major league innings, but he walked seven batters.  After the season, the Reds non-tendered Partch and he signed a minor league deal with the Giants.

2015
AAA:  1-3-1, 3.53 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 63.2 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 11.5 K/9

The Giants left Partch in AAA all year.  He pitched just OK there, although he continued to strike out a lot of hitters.

2016
AAA:  2-2-4, 2.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 60.1 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 40.50 ERA, 6.00 WHIP, 0.2 IP, 27.0 BB/9, 0.0 K/9

Of the various depth options the Pirates had at Indianapolis on minor league deals, Partch pitched easily the best during the season’s first two months.  When the team needed a reliever in early June, they called him up.  He made one appearance, failed to retire any of the three batters he faced, was sent back to AAA, and was designated for assignment in late June to make room for Chad Kuhl.  He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Indianapolis.  In early August, though, the Pirates called Partch back up.  After one appearance, they optioned him back to AAA, then designated him for assignment after the AAA season ended to clear roster space.  Partch pitched well during his time in Indianapolis, striking out a batter an inning and holding hitters to a 202/309/254 line.  He did have some control problems.  He had a big platoon split, holding left-handed hitters to a .451 OPS.

Partch cleared waivers and the Pirates outrighted him to AAA.  He’ll become a free agent after the season.