Eric Dorsch

ERIC DORSCH, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: September 23, 1991
Height: 6’8″
Weight: 265
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 15th Round, 461st Overall, 2014
How Acquired: Draft
College: Kent State
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
The Pirates seemed to be going heavy with college seniors on day three of the 2014 draft and Dorsch was one of the older players they took, just months shy of his 23rd birthday.  He was rated 443rd overall by Baseball America despite the advanced age.  He was drafted in the 21st round by the Cincinnati Red in the 2013 draft.  As a junior, Dorsch put up huge strikeout numbers, with 47 in 32.1 innings.  He is strictly a bullpen arm who flashes an inconsistent fastball that sometimes can touch 95 MPH, while other times it sits high-80’s.  He throws a fringy slider and relies heavily on his fastball.  Despite his big size, he offers very little projection due to his age and lack of average secondary offerings.  As a senior, he signed quickly.  Dorsch went to North Allegheny HS.

2014
A-:  1-1-3, 4.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Dorsch pitched out of the Jamestown bullpen.  He got off to a bad start, with a 5.79 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in June and July.  His ERA was 2.89 after that, but he still had a 1.50 WHIP.  His K rate was disappointing throughout.

2015
A-:  2-1-0, 4.30 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 37.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.5 K/9
A:  1-0-0, 10.57 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 7.2 IP, 7.0 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

The Pirates sent Dorsch to West Virginia at the beginning of 2015 and it obviously didn’t go well.  After a month, they sent him back to extended spring training, then moved him to Morgantown when the NYPL season started.  He pitched better there, probably better than his ERA indicated, although he still didn’t miss a lot of bats.  Dorsch finished very strongly, as opponents batted only .164 against him in August and September, with just one extra-base hit in 73 at-bats.

Dorsch no doubt will get another shot at low A in 2016.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2016: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2014
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2020
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2017
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 8, 2013: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 21st round, 645th overall pick.
June 7, 2014: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round, 461st overall pick; signed on June 11.