Frank Herrmann

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
A:  4-6-0, 3.90 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 122.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.5 K/9
Herrmann took a regular turn in the Indians’ low A rotation, starting 26 games with decent results.  Baseball America ranked him as the 28th best prospect in a weak system.

2007
A+:  11-5-0, 4.01 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 146.0 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Herrmann spent the year in the high A rotation.  He got hit harder, but improved his control.  He moved up to 26th on BA’s list of the Indians’ top prospects.

2008
A+:  0-1-0, 11.81 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
AA:  11-6-0, 4.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 131.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 5.9 K/9
AAA:  0-2-0, 1.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 9.7 K/9

Herrmann opened the season in the Indians’ AA rotation, where he mostly struggled for a month and a half.  The Indians sent him down to high A for one start, then moved him back to AA where his pitching was just fair.  He then made two starts in AAA before returning to AA for a strong final month and a half.

2009
AA:  2-1-0, 2.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 3.5 K/9
AAA:  2-3-0, 2.96 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 76.0 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Herrmann made five starts in AA, then the Indians moved him up to AAA, where he pitched exclusively in relief.

2010
AAA:  3-0-2, 0.31 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 6.9 K/9
MLB:  0-1-1, 4.03 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 44.2 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 4.8 K/9

Herrmann got off to a great start pitching in relief in AAA and the Indians called him up in June.  He got into 40 games out of their bullpen the rest of the year, pitching respectably with a low K rate.

2011
AAA:  0-0-0, 5.91 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
MLB:  4-0-0, 5.11 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 56.1 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Herrmann opened the season in Cleveland’s bullpen, but the team sent him to AAA in mid-April.  He was there until late May, then returned to the Indians and ultimately got into another 40 games.  He was less successful than the previous year, with opponents posting an .810 OPS against him.

2012
AAA:  2-2-8, 4.78 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 52.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.9 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 2.33 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 6.5 K/9 

The Indians sent Herrmann to AAA to open the season.  He didn’t pitch well there, getting hit harder than he had previously as a reliever and allowing a HR every six and a half innings.  He did, however, have a high K rate.  The Indians called him up in early August and he pitched very well in the majors the rest of the year.

2013
INJURED

Herrmann had Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season.

2014
AAA:  1-1-0, 6.37 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 29.2 IP, 5.8 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

The Indians optioned Herrmann to AAA at the start of the season, but outrighted him to the minors a week later.  He started pitching again in late April, but struggled in his return to action.  The Indians released him in early August.

2015
AAA (LAA):  3-1-1, 4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 46.2 IP, 1.0 BB/9, 9.1 K/9
AAA (Pgh):  1-1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 7.5 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Herrmann signed a minor league deal with the Angels in the off-season.  They sent him to AAA to pitch in relief.  He had very good walk and K rates, but opponents batted .320 against him.  The Angels released him in mid-August and the Pirates signed him a few days later.  He got good results in limited action for Indianapolis, although he walked five in six innings.

At the time they signed Herrmann, the Pirates were running out of pitchers at Indianapolis due to injuries and trades.  It’s hard to say whether they acquired him as a project or simply because they needed a pitcher late in the season.  He’ll be a free agent after the season.  If the team thinks they might be able to get him turned around, they could try to re-sign him.