Jeffrey Inman

JEFFREY INMAN, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: November 24, 1987
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight: 180
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 12th Round, 355th Overall, 2009
How Acquired: Draft
College: Stanford
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

According to Baseball America, Inman entered the 2009 season as a potential first round pick due to his showing as a sophomore and in the Cape Cod League.  That sort of endorsement seems overstated to me, as his 2008 performance wasn’t all that good, especially his K rate.  He clearly went downhill in 2009, though.  His low-90s velocity dropped until it finally hit the low-80s and he was shut down for the season with shoulder tendonitis.  BA still rated him the 47th best prospect in California.  Given his situation, it seemed to make sense for him to return for his senior year and try to re-establish himself as a top prospect.  The Pirates, however, were able to sign him just before the deadline for $425,000.

2009
A-:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 4.5 K/9 

Was able to appear in a couple of games before the season ended and had no problems.  His fastball registered 93-95.

2010
Did not play 

Inman was hitting 96 in training camp in March and was expected to open at West Virginia,  but he started the season on the disabled list.  He appeared to be close to returning at several points during season, but in the end he was shut down for good in mid-July with elbow discomfort, having been unable to pitch all year.

2011
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 3 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9
A+:  2-2-0, 2.18 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 33 IP, 1.4 BB/9, 4.4 K/9 

Inman went to Bradenton and joined the rotation early in the year, although he was kept on very low pitch counts.  He eventually managed a couple of five inning starts.  He didn’t allow many baserunners but also fanned very few hitters.  Unfortunately, in late May he went on the disabled list with the same elbow discomfort he had in 2010.  He returned in late August for four brief outings.

2012
A+:  0-0-1, 0.00 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 3.7 K/9
AA:  2-2-3, 3.83 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 51.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

Inman started off the season in extended spring training due to an ankle injury, but moved to Bradenton early in the season and finally managed to stay healthy most of the way.  He pitched half a dozen games in relief for the Marauders, then pitched out of the Altoona bullpen the rest of the year, except for one spot start.  He generally pitched well, a little better than his ERA, but with a low K rate.  He had no platoon split worth noting and mostly kept the ball on the ground.

2013
AA:  1-1-2, 2.65 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 17.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 7.4 K/9

The Pirates sent Inman back to Altoona and he was pitching well in the early going, sitting at 94-95 with his fastball, but he injured his elbow in May.  He had Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the season.

2014
A+:  2-0-0, 4.15 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 8.2 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 5.2 K/9
AA:  5-0-1, 1.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 6.6 K/9

Inman returned from the surgery in early June and spent that month at Bradenton.  He moved up to Altoona at the beginning of July and posted an ERA there that was more impressive than the rest of his numbers.

2015
AA:  2-1-3, 2.79 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
AAA:  0-1-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Inman missed the first month of the season, then joined Altoona in early May.  He pitched well there and then got his first exposure to AAA when the Pirates promoted him at the beginning of July.  He continued pitching well — better, in fact, except for a low K rate — but in early August he got hurt and went out for the year.  FOr the year he had a large reverse platoon split, allowing an OPS of .728 to left-handed hitters and .551 to right-handed hitters.

Inman is finally eligible for minor league free agency.  Unless the Pirates re-sign him, he’ll be done with them after having thrown fewer than 200 innings in seven years.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2015: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $425,000
MiLB Debut: 2009
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2015
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 10, 2009: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round, 355th overall pick; signed on August 14.