Jeremy Hefner

JEREMY HEFNER
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: March 11, 1986
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 5th Round, 2007 Draft, 177th Overall (Padres)
How Acquired: Claimed off waivers
College: Oral Roberts University
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
Hefner was drafted twice by the Mets, once as a high school senior and again the next year after a season in junior college.  He went undrafted in 2006, then had a strong season at Oral Roberts, enough to go in the 5th round to San Diego.  He was helped by an increase in fastball velocity from the upper 80s to 89-94.  He also threw a slider, curve and change.  As a pro, he’s thrown sometimes in the upper 80s and sometimes 90-91.  His curve was considered a good pitch at one point, but more recently he’s been regarded as a pitcher with no out pitch who needs to locate well.  The Pirates claimed Hefner when the Padres put him on waivers.

2007
A-:  2-5-0, 3.90 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 62.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 10.7 K/9

Pitched well in his debut, with very good walk and K rates.

2008
A:  10-5-0, 3.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 140.1 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 10.8 K/9

Hefner pitched well again in full season ball.  It’s surprising, though, that the Padres would leave a college draftee in low A all year, except for one start, when he wasn’t struggling at all.

2009
A+:  14-9-0, 4.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 150.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 8.5 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

Hefner again spent a full year, except for one game, in class A.  His numbers weren’t as good, but he was pitching in the extreme hitting environment of the California League.  His walk and K rates remained good.

2010
AA:  11-8-0, 2.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 167.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Hefner got good results in AA, but his K rate dropped substantially, which was a good indication that his stuff is nothing exceptional.

2011
AAA:  9-7-0, 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 157.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

Hefner struggled in AAA, getting hit much harder than previously and still posting a low K rate.  He had gopher ball problems for the first time, allowing 21.  Some of the problem was probably the Pacific Coast League.

Hefner looks more like AAA depth than an actual prospect.  Not surprisingly, the Pirates designated him for assignment just three weeks after they claimed him, to clear roster space after acquiring Yamaico Navarro and Gustavo Nunez.  If he’s still with the organization, he’ll probably be in the Indianapolis rotation to open 2012.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $129,000
MiLB Debut: 2007
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2014
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 11/19/2010
Options Remaining: 2 (USED:  2011)
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2004: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 46th round, 1359th overall pick.
June 7, 2005: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 48th round, 1429th overall pick.
June 7, 2007: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 5th round, 177th overall pick; signed on June 25.
November 19, 2010: Contract purchased by the San Diego Padres.
November 18, 2011: Claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
December 9, 2011: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.