Kent Emanuel

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

2013
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 8.0 K/9

In rookie ball, Emanuel made four starts, all brief ones.  Baseball America ranked him 24th in the Astros’ system after the season.

2014
A:  0-2-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
A+:  9-5-2, 4.59 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 102.0 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.7 K/9

Emanuel pitched briefly in low A, then moved up to the California League.  His ERA there was almost exactly league average, but he improved as the season went along; his ERA in August and September was 3.47.  BA ranked him 26th in the system.

2015
AA:  1-1-0, 3.68 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 14.2 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 3.1 K/9

Emanuel’s move to AA never got going, as an elbow injury resulted in Tommy John surgery in June.

2016
AA:  6-4-1, 5.23 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 82.2 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

Emanual returned in late May and pitched well initially.  He ran into a very bad stretch in July and August, though, posting an ERA of 6.89.

2017
AA:  5-5-0, 4.60 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 74.1 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 7.6 K/9
AAA:  1-2-1, 7.71 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, 42.0 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 6.0 K/9

The Astros sent Emanuel back to AA to open the season and he stayed there until mid-July.  He was very hittable, with opponents batting .318 against him.  He moved up to AAA for eight starts and one relief appearance, and he got hammered there.

2018
AAA:  5-4-1, 5.59 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 83.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 9.3 K/9

The Astros employed Emanuel as a swing man in AAA; he made 31 appearances, ten of them starts.  He continued to get hit around, with opponents batting 308/355/455 against him.

2019
AAA:  8-2-1, 3.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 101.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

Emanuel spent another season in AAA, again serving as a swing man.  He made seven starts and 21 relief appearances, and pitched considerably better than the year before.  He was much more effective as a starter, with opponents putting up a .558 OPS against him, as opposed to .770 in relief.  Houston added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

2020
DNP

Emanuel never appeared during the pandemic season as he was suspended in August for 80 games, later reduced to 60, for violation of MLB’s drug policy.

2021
MLB:  1-0-0, 2.55 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 6.6 K/9

Houston activated Emanuel from the restricted list in late April and brought him to the majors.  He started his first game and got within one out of a complete game, allowing just two runs.  After that he pitched strictly in relief, but he suffered an elbow injury in late May.  He had UCL surgery but did not have another Tommy John procedure.  The Phillies claimed him off waivers from the Astros after the season.

2022
A:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AA:  0-1-0, 13.50 ERA, 3.38 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
AAA:  2-2-0, 2.37 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 49.1 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 8.0 K/9

Emanuel missed the first half of the season with a left elbow impingement, then the last several weeks with a shoulder strain.  When he was able to pitch, he mostly did so in AAA and did well.  The Phillies outrighted him after the season and he opted for free agency.

It’s not clear whether the Pirates see Emanuel as a potential reliever or as starting depth, or both.  He’ll turn 31 in mid-season 2023.