Luis Nova

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

2018
DSL:  1-0-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 11.0 K/9
R:  0-1-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 27.0 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
R+:  0-2-0, 11.25 ERA, 2.13 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 10.1 BB/9, 11.3 K/9

Like some of their older international signees, the Pirates moved Nova up from the DSL.  He appeared in three games there, nine in the GCL, and six at Bristol, all in relief.  In most cases, it was long relief, as many as four and two-third innings.  Nova was effective at the two lower levels, with good walk and K rates, but he had trouble at Bristol, especially with his control.

2019
A:  4-2-0, 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 41.0 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 8.1 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 10.80 ERA, 2.60 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 10.8 K/9

Nova was initially slated to be in the rotation at Bristol.  He filled in for a couple of relief appearances at Bradenton, but when Greensboro needed a starter in early June, the Pirates sent Nova there and he threw six shutout innings.  He ended up making nine starts, then was shut down in late July for unknown reasons.  He was rehabbing by the end of the minor league season.  Nova was very erratic in his time at Greensboro.  He had three starts in which he gave up a total of three runs in 19 innings, but he also had a number of rough outings.  He showed good control, but had a lot of trouble with left-handed batters, who had an .833 OPS against him.

Nova did well in 2019 considering that he was making a big jump.