Noe Toribio

NOE TORIBIO, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: August 25, 1999
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 194
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2016, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
The Pirates signed Toribio as a potential power arm who’d hit 97 mph, but he’s evolved into a finesse starter.  He sits at 91-92 with his four-seam fastball and throws a mid-80s sinker.  He also threw a curve and change, but in 2022 replaced the change with a splitter.

2017
DSL:  2-2-0, 4.13 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 56.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 7.8 K/9

Toribio spent the season as a starter, which is good at age 17.  He struggled much of the time, with a 4.79 ERA in June and 5.64 in July.  That dropped to 0.56 in four August starts and he fanned 17 in 16 innings, although he continued to have control issues.

2018
R:  3-2-0, 5.68 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 50.2 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 7.6 K/9

Toribio pitched out of the GCL rotation, making a dozen starts.  He pitched reasonably well in June and July, but had a 6.35 ERA in August, with opponents batting .319 against him.

2019
A-:  2-1-1, 2.40 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 30.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
A:  3-2-0, 3.79 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 8.3 K/9

Toribio started the season in the West Virginia bullpen, but ended up starting four of his last five games.  He pitched very well and the Pirates promoted him to Greensboro, where he made seven starts through the end of the season.  He was more erratic at the higher level, but had several outstanding starts, including six no-hit innings in one and seven three-hit innings in his last one.  Between the two levels Toribio held opponents to a .601 OPS.  He had a big platoon split, allowing an .819 OPS to left-handed hitters but holding right-handed hitters to a measly .493.

2020
DNP

Toribio made great progress in 2019 and didn’t turn 20 until a few days before the end of the season.

2021
AA:  2-2-0, 4.32 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 50.0 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Toribio opened the season in the Altoona rotation.  He made eight starts through the first two months, pitching decently until the last three, when he struggled.  He went on the injured list for a month and a half, then made six relief appearances when he returned.  Toribio was much more effective in relief, with a 1.84 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 9.8 K/9.  As a starter he had a 5.35 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 6.1 K/9.  He had a big platoon split, mainly due to left-handed batters hitting for much more power against him.  He allowed a 250/304/457 line to left-handed batters and 228/307/277 to right-handed batters.

2022
AA:  3-1-0, 1.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 39.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
AAA:  5-3-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 6.1 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

The Pirates moved Toribio to the bullpen, where he pitched mainly in outings of anywhere from two to five innings.  He basically had two different seasons, before and after a late-June promotion from Altoona to Indianapolis.  In the before part he was outstanding, with very good numbers in every area.  After, it was just the opposite.  His walk and K rates, in particular, got dramatically worse.  Toribio again had a big platoon split, allowing an .813 OPS to left-handed hitters for the full season.

Toribio will be a free agent after the 2023 season.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2023: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $100,000
MiLB Debut: 2017
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2023
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2020
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
July 2, 2016: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.