Shane Kemp

SHANE KEMP, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: July 12, 1994
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight: 180
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 26th Round, 787th Overall, 2015
How Acquired: Draft
College: George Washington University
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PLAYER PROFILE

Kemp was a starter and a reliever at George Washington University, putting up a 4.18 ERA in 32.1 innings, with a 20:20 K/BB ratio.  He throws a fastball in the upper-80s, along with a slider and curve.  Kemp has the tall, lean build the Pirates like in RHPs, so they may be hoping he can add velocity.  They announced him as a reliever when they drafted him, and he will most likely serve in that role at the lower levels initially.  As a senior, he figured to sign quickly, and he did so.

2015
R:  0-3-0, 2.12 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 17.0 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 5.3 K/9
R+:  1-0-0, 18.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 7.9 BB/9, 4.5 K/9

The Pirates initially assigned Kemp to Bristol, where he struggled severely in five relief appearances.  They moved him to the GCL after that and he had much more success in five games, three of them starts.  He didn’t miss many bats, though.

2016
R+:  2-1-1, 3.82 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 35.1 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

Kemp pitched out of the Bristol bullpen and showed very good control, but was hittable.  Opponents batted .261 and slugged .451 against him; league averages were .256 and .381.  Gopher balls were a problem, as he allowed better than one every six innings.

2017
A-:  3-2-0, 3.68 ERA,1.36 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

The Pirates sent Kemp to Morgantown when its season opened and he pitched out of the bullpen.  The results were largely along the lines of the previous year, although he did improve his K rate.  Opponents batted 281/341/385 against him in a league where the averages were 240/316/340.

Although Kemp came from a four-year college, it wasn’t one with a major baseball program, so he wouldn’t likely be as advanced as a pitcher from, say, Vanderbilt.  It’s questionable, though, how well his stuff will play as he moves up.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2018: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2015
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2021
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2018
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 10, 2015: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 26th round, 787th overall pick; signed on June 21.