Yacksel Rios

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2011
R:  0-1-0, 8.74 ERA, 2.47 WHIP, 11.1 IP, 11.1 BB/9, 7.9 K/9

Rios relieved in ten games after signing and had a rough time, with significant control problems.

2012
A-:  2-2-0, 6.60 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 30.0 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

The Phillies sent Rios back to the Gulf Coast League, where he appeared in 13 games, four starts.  He made great strides with his control, but got hit hard and didn’t miss many bats.

2013
A-:  5-3-0, 3.59 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 52.2 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 6.7 K/9

Rios moved up to the New York-Penn League, where he pitched mostly as a starter.  He got solid results, with a low K rate.

2014
A:  6-2-1, 3.69 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 102.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Moving up to full season ball, Rios began the season as a reliever, pitching in relief 20 times, but made his last 13 appearances as a starter.  His overall results were nearly identical to the previous year.  He pitched a good deal better as a reliever, with a 3.08 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, as opposed to 4.06 and 1.51 as a starter.

2015
A+:  6-5-1, 2.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 88.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Rios put up improved numbers, although that probably had at least partially to do with the pitching-dominated Florida State League.  He continued to divide his time between starting and relieving.

2016
R:  0-0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
A+:  4-3-1, 6.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.4 K/9
AA:  1-1-0, 4.58 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 7.1 BB/9, 10.7 K/9

The Phillies sent Rios to AA to open the season, but a high walk rate and opponents batting .294 against him, the Phillies sent him to high A.  He got hammered severely as a starter, but pitched better when he moved back to relief.

2017
AA:  1-2-2, 1.89 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 38.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
AAA:  0-1-1, 1.96 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

The Phillies moved Rios to the bullpen, except for one start, and he had his best season.  He dominated at the AA and AAA levels, with a much higher K rate.  The Phillies added him to the roster and called him up in late August, and he pitched decently the rest of the season.

2018
AAA:  0-0-1, 3.97 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 22.2 IP, 6.8 BB/9, 10.3 K/9
MLB:  3-2-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 36.0 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Rios spent the season shuttling back and forth between AAA and the majors.  He wasn’t effective at either location, although he maintained a good K rate.

2019
AAA (Phi):  1-3-7, 7.41 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 5.8 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
AAA:  0-0-1, 2.35 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 15.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
MLB (Phi):  0-0-0, 13.50 ERA, 3.38 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 10.1 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 5.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Rios spent most of the season’s first four months in AAA pitching very badly.  He made a few dismal appearances for the Phillies, who finally designated him for assignment at the trade deadline.  The Pirates claimed him on waivers and sent him to Indianapolis.  Despite the ERA, he didn’t pitch especially well there, but the Pirates called him up in September.  He didn’t pitch well in the majors, either, with opponents batting 263/370/474 against him.  He continued to struggle badly against left-handed batters, allowing them a 1.332 OPS between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

There’s nothing at all in Rios’ history that suggests he can be a useful pitcher at the major league level, but the Pirates’ inability to develop pitching left them claiming other teams’ rejects.  Rios has an option left, but the Pirates outrighted him when they established their roster for the shortened 2020 season.

UPDATE:  When Michael Feliz went out for the season, the Pirates added Rios back to the roster.