Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Clay Holmes
Level(s): high-A Bradenton, AAA Indianapolis, MLB Pittsburgh Pirates
Stats: Minors: 8-3, 23 G, 17 GS, 101 1/3 IP, 3.29 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 40/108 BB/K; Majors: 1-3, 11 G, 4 GS, 26 1/3 IP, 6.84 ERA, 2.01 WHIP, 23/21 BB/K
A big high school righty drafted in the 9th round in 2011, Clay Holmes lost the entire 2014 and much of the 2015 season to Tommy John surgery but has been making his way progressively up the system ever since his drafting.
In 2018, Holmes had some injury issues in the season, but when he was healthy on the mound in the minors, he was very good, striking out over a batter per inning in AAA. His time in the majors was not as pleasant due to significant issues with his command, but he should get another chance in 2019, whether that’s in the rotation or the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen.
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Runners-up
A 6th round pick out of Akron in 2015, JT Brubaker had a big season in 2018 across AA and AAA, tossing 154 innings and posting a 2.81 combined ERA along with a 1.26 WHIP, and 44/131 BB/K ratio.
Drafted out of Duke University in the 36th round in 2015, James Marvel has ascended the Pirates system like a superhero. In 2018, he actually pitched better after a late-season promotion to AA from high-A. In total, he tossed 167 1/3 innings, posting a 3.55 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 40/122 BB/K ratio.
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 6th round of the 2016 draft out of Michigan State, big lefty Cam Vieaux made it up to AA in 2018 through excellent work on the mound. Overall, he pitched 144 1/3 innings, with a 3.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 35/124 BB/K ratio.
The Pittsburgh Pirates finished with a solid 2018 season at the big league level, and they were able to see a few solid performances at the minor league level as well.