Brian Sousa

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2015
DSL:  0-2-0, 3.31 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 4.4 K/9

Sousa was plagued by shoulder problems in his debut season.  He pitched in only five games, four starts, and hurt his shoulder in two of them.  The Pirates shut him down for good in early July.  The ERA is obviously misleading, as he walked more than he struck out and nine of the 15 runs he allowed were unearned.

2016
R:  1-4-1, 4.11 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 35.0 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

Despite the health issues in 2015, the Pirates brought Sousa to camp.  He started four games in the GCL and relieved in seven.  He pitched well initially, but control problems eventually weighed him down.  The ERA is a little misleading because he allowed ten unearned runs.

2017
R:  5-0-0, 3.66 ERA,1.63 WHIP, 39.1 IP, 6.2 BB/9, 5.9 K/9
R+:  0-0-0, 37.80 ERA, 6.00 WHIP, 1.2 IP, 10.8 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

The Pirates started Sousa off at Bristol, but after two disastrous outings they moved him back to the GCL.  He struggled with his control there, although he at least was good at vulturing wins.  He pitched well at times, but had a number of control meltdowns.  That led to an opponents’ OBP of .408 on the season.

Sousa has ability but at this point is very erratic.  The Pirates will probably try moving him up in 2018.