Cristian Mota

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2014
DSL:  0-0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 10.5 BB/9, 6.0 K/9
R:  0-4-0, 3.10 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 20.1 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

The Pirates used Mota in one-inning stints in the DSL.  He allowed only two hits in six innings, but obviously had control problems.  The team nevertheless moved him up to the GCL, which seldom happens during the season.  He pitched better there, although control continued to be a weakness.

2015
R:  0-4-2, 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 7.1 K/9
R+:  0-0-2, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 0.0 K/9

Mota returned to the GCL and continued pitching in relief.  Hitters batted only .167 against him, although his BB:K ratio was solid rather than good.  The Pirates moved him up to Bristol at the end of the season and he got into two games there, saving both.

2016
A-:  2-1-1, 3.23 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 6.2 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

The Pirates sent Mota to Morgantown to pitch out of the bullpen.  He obviously had a lot of trouble locating the strike zone and walked more than he struck out.  He didn’t pitch nearly as well as his ERA looks, which his FIP of 4.45 shows.  He didn’t get hit hard — opponents batted .248 against him and slugged .333, both roughly league average — but the walks created a lot of baserunners.

Mota is obviously raw despite being old for a Latin American signee and the Pirates have brought him along very slowly.  LHPs with mid-90s fastballs, however, aren’t exactly common.  The Pirates could try him at West Virginia in 2017.  He’ll play the entire season at age 25.