Daniel Schlereth

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
R+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 6.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
A:  1-0-0, 2.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 14.0 K/9

Schlereth pitched only briefly in his debut, but obviously showed the ability to miss bats.

2009
AA:  0-0-4, 1.01 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 13.2 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
MLB:  1-4-0, 5.89 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 7.4 BB/9, 10.8 K/9

The Diamondbacks sent Schlereth to AA and he dominated there, with a very high K rate but also a high walk rate.  Arizona called him up at the end of May and he bounced back and forth between AA, AAA and the majors over the rest of the season.  He also missed over a month with a broken rib.  During his time in the majors he missed a lot of bats, but his control wasn’t adequate.  After the season, the D’backs sent him to Detroit in a major, three-team trade.

2010
AAA:  1-3-0, 2.37 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 49.1 IP, 6.2 BB/9, 10.9 K/9
MLB:  2-0-1, 2.89 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 18.2 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 9.2 K/9

The Tigers optioned Schlereth to AAA to start the season.  He continued to be difficult to hit there, but also continued to walk too many.  Detroit called him up briefly in July and then for good in mid-August.  He pitched better in the majors, but not as well as his ERA suggests.

2011
AAA:  1-0-0, 0.77 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 13.9 K/9
MLB:  2-2-0, 3.49 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 49.0 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 8.1 K/9

Schlereth spent most of the season with the Tigers, holding hitters to a .209, but continuing to walk too many and seeing his K rate drop.

2012
A+:  0-0-0, 1.12 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 7.9 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 10.80 ERA, 4.20 WHIP, 1.2 IP, 21.6 BB/9, 10.8 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 10.29 ERA, 2.71 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 6.4 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Schlereth opened the season in the majors, but struggled badly.  The Tigers optioned him to AAA in late April, but he couldn’t throw strikes at all and was shut down a few weeks later with left shoulder tendonitis.  He returned to make eight rehab appearances, but didn’t pitch any more above high A.  After the season the Tigers took the surprising step of non-tendering him, seemingly indicating that they had little faith in him recovering.  He signed a minor league deal with the Orioles.

2013
AAA:  2-0-0, 0.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 6.5 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

Schlereth seeming pitched well early in the season, but the walk and K rates indicate something wasn’t right.  He went on the disabled list in early May and didn’t return except for two outings near the end of the season.

Schlereth seems like a good project for the Pirates to undertake.  Hopefully, he’ll be healthy and regain his stuff.  Of course, he’ll also have to address his control issues.  Given the problems he has to address, it’s very hard to see him reaching the majors without showing in the minors that he’s made considerable progress.