Hector Noesi

HECTOR NOESI, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: January 26, 1987
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: International Free Agent, 2004 (Yankees)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: ACES

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

Noesi came up as a prospect with the Yankees.  He and Ivan Nova signed the same year and were also added to the 40-man roster at the same time.  Noesi missed much of 2007-08 due to Tommy John surgery, but established himself as a prospect quickly after that.  He’s pitched in 119 major league games, mostly from 2011-15; despite some decent stretches, he’s mostly struggled at the level.  He’s also had some ups and downs in AAA.  When he’s struggled, gopher balls have usually been a problem.  He’s mostly had good control but does not fan many hitters.  Noesi throws a 93-94 mph fastball that he uses a little less than half the time.  He also throws a slider, curve and change, in that order of frequency.  The change and slider appear to be his best pitches.  He’s not a groundball pitcher and he’s had a mild reverse platoon split.

2006
R:  0-0-1, 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 14.1 K/9

Noesi pitched only briefly in the GCL, relieving in five games.

2007
A:  1-1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 5.0 K/9

Noesi started five games in low A, but lost most of the season to Tommy John surgery.

2008
R:  2-1-0, 3.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 8.8 K/9
A-:  1-1-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 24.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 11.6 K/9

Noesi rehabbed from the TJ surgery.

2009
A:  3-4-0, 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 75.2 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
A+:  3-0-0, 3.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 0.9 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Finally healthy, Noesi had a breakout season.  He spent two-thirds of it in low A and then moved up to high A, with most of his appearances as a starter.  He showed very good command of three pitches, with a fastball that sat at 88-92 mph but was thought to project to add velocity.  The Yankees added him to the 40-man roster after the season and Baseball America rated him their 24th best prospect.

2010
A+:  5-2-0, 2.72 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 43.0 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
AA:  8-4-0, 3.10 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 98.2 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 7.8 K/9
AAA:  1-1-0, 4.82 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 18.2 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

The Yankees sent Noesi back to high A, but moved him up to AA after eight starts.  He pitched very well at both levels, with excellent control, although his K rate dropped in AA.  He finished with three AAA starts.  BA rated him seventh in the Yankees’ system after the season.

2011
AAA:  1-1-0, 3.28 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 6.2 K/9
MLB:  2-2-0, 4.47 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 56.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Noesi started the season back in AAA, but the Yankees called him up in mid-May.  He spent most of the rest of the season with them, pitching in relief except for two starts.  He pitched decently in the majors, with opponents batted .286 against him.  After the season, New York sent Noesi to Seattle with Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda.

2012
AAA:  2-6-0, 5.74 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 64.1 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
MLB:  2-12-0, 5.82 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 106.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

Noesi spent the first three months in the Mariners’ rotation and got torched.  He didn’t allow a huge number of baserunners, but gopher balls were a major problem, as he allowed one every five innings.  Opponents slugged .498 against him.  Seattle sent him to AAA for two months, and he didn’t pitch any better there.  He came back to the majors in September and mostly pitched in relief.

2013
AA:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
AAA:  3-3-0, 5.83 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 6.6 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 6.59 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

Noesi started the season in AA, but after two games the Mariners brought him up.  He spent the rest of the season shuttling between the majors and AAA.  He pitched mostly as a starter in AAA and as a reliever in all but one game in the majors.  Noesi struggled at both levels.  Home runs were a problem in AAA and opponents batted .353 against him in the majors.

2014
MLB (Sea):  0-1-0, 27.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
MLB (Tex):  0-0-0, 11.81 ERA, 2.44 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
MLB (CWS):  8-11-0, 4.39 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 166.0 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

Noesi was out of options and started the season with Seattle, but early on the Mariners traded him for cash to Texas.  Ten days later, the Rangers designated him for assignment and the White Sox claimed him.  Noesi spent most of the season in the Chicago rotation and pitched respectably despite more gopher ball problems, as he allowed 27.

2015
AAA:  4-4-0, 3.32 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 65.0 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 7.8 K/9
MLB:  0-4-0, 6.89 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 32.2 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

Noesi started the season in the White Sox’ rotation, but struggled badly and moved to the bullpen.  He continued to struggle and, in June, Chicago outrighted him to AAA.  He pitched well there the rest of the year, mainly as a starter.  After the season he became a free agent and signed with Kia of the Korean Baseball Organization.

2016
KOR:  15-5-0, 3.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 206.2 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

Noesi had a big first season in Korea.  It’s worth noting that the KBO is an extreme, high-offense league; the overall ERA was 5.20 that year.

2017
KOR:  20-5-0, 3.48 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 201.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 6.6 K/9

Noesi had another big year in Korea.

2018
KOR:  11-10-0, 4.60 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 174.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

Noesi’s third season in Korea wasn’t as good as the first two, but it was still solid.  During the off-season, he signed a minor league deal with Miami.

2019
AAA:  11-4-0, 3.82 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 125.0 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 9.6 K/9
MLB:  0-3-0, 8.46 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 27.2 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 7.8 K/9

Noesi spent most of the season in AAA and pitched well in 21 starts, especially considering that the offensive explosion led to a 5.49 ERA in the Pacific Coast League.  The Marlins called him up in early August and he got into a dozen games, including four starts.  He struggled with Miami, including a longball every four innings.  The Marlins designated him for assignment after the season and he became a free agent.

The Pirates gave Noesi a non-roster invitation to spring training.  He’ll most likely serve as AAA depth, possibly as either a starter or reliever.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: $488,000
2014: $512,400
2015: $1,950,000
2019: Minor league salary
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2006
MLB Debut: 5/18/2011
MiLB FA Eligible: 2020
MLB FA Eligible: 2022
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 11/20/09 (since removed)
Options Remaining: 0 (USED: 2010, 2011, 2013)
MLB Service Time: 3.144
TRANSACTIONS
December 3, 2004: Signed as an international free agent with the New York Yankees.
November 20, 2009:
Contract purchased by the New York Yankees.
January 23, 2012: Traded by the New York Yankees with Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for Michael Pineda and Vicente Campos.
April 12, 2014: Traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.
April 22, 2014: Designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers.
April 24, 2014: Claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers by the Chicago White Sox.
June 18, 2015: Designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox; outrighted to AAA on June 25.
October 5, 2015: Became a free agent.
January 22, 2019: Signed by the Miami Marlins as a minor league free agent.
August 6, 2019: Called up by the Miami Marlins.
October 16, 2019: Designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins; refused minor league assignment and became a free agent on October 17.
December 10, 2019: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.