Jandel Gustave

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2010
DSL:  0-5-0, 8.20 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 11.3 BB/9, 9.2 K/9

Gustave pitched both as a starter and reliever in his pro debut.  Obviously, he had a lot of trouble throwing strikes.

2011
DSL:  0-4-0, 12.10 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 15.8 BB/9, 8.8 K/9

Back in the DSL, Gustave’s control problems got even worse.

2012
R:  2-1-0, 5.79 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 28.0 IP, 8.7 BB/9, 7.1 K/9

The Astros moved Gustave up to rookie ball and he started to get a bit of a handle on his control issues.

2013
R+:  2-3-0, 2.68 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 43.2 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 10.1 K/9

Gustave made significant progress in advanced rookie ball, including a strong K rate.  Baseball America rated him the 27th best prospect in the Astros’ system after the season.

2014
A:  5-5-2, 5.01 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 79.0 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 9.3 K/9

In full season ball, Gustave had a rougher time.  His control continued to improve, but he got hit harder than before, with opponents batting .289 against him.  He made 14 starts and nine relief appearances, and pitched far better in relief.  After the season, the Astros did not add him to their 40-man roster.  Boston selected him in the Rule 5 draft and immediately sent him to Kansas City for cash.  BA ranked him 30th in the Royals’ system.

2015
AA:  5-2-20, 2.15 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 7.5 K/9

In spring training, the Royals put Gustave on waivers and the Padres claimed him.  He didn’t make the Padres’ roster, though, and he was returned to the Astros.  Houston moved him full time to relief and he pitched effectively, although with a lower K rate.  BA rated him 18th in the Houston system after the season and the Astros added him to their 40-man roster.

2016
AAA:  3-3-3, 3.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 57.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 8.7 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 3.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 15.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

The Astros sent Gustave to AAA, where he had a solid season.  They called him up in mid-August and he made three appearances, went back to AAA, then returned for September.  He was actually more effective in the majors, with very good walk an K rates.  BA again rated him 18th in the system after the season.

2017
MLB:  0-0-0, 5.40 ERA, 2.40 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 12.6 BB/9, 3.6 K/9

Gustave opened the season with Houston, but after six rough outings he went out with elbow problems.  He ended up having Tommy John surgery.  BA still rated him 28th in the system.

2018
INJURED

Gustave missed the season following the surgery.  The Astros outrighted him after the season and he refused assignment, becoming a free agent.  He signed a minor league deal with San Francisco.

2019
A+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 12.0 K/9
AAA:  2-2-7, 6.15 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 8.5 K/9
MLB:  0-0-1, 2.96 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 24.1 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Gustave returned in May and eventually worked his way back to the majors.  The Giants called him up in July and he pitched reasonably well, although with a low K rate.

At the start of the truncated 2020 season, the Giants outrighted Gustave to their training facility.  He refused assignment and the Pirates signed him to a minor league deal that runs through 2021.