Jeffrey Passantino

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2017
R:  2-0-0, 3.10 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 20.1 IP, 0.9 BB/9, 9.7 K/9

Passantino didn’t have an overwhelming debut as a college draftee in rookie ball.  Opponents batted .333 against him, but he walked very few and missed some bats.

2018
A-:  5-0-0, 3.29 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 38.1 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
A:  4-1-0, 3.41 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 34.1 IP, 1.0 BB/9, 9.7 K/9

The Cubs sent Passantino to low A at the beginning of June, then moved him down to short season ball then back up to low A.  He made four starts and four relief appearances at each level.  The results were solid rather than dominant, helped by very low walk rates.  In low A, he had trouble with gopher balls, allowing one every six innings.

2019
A:  2-1-0, 4.24 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 12.7 K/9
A+:  3-1-0, 2.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 36.0 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 8.8 K/9
AA:  1-0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 1.0 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

The Cubs sent Passantino back to low A for the first half of the season and he pitched in relief.  Starting in mid-June, though, he moved around through the other three full-season levels, starting in every appearance but one.  He again didn’t dominate — opponents for the year batted .251 against him. and he had some gopher ball problems in low A, again allowing one every six innings.  He rarely walked anybody, though, and had good K rates.

2020
DNP

The Cubs didn’t add Passantino to their 40-man roster at any point in the pandemic season and the Pirates selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.

2021
AA:  1-8-1, 4.62 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 76.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 8.8 K/9

Except for missing a month in the middle of the season after turning an ankle, Passantino spent the year with Altoona.  He started 15 of his 18 games, effectively serving as an innings-eater.  He was solid for  most of the year, struggling just in August after he returned from the injury; he had a 6.17 ERA that month.  He had some trouble with gopher balls, allowing 13, but five of them came in one forgettable start.  He had a reverse platoon split.

2022
A:  1-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 12.0 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 11.25 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
AA:  2-2-0, 3.92 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Passantino was out at the start of the season with an unknown injury.  He began a rehab in June and returned to Altoona late in the month.  He mostly pitched in relief.  His numbers with the Curve were just decent, but they were inflated by a rough first month.  He had a 3.47 ERA over the final two months.

Passantino won’t be eligible for minor league free agency for another year.