Kenn Kasparek

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
R+:  3-1-0, 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 20.1 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
A-:  2-3-0, 4.55 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 11.4 K/9

Kasparek dominated in his debut in the advanced rookie Appalachian League, but wasn’t as successful after moving up to short season A-ball.

2009
A:  10-6-0, 2.41 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 141.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 8.5 K/9

Kasparek had a strong year in low A, but stayed there all year.

2010
A+:  9-5-0, 4.06 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 146.1 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Kasparek in some ways had a similar year to 2009, as he allowed only slightly more baserunners, but he struck out far fewer and his HRs allowed jumped from five to 21.  Moving not only to the California League, but to the HR haven at High Desert, probably accounted for much of the difference.

2011
R:  0-0-0, 5.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 8.0 K/9
A+:  0-1-0, 4.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 0.8 BB/9, 8.5 K/9
AA:  5-5-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 62.0 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 5.8 K/9 

Kasparek opened in AA, but went out in early May with a sore right elbow.  After rehabbing his way back, he finished with just a so-so season.  At that point he was old for AA at 25.

2012
IND:  1-1-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 4.6 K/9
A+:  0-6-1, 5.05 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 62.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 4.9 K/9

The Mariners released Kasparek in spring training and he eventually pitched two games for independent Fargo-Moorhead.  The Pirates signed him at the end of May.  He pitched out of the bullpen until early August, when he joined the rotation after the Pirates had promoted Tyler Waldron.  He made six starts and had a 5.58 ERA as a starter, 4.55 as a reliever.  He was fairly effective against right-handed batters, who hit .234 against him, but left-handed hitters battered him to the tune of a .404 average, with a high walk rate as well.

2013
AA:  4-2-2, 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 62.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

Kasparek spent the season in the Altoona bullpen and pitched much better than he had the year before at Bradenton.  He actually was much more effective than the ERA indicates, because he made one spot start and allowed six runs in one inning.  His ERA as a reliever was 2.41.  He wasn’t exceptionally hard to hit; his opponents’ average was .263 (but .243 as a reliever) and his K rate, although improved, was still low.  But he didn’t walk many and allowed only three HRs (two in 61.2 IP as a reliever).  Kasparek finished the season strongly, posting an 0.39 ERA in a dozen post-All-Star outings.  Not surprisingly for a sidearm pitcher, he continued to have a large platoon split, with left-handed hitters posting an .811 OPS against him and right-handed hitters just .614.

2014
AA:  1-1-13, 2.25 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 40.0 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 4.8 K/9

The Pirates didn’t assign Kasparek to Altoona until late April.  He got into two games there, then went up to Indianapolis for a brief stint before returning to Altoona for the rest of the year.  He pitched exceptionally well for the Curve and eventually took over their closer role.  Kasparek held opponents to a 236/267/319 line, even including his numbers in AAA.

Kasparek is eligible for minor league free agency now.  The Pirates could prevent that by adding him to the 40-man roster, but there’s no indication that they consider him a prospect.