Kleiner Machado

KLEINER MACHADO, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: March 8, 1999
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 169
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2015, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
The Pirates signed Machado at the beginning of the 2015 signing period for a relatively small bonus.  His size probably dictates that he’ll stay in the bullpen, which he has so far.  His fastball sits at 91-92 and he also throws a slider and a big-breaking curve.

2016
DSL:  2-2-0, 4.24 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 6.4 BB/9, 3.7 K/9

Machado got decent results in his debut, although with very bad walk and K rates.

2017
DSL:  2-2-3, 3.12 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 34.2 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

The Pirates sent Machado back to the DSL and he got better results, with much better walk and K rates.  The ERA is probably a bit misleading because over half the runs he allowed were unearned.

2018
R:  3-3-1, 3.52 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 23.0 IP, 5.9 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Pitching out of the bullpen in the GCL, Machado had a rougher time than his ERA indicates.  Half the runs he allowed were unearned and he walked as many as he struck out.  A lot of the damage came in two of his 12 games, in which he allowed a dozen of his 18 runs and six of his nine earned runs.

Machado has good stuff but needs to improve his command.  He could get to Bristol in 2019.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2019: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $90,000
MiLB Debut: 2016
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2022
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2020
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
July 2, 2015: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.