Mike Zagurski

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
A-:  3-4-0, 4.60 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 45.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 8.6 K/9

Zagurski started and relieved in his short season debut.

2006
A:  4-4-1, 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 56.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 12.0 K/9

The Phillies left Zagurski in the low A bullpen all year.  He posted a very high K rate.

2007
A+:  0-0-5, 1.10 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 16.5 K/9
AA:  0-0-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 10.3 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 2.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 6.0 BB/9, 11.0 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 5.91 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 21.1 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 8.9 K/9 

The Phillies called Zagurski up in late May and he spent two months with them.  They brought him back up in mid-August, but after pitching in two games he suffered a severe groin injury and finished the season on the disabled list.  During the time he was in the minors he dominated at three different levels, although the control problems surfaced in AAA.  He wasn’t effective in the majors.

2008
Did not play

Zagurski missed the entire season due to Tommy John surgery.

2009
A+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 3.0 K/9
AA:  3-4-8, 3.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 53.0 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 10.7 K/9  

Zagurski missed a little time at the beginning of the season as he was recovering from the elbow surgery, then he spent most of the year in AA.  He pitched reasonably well there, striking out a lot of batters but struggling with his control.

2010
AAA:  2-3-3, 3.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 52.1 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 12.2 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 10.29 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 6.4 BB/9, 14.1 K/9

Zagurski spent most of the season in AAA.  Opponents hit only .228 against him and he had a very high K rate, but he continued to struggle with his control.  The Phillies called him up briefly in late June and again at the end of the season.

2011
AAA:  4-0-11, 2.65 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 54.1 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 10.4 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 5.40 ERA, 2.10 WHIP, 3.1 IP, 8.1 BB/9, 10.8 K/9

Other than two very brief callups, Zagurski spent the season at AAA.  He pitched a little better there but still walked a lot.  The Phillies traded him to Arizona near the end of the season, but he never appeared for the Diamondbacks.

2012
AAA:  0-0-0, 2.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.0 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 5.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 8.2 K/9

Zagurski spent most of the season with the D’backs.  They outrighted him to AAA twice, but both times called him back up a short time later.  His main problem continued to be his control.  He struggled against left-handed hitters, who batted .298 against him.

Despite the high K rates, Zagurski hasn’t given much indication that he can be effective at the major league level.  He hasn’t dominated left-handed hitters and right-handed hitters have hammered him.  If he starts throwing more strikes he might be useful as a lefty specialist, but Clint Hurdle has shown in the past that he won’t use veteran lefty relievers as LOOGYs.  Instead, he insisted on using Joe Beimel and Doug Slaten as one-inning pitchers.  It’s unlikely that Hurdle would use Zagurski effectively.  In spring training, Zagurski pitched very well until about halfway through March, after which he pitched very badly.  He’ll open the season in Indianapolis.

UPDATE:  Zagurski dominated even more than usual in AAA.  He was entitled to declare free agency if he wasn’t added to the major league roster by June 1, so the Pirates added him in late May.  He made six appearances and couldn’t get anybody out.  The Pirates designated him for assignment to make room for Brandon Cumpton.  It’s hard to imagine anybody claiming him, but if he clears waivers he could declare free agency.