Patrick Kivlehan

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2012
A-:  301/373/511, 282 AB, 17 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 19 BB, 93 K, 14-15 SB

Kivlehan hit very well in the Northwest League, albeit with a very high K rate.  He played exclusively at third.  Baseball America rated him the #10 prospect in the league and #18 in the Mariners’ system.

2013
A:  283/344/386, 223 AB, 12 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 17 BB, 42 K, 5-8 SB
A+:  320/384/530, 266 AB, 13 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 26 BB, 65 K, 10-13 SB

Seattle sent Kivlehan to low A and he didn’t hit much there.  He got hot, though, after a June promotion, but some of that undoubtedly was the hitting-happy California League.  His K rate declined to a more reasonable level.  He again played third exclusively, but had some trouble with errors.  BA rated him seventh in that league and 12th in the Seattle system.

2014
A+:  282/331/563, 142 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 12 BB, 32 K, 2-2 SB
AA:  300/374/485, 377 AB, 23 2B, 7 3B, 11 HR, 44 BB, 78 K, 9-13 SB

Kivlehan opened the season back in the California League, but the Mariners moved him up to AA in May.  He continued to hit well at both levels, including improved walk and K rates.  He split his time between first and third in the Cal League, then played first, third and the outfield — mostly third — in AA.  BA ranked him the Mariners’ fourth best prospect.

2015
AAA:  256/313/453, 472 AB, 25 2B, 1 3B, 22 HR, 36 BB, 113 K, 14-17 SB

Kivlehan spent the season in AAA and his hitting tailed off.  He still showed good power, but became much less patient.  He played first, third and all three outfield positions.  One negative was that he played the season at age 25.  Seattle added him to the 40-man roster after the season, but traded him a short time later to Texas.  BA rated him 25th in the Texas system after the trade.

2016
AAA (Tex):  184/252/262, 141 AB, 8 2B, 1 HR, 11 BB, 36 K, 2-4 SB
AAA (Sea):  293/327/522, 157 AB, 8 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 8 BB, 49 K, 2-4 SB
AAA (SD):  306/351/486, 72 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 BB, 23 K, 1-1 SB
MLB (SD):  250/368/438, 16 AB, 1 HR, 2 BB, 9 K
MLB (Cinn):  000/000/000, 5 AB, 2 K

Kivlehan had an eventful season.  He got off to a terrible start in AAA and the Rangers designated him for assignment in May, then traded him back to Seattle.  His hitting recovered in AAA with the Mariners, but with bad walk and K rates.  Seattle removed him from the 40-man roster in August and the Padres claimed him off waivers.  He hit well in AAA for San Diego and saw a little time in the majors, but the Padres removed him from the roster near the end of the season and the Reds claimed him off waivers.  He got into a little action with the Reds, but they outrighted him after the season.  Overall, he had a sharply increased K rate and seldom walked.  He played third, first and the outfield, in descending order of frequency.

2017
MLB:  208/304/399, 178 AB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 22 BB, 61 K, 1-3 SB

The Reds called Kivlehan up at the beginning of the season and he spent the year with them.  He played mostly in the outfield, including a few games in center, but also played a little at first and third.  He showed some power and walked at a solid rate, but had trouble making contact.  The Reds outrighted him after the season.  He declared free agency, but re-signed with Cincinnati on a minor league deal.

2018
AAA (Cinn):  167/255/167, 42 AB, 2 BB, 15 K, 1-1 SB
AAA (NYM):  314/372/588, 354 AB, 29 2B, 4 3B, 20 HR, 32 BB, 99 K, 5-8 SB
MLB (Ari):  231/286/538, 13 AB, 2 3B, 6 K

The Reds sent Kivlehan to AAA, but he struggled there and they released him in May.  He signed a minor league deal with the Mets and spent most of the season in AAA.  He hit for a lot of power there, although it probably helped that he was playing in a strong hitters environment at Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast League.  The Mets traded him to Arizona in September and the D’backs called him up.  He got a little playing time with them, but was outrighted after the season.

Kivlehan got a chance to compete for a major league spot in spring training, but Melky Cabrera’s signing effectively squashed that.  Still, Lonnie Chisenhall has an extensive injury history, so opportunities might occur.  The fact that Kivlehan can play first and third could also help him.  He has some power, which the Pirates lack, but given his strike zone issues it’s questionable how much potential he has.