Preston Guilmet

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2009
A-:  6-6-0, 4.09 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 70.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.9 K/9

Guilmet made 15 starts in his debut season, putting up solid numbers.  He had a huge platoon split, holding right-handed hitters to an OPS of .598, but getting torched by left-handed hitters at a .943 rate.

2010
A:  4-1-11, 2.25 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 52.0 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 13.7 K/9

The Indians moved Guilmet to the bullpen and he hasn’t started another professional game.  He put up outstanding numbers, but was old for the level.  Despite the impressive numbers, Baseball America did not rank him among the 30 best prospects in the Indians’ system.

2011
A+:  1-1-35, 2.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 9.3 K/9

Guilmet again put up impressive numbers, but spent the whole season in high A.

2012
AA:  2-2-24, 2.39 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 52.2 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Still moving one level a year, Guilmet spent the whole season in AA.  He was eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the season but was not selected.

2013
AAA:  5-4-20, 1.68 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 64.1 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 10.13 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 1.7 K/9

Guilmet continued to put up big numbers in the minors, this time in AAA.  The Indians called him up for one game each in July and August, and he appeared in two more in September.  After the season, the Indians designated him for assignment and then traded him to Baltimore.

2014
AAA:  4-2-10, 3.91 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 48.1 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 5.23 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 10.5 K/9

Guilmet continued to post impressive peripheral numbers in AAA, although his ERA climbed.  The latter probably resulted in part from an increased HR rate, from 0.6 per nine innings previously to 1.1.  He had a reverse platoon split in AAA, allowing a .706 OPS to right-handed hitters and .567 to left-handed hitters.  The Orioles brought him up in mid-May for about three weeks, then for one game in July.  Baltimore designed Guilmet for assignment near the end of the season and the Pirates swung a cash deal for him after the season.

This is another puzzling acquisition by the Pirates.  There aren’t many right-handed relievers who’ve succeeded in the majors without having considerably better stuff than Guilmet.  It wouldn’t be surprising if they were able to sneak him through waivers at some point during the off-season.  Otherwise, he’ll probably compete for a major league bullpen spot in spring training, and he does have an option left.

UPDATE:  The Pirates designated Guilmet for assignment to clear space for Corey Hart.  The Pirates no doubt hope he’ll clear waivers and can serve as bullpen depth in AAA.