Travis MacGregor

TRAVIS MacGREGOR, RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: October 15, 1997
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 185
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 2nd Round, 68th Overall, 2016
How Acquired: Draft
High School: East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs, FL
Agent: N/A

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE
MacGregor is slightly shorter than the RHPs the Pirates generally go for.  He moved up in scouts’ estimation as the season went along, as his fastball got into the low-90s, touching 94.  His change and curve both could become average pitches.  Based on the views of draft commentators, he may have been a significant overdraft.  Baseball America had him rated only 186th among draft prospects and MLB.com didn’t have him in their top 200.  He had a commitment to Clemson, but signed for $48,900 below the slot amount.

2016
R:  1-1-0, 3.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

MacGregor had a solid debut, making nine starts and showing good control.  Eight of the twelve runs he allowed came in two starts.

2017
R+:  1-4-0, 7.84 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

MacGregor had a rough time at Bristol.  Opponents teed off on him for a 339/413/444 line.  The damage came mainly toward the end of the season; his monthly opponents’ OPS was:

June:  .516
July:  .668
August:  1.393

He also had some control issues, but they were mainly in August as well.  In July he walked eight in 23.1 IP.  In August he walked the same number in nine innings.

2018
R:  0-0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
A:  1-4-0, 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 63.2 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 10.5 K/9

Despite his 2017 struggles, the Pirates moved MacGregor up to West Virginia.  He was a very different pitcher, possibly due to the addition of a slider, and his velocity increased to the mid-90s.  His K rate increased by 50% and opponents batted only .237 against him.  The improvement was probably due more to the improved fastball than the slider, which still needs work.  MacGregor had a reverse platoon split, with left-handed hitters posting a .639 OPS and right-handed hitters .724.  He had some injury issues.  He missed over a month starting in mid-May due to a deltoid muscle injury, then missed the last couple months of the season with forearm soreness.  That, unfortunately, led to Tommy John surgery.

2019
INJURED

MacGregor missed the entire season.  If he has a typical recovery period, he’ll be ready to go at the start of 2020 or soon thereafter.
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2020: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $900,000
MiLB Debut: 2016
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2022
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2020
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 9, 2016: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round, 68th overall pick; signed on June 16.