Tyler Samaniego

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2021
A:  1-0-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 19.3 K/9

The Pirates sent Samaniego to Bradenton late in the season and he had an impressive debut.  In five relief appearances, he fanned over half the batters he faced.  He also threw three scoreless innings in the Marauders’ three-game playoff sweep.

2022
A+:  1-1-4, 0.53 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 17.0 IP, 5.8 BB/9, 12.7 K/9
AA:  3-3-10, 3.52 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Samaniego started the season at Greensboro and was almost literally unhittable.  He gave up only three hits in 17 innings, although he did walk a lot of hitters.  After 14 games, the Pirates moved him up to Altoona.  His overall numbers were less impressive, but most of the damage he incurred came in two of his 24 games.  He allowed nine earned runs in just two and a third innings in those games.  In the other 22, his ERA was 0.95.  His WHIP in AA was actually lower than in high A, despite his ERA being nearly seven times higher.  His walk and K rates at the higher level were roughly half what they were at the lower level.  The statistical puzzle didn’t end there.  Samaniego had extremely low, unsustainable BABIPs, .094 at Greensboro and .160 at Altoona.  His strand rate, which was 80% in high A, was a very low 54.1% at Altoona, accounting for the much higher ERA.

There are some eccentricities in Samaniego’s stats so far, but the bottom line is that he’s been very effective.  He could become an option for the Pirates at some point in 2023.