Trevor Williams Should Be In The Pirate Rotation

On Tuesday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams to the Major Leagues. Clint Hurdle has said that Trevor Williams will begin his career in the bullpen. However, I believe this is the wrong place for Williams.

Throughout the 2016 season the Pirates’ have had exceptional starting pitching at Triple-A. A lot of this pitching has also contributed to the Major League team this seasons. Starting pitchers such as Chad Kuhl, Jameson Taillon, Steven Brault, and Tyler Glasnow have already contributed to the 2016 Pirates.

One starting pitcher from Triple-A that has not debuted yet is right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams. However, this could change soon. This is because Williams was promoted to the Major Leagues on Tuesday afternoon.

This is the first time in Williams’ four year professional career he has been on a Major League roster. Despite great success as a starting pitcher this season Clint Hurdle has said Williams will start his Major League career in the bullpen. Personally, I would like to see Trevor Williams making starts.

This past October the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Trevor Williams from the Miami Marlins. At first the trade made little sense. This was due to the Pirates giving up Minor League filler Richard Mitchell for Williams, who was one of Miami’s top five prospects. 

More from Rum Bunter

• Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Stockwatch: Outfielder Tres Gonzalez
• Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast: Rum Bunter Radio Talks Winter Meetings Fallout
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Leadoff Hitters in 2023
• Pittsburgh Pirates: The Rotation is not being Improved
• Pittsburgh Pirates Make Vince Velasquez Signing Official

However, in early November this trade would make much more sense. That is due to it being revealed that Trevor Williams was part of the compensation for the Pirates losing pitching guru Jim Benedict to the Marlins. This made the trade seem a lot more even.

At Triple-A this season Trevor Williams pitched 110 1/3 innings. In those 110 1/3 innings pitched Williams averaged 6.04 K/9, 2.45 BB/9, 0.41 HR/9, and he owned a WHIP of 1.21. Williams held opposing hitters to a .242 batting average, while posting a 2.53 ERA and a 3.34 FIP.

Trevor Williams has a very good arm and an easy delivery. He throws a fastball that sits in the 91-94 miles per hour range, and he also features a plus slider. Williams throws a good curve ball, too.

Next: Pirates Continue Slide, Lose Eighth Straight

Moving forward, I would like to see Trevor Williams make some starts for the Pirates this September. At 67-69, five and a half games back in the Wild Card race, the Pirates’ postseason hopes are all but dead. So, they might as well see what the young guys can do.

I would rather see Trevor Williams making starts than both Steven Brault and Ryan Vogelsong. Vogelsong is not a part of the Pirates’ long term plans, and is starting to come back down to earth. Brault has shown some good things as a starting pitcher but, in my opinion, is best suited for the bullpen.

In my opinion, Trevor Williams can be part of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2017 starting rotation. Right now Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, and Chad Kuhl are locks to be part of that 2017 rotation. The other two spots are up for grabs, and I would like to see Williams be given a chance to grab one of those spots.