Players You Forgot the Pittsburgh Pirates Drafted: Part 3

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3 Mar 1998: Pitcher Bronson Arroyo #69 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at the Charlotte County Stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Rangers defeated the Pirates 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jonatha
3 Mar 1998: Pitcher Bronson Arroyo #69 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at the Charlotte County Stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Rangers defeated the Pirates 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jonatha /

Bronson Arroyo

Bronson Arroyo was selected by the Pirates in the 3rd round of the 1995 MLB Draft. Arroyo was never a top prospect, but he did post some pretty solid numbers in the minors including in 1996 when he had a 3.51 ERA and 3.59 FIP. He also showed great control when he walked batters at a 5% rate in 1997.

Arroyo did make his debut with the Pirates. In 2000, Arroyo pitched in 20 games, 12 being starts, but surrendered 50 earned runs, 88 hits, 10 home runs, and 36 walks to combat 56 strike outs in 71.2 innings. He also pitched pretty poorly in 2001 (5.09 ERA, 5.22 FIP, 1.51 WHIP) and only logged 27 innings in 2002. Overall, his Pirates tenure ended with a 5.44 ERA, 4.97 FIP, and 1.62 WHIP in 187 innings of work.

He was eventually claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox in 2003, and that is where he would become the durable Major League starter we know today. From 2004 up until his final full season in 2013, Arroyo posted a 4.10 ERA, 4.52 FIP, and 1.29 WHIP. He is best known for his Cincinnati Reds tenure from 2006 to 2013, and a short send off tour in 2017. Although he was an overall a slightly average pitcher with a 105 ERA+, Arroyo failed to reach 200 innings just once between 2005 to 2013. That one year in 2011 when he didn’t reach 200 innings, he missed it by just 1.