Pittsburgh Pirates: Kevin Kramer’s Last Chance With the System

The Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2015 MLB Draft selected college shortstops with two of their first three picks.  One of them is fighting for a job with the Pirates in what is likely his last chance with the organization.

In 2015, the Pittsburgh Pirates took Kevin Newman and Ke’Bryan Hayes with their first two picks in the Major League Baseball Draft.  With their third pick (second round), the club took shortstop Kevin Kramer from UCLA, who hit 297/.393/.406.  Kramer was limited by a shoulder injury in 2014 but came out strong at a .323/.423/.476 clip in 2015.

Kramer started his professional career with a move to second base, where the left-handed bat didn’t need as much range and the arm could play better at the keystone.  He performed well in 2015 in his first taste of pro ball and followed it up with a decent 2016 in High-A.  The downside in his game at the time was the lack of power, but a swing and approach change heading into 2017 changed that.

In Double-A, Kramer hit .297/.380/.500 seeing his ISO jump to .203.  The left-handed second baseman turned into having a better profile, one in which he got on base and hit for power.  While the swing and miss came (strikeout rate jumped from 12 percent to 21 percent), the new found power from the former Bruin was encouraging.  He followed this up with a .311/.365/.492 line in 2018 with Triple-A Indianapolis and appeared to be ready for the Majors.

Unfortunately, Kramer hit just .135/.175/.135 in 40 plate appearances that year for the Pirates and just .260/.335/.417 in Triple-A in 2019.  He again was in the Majors, but hit .167/.260/.190.  With poor showings in Pittsburgh and the down season in 2019, Kramer’s 2020 was an important year for the now utility player.

Unfortunately for him, a hip injury cost him the season and he was outrighted off the 40-man this past offseason and not claimed.  Without having enough minor league service time, the Pirates were able to keep Kramer within the organization and he will likely start the year in Indianapolis.  This is an important opportunity for Kramer, who is projected at .234/.295/.362 by STEAMER to show the Pirates he can be a utility player for the club going forward.  The swing change helped Kramer reach to new heights, he just now needs to remain healthy and to continue to produce.

With the Pittsburgh Pirates firmly rebuilding, they will be giving plenty of opportunities to younger prospects and players.  Kramer at one point was an up and coming prospect who was hitting for power and looked to be the club’s second baseman of the future.  Now, his 2021 season will be a big one in terms of his future with the organization.  This could be his last chance to prove himself to the Pittsburgh Pirates front office that he is still that player from 2017-2018.