Rule 5 Draft Prospect Profile: Matt Eckelman
A big late-game pitcher is so important for a team to be successful. If you have a guy who can come in at the end of a game and shut things down, it makes the game that much shorter for your opponent. Over the last two seasons, Pirates prospect Matt Eckelman has been developing into that late-game option for the Pirates. He appeared mostly as the closer for Indianapolis last season appearing in 45 games, one start, for the Indians. However, Eckelman is a guy who has filled almost every role you can as a pitcher in his professional career. He has been a starter, a long reliever, a middle reliever, a set-up man, and a closer throughout his five years in the Pirates organization.
However, he has seemed to have found a home in the back of the bullpen over the last couple of seasons, serving as a closer for both Double-A Altoona and Advanced-A Bradenton. He just recently reached Triple-A and struggled over his first three appearances. He would have gotten a chance to redeem himself had there been a Minor League season in 2020, but instead, he will have to focus on getting better in 2021. As of right now, Eckelman doesn't fit into the Pirates 2021 bullpen plans, but Been Cherrington and his team have to decide if he is an enticing enough pitcher to protect on the 40-man roster.
From Starter to Closer
When Matt Eckelman was drafted out of St. Louis in the 21st round of the 2016 MLB Draft it was as a starting pitcher. Even though he had been a bullpen pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA his first three years of college, Eckelman turned himself into a starting pitching prospect for teams to watch. He posted an 8-4 record and a 3.12 ERA in 15 starts during his senior year while walking 29 and striking out 81 over 101 innings of work. Being that he only had been a starter for one season, the Pirates decided to sense him down to Bristol where he could get more experience in that role.
He posted solid numbers during his first professional season, going 5-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 11 starts, but the Pirates saw more potential in him as a reliever. They came up to him in the off-season and asked if he would move to the bullpen and he gladly accepted. Standing at 6-3, 280 pounds, Eckelman is a tantalizing figure out of the bullpen and used his size to his advantage. He became the closer for the West Virginia Power and struggled initially going 5-6 with a 4.63 ERA over 72 innings of work. He picked up just one save but wasn't finding his full potential as he allowed 72 hits and struck out 63 batters. That is when Eckelman was able to hook up with former Pirates closer and current Minor League pitching coach Joel Hanrahan.
Hanrahan helped Eckleman find himself as a reliever as he increased his velocity and used his big frame to his advantage. The results showed his hard work as he went 5-1 with a 2.05 ERA over Advanced-A and Double-A ball. He struck out 44 batters in 47.1 innings of work and lowered his walk rate to 11.1% while picking up 17 saves. He was named a Florida State League All-Star that season for his first-half success and continued that into Double-A. As 2019 rolled around, Eckelman became the full-time closer at Altoona but went 1-5 with a 3.33 ERA. Walks killed him throughout the season as he walked 25 batters in 48.2 innings of work, but his strikeout numbers were still high at 21.5%.
Even with the struggles, he was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis for the final three games of the season and struggled with a 15.43 ERA in 2.1 innings of work. He allowed 10 hits during that time frame but he didn't end up walking a batter. He struck out two and still had good velocity on his pitches and he was working on his control. Had 2020 seen a Minor League season, Eckelman would have more than likely been in the back-end of the Indianapolis bullpen and could have worked on developing more. Instead, he will take on that roll in 2021 and, if he is not taken, we could see him at the Major League level sometime this season.
Struggles Might Save Eckelman
When you look at Matt Eckelman's stats on paper nothing jumps out at you. He has a good fastball in the mid-90s, but his control is the thing that has killed him throughout his professional career. I do not think the Pirates need to move Eckelman to the 40-man roster, because he is not a top-end pitching prospect. Eckelman could develop into a strong pitching prospect, but he still has some polishing to do before he can make it to the show. His size is probably his biggest asset as he is an imposing figure on the mound and can use that intimidation to enhance his mid-90s fastball.
The Pirates bullpen of the future is looking like it will shape up well. Eckelman, Blake Cederlind, Nick Burdi, and Max Kranick are all young and blooming late-inning relievers that can shorten a game. Defense and pitching have been a focus of the Pirates over the last year, with two people being nominated for Gold Glove the defense is getting better and the pitching is beginning to develop. For the Pirates, they can sit back and hope that Eckelman does not get taken in the Rule 5 Draft and keep him on the path to being a Major League late-inning reliever.
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