Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 140 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 07/14/2002
Country: Venezuela
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2018
Bonus: N/A
40-Man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates signed Jimenez shortly after the 2018-19 signing period began. They had to wait a couple weeks until he turned 16. Jimenez has very good stuff with a chance for three above-average pitches. He throws a fastball that averages 94-95 mph with good movement, along with a curve and change. The change is his best pitch and he throws it often to both left- and right-handed batters. The curve is also potentially a plus pitch. Jimenez’ command needs to improve as he can get in trouble with walks. He’s also lost time due to injuries.
2019-20
Jimenez made ten starts in the DSL in his debut and, considering that he only turned 17 during the season, put up remarkable numbers. That included a 2.54 ERA and 10.4 K/9. He missed about a month between early July and early August. He was healthy enough for fall instructional league in 2019, but then there was no season in 2020.
2021-22
Jimenez pitched mostly as a starter in the FCL and had a good year. He had a few bad outings at the beginning and end of the season, but often dominated, as shown by his K/9 of 11.5. He held right-handed hitters to a .541 OPS while left-handed hitters still only managed .660. In 2022, pitching mostly in the Bradenton rotation, Jimenez continued to display some of the best stuff in the system. Control was a problem, leading to a BB/9 of 5.8, and he seemed to run out of steam after mid-season. His ERA was 3.05 through the end of June, 5.72 after that. Left-handed batters continued to be more of a problem, posting a .798 OPS against him.
2023-24
The 2023 season was a recovery year for Jimenez. He was originally expected to go to Greensboro, but he wasn’t assigned anywhere and was placed on the injured list in early June. He finally surfaced in the FCL at the end of July, then pitched twice for Bradenton in September. His stuff seemed as good as ever, but he had trouble throwing strikes. In 13 innings total, he allowed only five hits and fanned 21, but he walked 15.
Jimenez went back to Bradenton for a third season in 2024. He started off in the rotation, but in his first four starts he walked 13 and lasted only 9.2 IP. After that he pitched more often in long relief and continued to struggle badly with his control, although at times he seemed to find the plate. He also continued to miss bats. With the Marauders he allowed only 47 hits and fanned 88 in 71 innings, but he walked 66. He did improve over the course of the season. In fact, his monthly opponents’ OPS from June through August (including one August game for Greensboro) was .655, .589 and .486. Possibly due to his change, he had a significant reverse platoon split. Jimenez made three late-season appearances for Greensboro that went reasonably well.
Stats
Transactions
July 16, 2018: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.