Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 220 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 10/24/1997
College: Randolph-Macon College
How Acquired: Draft 16th Round, 474th Overall, 2018
Bonus: $125,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 2
Overview
Selby was a three-year starter at Randolph-Macon College who piled up strikeouts in his junior year. After making 14 starts total in his first two seasons, he made 14 starts and one relief appearance in 2018, with a 2.60 ERA and 126:30 SO:BB ratio in 97 innings in 2018. He signed quickly after the draft. After the Pirates signed him, he was sitting in the low-90s, while also throwing a slider and curve. By 2019, he was sitting at 94-96, at least early in starts, while relying on the slider and a change, with the curve as a fourth pitch. By 2022 he was sitting in the upper-90s as a reliever. Both breaking balls get good spin, with the slider generating a high rate of swings and misses. The curve is probably not a good pitch at this point. Selby’s control remains an issue.
2018-20
Selby was a starter for his first two pro seasons. In 2018, that was in the Appalachian League. He was moderately effective, with a 4.15 ERA, and had a reverse platoon split. In 2019, the Pirates sent Selby to Greensboro in mid-May and he spent the rest of the season in the rotation, until he was shut down in mid-August. He got through 5-6 innings in 12 of 17 innings and never threw fewer than four. Opponents had just a .613 OPS against him and he had no platoon split. In 2020, right after baseball shut down due to the pandemic, Selby had Tommy John surgery.
2021-24
The Pirates used Selby in relief in his return from Tommy John. He struggled early, walking exactly a batter an inning and posting an 8.53 ERA the first two months. After that, he walked 3.5 per nine innings and had an ERA of 2.43. The Greensboro ballpark hurt his numbers: He had a 5.50 ERA, five home runs allowed, and .773 OPS allowed at home. On the road, those numbers were 2.66, two and .370. Selby also had a big platoon split, holding right handed hitters to a .503 OPS, while left-handed hitters posted an .803 OPS.
In 2022, Selby opened the season with Altoona and got off to a very good start, but in mid-May went out for two months with an unknown injury. He had a few subpar outings after returning, then pitched well the rest of the season, including three outings with Indianapolis. Selby kept his walk rate at manageable levels and continued to miss bats. He had no real platoon split. The Pirates sent him to the Arizona Fall League to make up for the missed time. After the season, they added Selby to the 40-man roster.
Selby went to Indianapolis in 2023, then got called up to Pittsburgh at the beginning of August. He generally got good results in AAA, with a 3.86 ERA in 28 games, all in relief. The majors were a different story. In 21 games, including five “opener” starts, he had an ERA of 9.00. Control was an issue at both levels. Selby walked 6.5 per nine innings in AAA and 5.6 in the majors. His strikeout rate was high at both levels, 12.2 per nine in AAA and 11.3 in the majors. Left-handed hitters were a problem.
The Pirates optioned Selby to Indianapolis to open the 2024 season after he struggled in spring training, then designated him for assignment a week into the season to clear roster space for Joey Bart.
Stats
Transactions
June 6, 2018: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 16th round, 474th overall pick; signed on June 13.
November 15, 2022: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
April 2, 2024: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.