Hunter Stratton
Hunter Stratton
Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 229 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 11/17/1996
College: Walters State CC
How Acquired: Drafted 16th round, 478th Overall, 2017
Bonus: $125,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 3
Overview
Stratton topped out at 87 MPH in high school, while throwing a three-pitch mix. He’s filled out his tall frame a little since then; he now sits about 95-96, with a slider and cutter. As a freshman, he made eight starts and 11 relief appearances, posting a 4.40 ERA in 43 innings, which was a little higher than average for the team. He held batters to a .225 average and recorded 51 strikeouts. In 2017, he took more of a starting role and posted a 3.93 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. Baseball America rated him 20th in the state of Tennessee, not far removed from their top 500.
2017-18
Stratton pitched as a starter his first two years, 2017 for Bristol and 2018 for West Virginia. In 2017, a lot of his starts were brief due to control issues and pitch counts. He went fewer than four innings in six of his 11 starts. Opponents batted only .228 against him, but he walked six per nine innings and had a 4.81 ERA. In 2022, his numbers weren’t good, although they were inflated quite a bit by his two relief appearances, which came at the beginning of the season. Opponents had a 1.383 OPS in those two games, but in his 20 starts he only gave up a 232/327/344 line. In his last ten starts, his ERA was 2.82, although he walked 24 in 51 innings in those starts.
2019-22
Stratton spent the 2019 season at Bradenton, pitching in relief apart from three spot starts. He often pitched in stints of 3-4 innings. Opponents batted only .209 against him and he allowed just four HRs, but he walked 5.3 per nine. He also had some trouble with left-handed hitters; he allowed them a .762 OPS, compared to just .549 by right-handed hitters.
After the pandemic season, Stratton pitched strictly in relief in 2021, dividing the season between Altoona and Indianapolis. He dominated at Altoona, with a 15.6 K/9 and an opponents’ batting average of .182. His walk rate remained high, but didn’t impact him much because he was so hard to hit. AAA was more of a challenge, but Stratton had a 3.42 ERA in 18 games. Stratton’s 2022 season didn’t go as well. He continued to miss a lot of bats, but he also missed the plate far too much; he had a 11.7 K/9 and a 5.6 BB/9. He had trouble with left-handed hitters, allowing them a line of 276/411/414.
2023-24
Stratton started off 2023 pitching about the same as the previous two years. Through June he had a 5.57 ERA and 6.4 BB/9. In July, he suddenly seemed to turn things around. From then on, he had a 1.88 ERA, 3.0 BB/9 and 12.4 K/9. The Pirates called him up in early September and he pitched well, giving up just nine hits and three walks, and striking out ten, in 12 innings.
After the 2023 season, the Pirates non-tendered Stratton, but signed him to a minor league contract a month later. He made the opening day roster in spring training 2024. He pitched out of the bullpen until he suffered a triceps strain in mid-July. After an extended rehab assignment, he returned in late August only to suffer a ruptured knee tendon a week later. That ended his season. Up until then, Stratton was solid for the Pirates, with a 3.58 ERA and 3.98 xFIP. He didn’t miss a lot of bats, striking out 7.9 per nine innings, but walked only 1.7. He had a huge platoon split, holding right-handed hitters to an OPS of .522, but allowing an .886 figure to left-handed hitters.
Stats
Transactions
June 14, 2017: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 16th round, 478th overall pick; signed on June 21.
September 4, 2023: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
November 17, 2023: Became a free agent.
December 11, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
March 25, 2024: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.