Position: RHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 195 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/30/2000
College: University of Houston
How Acquired: Draft 17th Round, 500th Overall, 2022
Bonus: $80,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates drafted Deese as a college senior. He spent his first two years at Galveston College, then transferred to Houston. In two years at Houston, mostly as a starter, he had a 4.87 ERA. He did not put up impressive strikeout numbers, with a 6.8 K/9 for the two years. He throws 91-93 mph with a slider as his main secondary pitch.
2022-24
After signing, Deese made three relief appearances in the FCL and did well. The next year, the Pirates sent him directly to Greensboro, which is unusual for them. He pitched mainly in relief and struggled, with a 5.29 ERA. His WHIP was fairly good, at 1.29, and his control was good, but he was hurt by 11 gopher balls in 68 innings. He didn’t have any home/road split, so it’s tough to blame it on the Greensboro ballpark.
Other than a one-game fill-in with Altoona, Deese spent most of the season in the Greensboro bullpen. He continued to get hit hard, with opponents batting .283 against him and hitting eight home runs in 42 innings. He didn’t walk many, but he struck out only six per nine innings and had a 6.64 ERA. The Pirates moved him up to Altoona at the end of the season and he got into four more games there. In AA, he gave up 14 hits and four walks in 9.1 IP, with only three strikeouts.
Stats
Transactions
July 19, 2022: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round, 500th overall pick; signed on July 26.