J.P. Massey
J.P. Massey
Position: RHP
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 04/01/2000
College: University of Minnesota
How Acquired: Draft 7th Round, 200th Overall, 2022
Bonus: $150,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates drafted Massey as a college senior, which saved them some bonus pool money that they ultimately didn’t spend. He wasn’t rated among the top 250 draft prospects by MLB.com or among the top 500 by Baseball America. Massey threw the standard four pitches, with a fastball that could reach the mid-90s. Scouts always considered him to have a very good arm, but he pitched badly in college, due in large part to significant control problems. Pitching about half the time as a starter, he walked 7.7 per nine innings over his four years. He showed some ability to miss bats, with a 10.2 K/9 for his career. In his senior year, he had an ERA of 6.52, a little better than his career mark of 6.70. At the beginning of 2023, Massey was sitting from 91-95 mph, and relying heavily on his slider and curve. Massey signed for $93,000 under the slot value of $243,000.
2022-24
As is often the case with the Pirates’ draftees, Massey didn’t pitch in his draft year. He opened 2023 in the Bradenton rotation. After a rough start, he pitched well, with a 2.25 ERA over his last seven starts before a promotion to Greensboro. Massey struggled there. He didn’t get hit hard, but he walked 23 in 31 innings. At Bradenton, he had a 4.4 BB/9 and 10.4 K/9. At Greensboro those numbers were 6.7 and 7.5.
Massey spent the 2024 season in the Greensboro rotation. He mostly struggled, with a 5.24 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. His walk and K rates were weak, at 5.1 and 8.7 per nine innings, respectively. Massey missed about five weeks in the middle of the season and pitched better after he returned. He had a 5.89 ERA before going out and 4.32 after.
Stats
Transactions
July 18, 2022: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 7th round, 200th overall pick; signed on July 24.