Position: RHP
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/09/2002
College: Arizona State University
How Acquired: Drafted 12th round, 257th Overall, 2023
Bonus: $497,500
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2026
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
Curtis has a significant injury history. He wasn’t able to pitch during his freshman year at Texas A&M due to ulnar nerve transposition surgery. In 2022, he was shut down after five starts when he needed a procedure to remove a stitch that had been left in his elbow and was damaging the nerve. His junior year, by this time at Arizona State, was rough, as he had a 7.03 ERA. Like most of the Pirates’ 2023 draftees, he had control problems, with a 4.9 BB/9. Scouts like Curtis’ stuff. He throws two- and four-seam fastballs, averaging 92-93 mph but often getting up to 96. He misses bats with his slider, and also has a curve and change. Baseball America ranked him 126th among draft prospects and MLB Pipeline had him 197th. The Pirates signed him for nearly $350,000 above the slot value.
2023-24
Curtis didn’t pitch after signing in 2023. He spent 2024 mainly in the Bradenton rotation, although he was out with an injury for about seven weeks starting in late June. He showed good stuff and pitched well in stretches, but tended to wear down after the first couple innings. His ERA was 2.25 in the first two innings and 5.40 after that. Control was often an issue for Curtis, as he walked 4.7 per nine innings. He struck out 9.7. Gopher balls were something of an issue, as he allowed ten in 75.1 IP. He also gave up an opponents’ ISO of .165, which was 50 points above league average, so when he got hit he tended to get hit hard. He had a slight, reverse platoon split.
Stats
Transactions
July 11, 2023: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 12th round, 347th overall pick; signed on July 20.