Position: LHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/L
Born: 01/30/1999
College: University of South Alabama
How Acquired: Draft 15th round, 433rd Overall, 2021
Bonus: $75,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2024
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates drafted Samaniego as a senior out of South Alabama. He was there for two years and pitched strictly in relief. He only got into four games in the pandemic season, then worked as a closer in 2021. His ERA of 4.08 looks worse than his other numbers. He had a 1.13 WHIP and fanned 27 in 17.2 IP, while walking nine. One report stated that he threw 96-97 mph, but he’s sat more at 92-94 as a pro. He has a good slider. Samaniego spent two years playing in junior college before going to South Alabama, and was mainly a hitter. Baseball America did not rank him among their top 500 draft prospects, nor among the top 29 prospects in Alabama.
2021-22
The Pirates sent Samaniego to Bradenton late in the 2021 season and he had an impressive debut. In five relief appearances, he fanned over half the batters he faced. He also threw three scoreless innings in the Marauders’ three-game playoff sweep.
In 2022, Samaniego started the season at Greensboro and was almost literally unhittable; he gave up only three hits in 17 innings. He did walk 11, while fanning 24. After 14 games, the Pirates moved him up to Altoona. His overall numbers were less impressive, but most of the damage he incurred came in two of his 24 games. He allowed nine earned runs in just two and a third innings in those games. In the other 22, his ERA was 0.95. His WHIP in AA was actually lower than in high A, despite his ERA being nearly seven times higher (3.52 vs. 0.53). His walk and K rates at the higher level were roughly half what they were at the lower level. The statistical puzzle didn’t end there. Samaniego had extremely low, unsustainable BABIPs, .094 at Greensboro and .160 at Altoona. His strand rate, which was 80% in high A, was a very low 54.1% at Altoona, accounting for the much higher ERA.
2023-24
Samaniego spent 2023 with Altoona and continued to put up puzzling stats. His overall results were bad, but he suffered from an extremely high BABIP of .392 and a low strand rate of 62.5%. The result was a 5.51 ERA but a 3.93 xFIP and 3.25 FIP. His walk rate was high, but not disastrous, at 4.4 BB/9, and he had a 10.3 K/9. The Pirates themselves reportedly believed that Samaniego pitched better than the traditional stats indicate. Unfortunately, he missed most of the 2024 season, appearing in just 13 games for Altoona. In 17.2 IP, he gave up 17 hits and seven walks, and fanned 22.
Stats
Transactions
July 13, 2021: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round, 433rd overall pick; signed on July 20.