EVAN MEEK

5/12/83; '02 11th (Minnesota); Bellevue (WA) CC
R/R; 6-1, 190

Level
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
HR
BB
K
BB/9 K/9 WHIP OAVG
ERA
2003 R+ (Minn)
7-1-1
14
8
51.0
33
2
24
47
4.24 8.29 1.12 .178
2.47
2004 A (Minn)
0-0-0
3
3
5.2
7
0
15
3
23.85 4.77 3.89 .333
11.12
2004 R+ (Minn)
1-2-0
12
3
22.1
18
1
25
23
10.08 9.27 1.93 .228
8.06
2005 A (Minn)
0-1-0
13
0
18.0
15
0
36
11
18.00
5.50
2.83
.231
10.00
2006 A+ (SD)
6-6-0
26
25
119.1
136
5
62
113
4.68
8.52
1.66
.288
5.05
2006 A+ (TB)
0-1-0
2
0
5.0
6
0
4
7
7.20
12.60
2.00
.300
9.00
2007 AA (TB)
2-1-1
44
0
67.0
74
2
34
69
4.57
9.27
1.61
.287
4.30

The Pirates selected Meek from Tampa Bay in the 2007 Rule 5 draft.  Meek's big pitch is a sinking fastball that's normally in the low-90s and sometimes faster.  He also throws a splitter and a slider, but neither is as well regarded.  He's obviously had severe control problems.  He was completely unable to throw strikes in three years with the Twins, but started improving after moving on in 2006.  He probably got the Pirates' attention with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.  Pirates' GM Neal Huntington pointed out after the draft that Meek has combined some good K rates with a strong groundball tendency, with a 2.26 ground out to air out ratio in 2007 and 1.85 in 2006.  Under Dave Littlefield the Pirates preferred groundball pitchers with very low K rates, so the different philosophy at least is a step in the right direction.  Meek pitched reasonably well in spring training, although his control still was a weakness.  He made the team and figured to be the primary reliever in mopup situations, something the Pirates normally have in abundance.  As it turned out, however, the starting pitching was so bad early in the season that the bullpen was overworked and Meek got called into several close games.  He struggled mightily with his control in most of his appearances and, in May, the Pirates sent him through waivers.  After he cleared, they reached a deal with the Rays to retain him in exchange for cash.  He'll probably head back to AA, but he'll have to be added to the 40-man roster after the season or go back through the Rule 5 draft. 

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