DUSTIN MOLLEKEN

8/21/84; '03 15th; Lethbridge (Alberta) CC
L/R; 6-4, 220

Level
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
 HR
BB
K
 BB/9 K/9 WHIP OAVG
ERA
2003 R
0-0-0
3
1
6.1
6
 1
1
1
 1.4 1.2 1.11 .286
5.68
2004 DNP
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
        
 
2005 R
0-4-0
9
5
30.0
34
 5
16
22
 4.8
6.6
1.67
.283
7.20
2006 A-
1-2-0
13
0
32.1
30
 1
8
22
 2.2
6.1
1.18
.248
2.51
2007 A+
0-0-0
2
0
4.2
7
 0
1
8
 1.9
15.5
1.72
.350
5.79
2007 A
3-1-0
13
0
26.0
32
 3
8
31
 2.8
10.7
1.54
.311
4.50
2007 A-
1-0-0
4
0
8.1
6
 1
1
5
 1.1
5.4
0.84
.194
1.08
2008 A+
3-2-2
16
0
28.1
38
2
14
26
4.5
8.3
1.84
.328
6.67
2008 A
5-4-0
16
16
80.0
98
21
20
55
2.3
6.2
1.48
.297
6.30
2009 AA
1-1-1
18
0
37.0
37
5
16
26
3.9
6.3
1.43
.257
4.62
2009 A+
3-1-1
18
1
41.1
36
2
8
42
1.7
9.1
1.07
.240
3.48

When the Pirates drafted him, Molleken reportedly threw in the low 90s with a deceptive delivery.  He also had an average change and subpar curve.  He wasn't expected to be able to pitch right away after the 2003 draft as he'd been shut down with tendonitis a month before.  He ended up pitching only a few innings, then didn't pitch at all in 2004 as he had Tommy John surgery.  He was on the Hickory roster at the start of 2005, but was injured.  He ended up pitching for Bradenton, without much success.  He made strides in 2006, though, pitching effectively for Williamsport, albeit with a low K rate.  With only 13 relief appearances, it's likely he was hurt at least some—he went 16 days between appearances at one point, for instance—but he never went on the DL.  Molleken himself has said his fastball has improved in velocity and now reaches 94.  In 2007, outside of a few fill-in games for Lynchburg, he opened with State College but moved up soon afterward to Hickory.  He got hit hard there, but at least didn't walk many batters and fanned quite a few.

After barely topping 100 total innings in his first five years as a pro, Molleken managed a healthy season in 2008.  He started off in the Hickory rotation, but he was undone by a serious gopher ball problem.  Considering the low walk total, he may have been around the plate too much.  Oddly enough, he's not a flyball pitcher.  The Pirates moved him up to Lynchburg in July to pitch out of the bullpen.  At the higher level he simply gave up a lot of baserunners.  He has a good enough arm that the Pirates will keep giving him chances.  He started 2009 in the Lynchburg bullpen and made significant strides.  His numbers there, especially the ERA, are misleading, as his one start was a fiasco in which he failed to get out of the first.  As a reliever he consistently dominated.  The Pirates moved him up to Altoona in late June and he was erratic there, having trouble with both his command and LH batters, who hit .304 against him.  The promotion may have in part been an audition for upcoming roster decisions, as Molleken was due to become a minor league free agent in the fall if the Pirates didn't add him to the 40-man roster.  The timing was a shame, because after having little opportunity to develop until last year, Molleken has made significant strides and is still young enough at 25 to reach the majors.  He wasn't on the list of minor league free agents released by MLB.  The Pirates may already have re-signed him, but I haven't verified that yet.

Return to Right-Handed Pitchers