O's claim RHP Marcos Diplan

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Decent joke.

[Aglets]

Quick, someone tell me how I'm supposed to feel about this huge development!

[MurphDogg]

He walks a lot of guys, he will fit right in.

[Aglets]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=diplan000mar

Looks like he has never pitched above AA.  23 years old.  He has a career 1.552 WHIP at the AA level over 125.2 innings.   130 K's.  80 walks.

Looks like 2019 was his first year being primarily used as a reliever.

Will be curious to hear what Elias has to say to build him up.

[Frobby]

When you’re claiming guys from the Tigers, you’re pretty desperate. 

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I like that he's only 23. As always with these, he may not last the winter on the 40-man. 

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[Aglets]

3 minutes ago, Frobby said:

When you’re claiming guys from the Tigers, you’re pretty desperate. 

It's a bit more interesting than that.  He was signed as an international free agent at 17 by the Rangers.  He was part of the Gallardo trade shortly after that and spent most of his time in the Brewers' system.   The Brewers DFA'd him in 2019 and traded him to the Twins.  The Twins DFA'd him in September of this year and he got claimed by the Tigers.    Now we claimed him.

So he's well-traveled.  

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[Enjoy Terror]

Diplan is one of five players on our 40-man without big league experience (McKenna, Akin, Mountcastle, Kremer).

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The O's 40-man roster now has three pitchers claimed on waivers who have not yet pitched for the team: Diplan, Sulser, Hanhold.

[sportsfan8703]

Can we still take 3 players in the Rule 5 on Thursday?  If not, this was a calculated risk.  

[Moose Milligan]

Spin rate!?!?!?  Depth on his slider/curve?  Do they have nice shape????????

[sportsfan8703]

From MLB pipeline,

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

Diplan was the top-ranked pitcher on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 international prospects list in 2013 before signing for $1.3 million with the Rangers, who ultimately dealt the then-teenager to the Brewers during the following offseason as part of the Yovani Gallardo trade. He emerged as one of the more promising young hurlers in the low Minors two years later, garnering All-Star honors with Class A Wisconsin en route to a promotion to the Class A Advanced Florida State League in July. Diplan struggled in 2017 in his return to the that level, as he once again showed promising stuff, but also less feel for it than he did the previous year.

An undersized right-hander with an electric arm, Diplan pitches with a fastball that sits 92-96 mph with late movement and at times scrapes a few ticks higher. He complements his heater with a plus slider, and he has surprisingly advanced feel for throwing a changeup. Having previously shown solid control of his three-pitch mix, Diplan regressed with his strike-throwing ability and overall feel for pitching in 2017. He still missed his share of bats, but also issued 71 walks -- second most in the Carolina League -- over 125 2/3 innings to finish with career-worst walks-per-nine rate of 5.08.

Diplan's struggles in 2017 were a product of inconsistent mechanics, as he all too often failed to stay on line with the plate and repeat his delivery. Club officials believe those issues were tied to his physical development, and the hope is that he'll get back on track once he better understands the limitations of his more physically mature frame. Diplan still has a chance to reach his ceiling as No. 3 or 4 starter if he can do so, though a move to bullpen appears increasingly likely.