Michael Lorenzen

32-Year-Old PitcherSP

Free Agent

2024 Stats

W-L

7-6

ERA

3.31

WHIP

1.24

2025 Projections

W-L

ERA

WHIP

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2025 Fantasy Outlook

Having pitched for six different teams in the last four years, Lorenzen is approaching journeyman status. A first-time All-Star in 2023, he continued to pitch well between Texas and Kansas City last season around stints on the injured list due to neck and hamstring problems. Lorenzen flipped a switch down the stretch, posting a 1.57 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in seven appearances (six starts) with the Royals following a deadline trade. The former two-way player has re-established himself as a capable MLB starter over the past few years after the Reds moved him to the bullpen early in his tenure with the club. Rarely do we see 33-year-olds reach new heights, especially ones with such modest strikeout and walk rates, but it's not completely out of the question with Lorenzen. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

From Preseason

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'3"

Weight 203

DOB 1/4/1992

Drafted 2013

Aiming for two-way designation

PFree Agent

December 19, 2024

Lorenzen's agent, Ryan Hamill, is marketing his client as a two-way player this offseason, with the goal of gaining a two-way roster designation, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
The only major league player to qualify for two-way status since it was introduced in 2020 is Shohei Ohtani. A player with the designation does not count against a team's 13-pitcher limit on their 26-man roster, effectively allowing them to serve as a 14th pitcher. Lorenzen's plan is to sign with a club -- likely a non-contender -- and then accrue 20-plus innings as a pitcher and play 20-plus games as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each game), which would meet the necessary criteria for two-way status. Gaining the two-way designation would, in theory, make Lorenzen an attractive trade target for a contending club keen on taking advantage of having an extra pitcher on their roster. Lorenzen has not hit in a major-league game since 2021 and hasn't had more than one plate appearance since 2019, but he boasts a career .710 OPS with seven home runs over 321 plate appearances. He was an effective rotation piece for the Rangers and Royals last year with a 3.31 ERA across 130.1 innings during the regular season.

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Pitching Stats

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2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2024 MLB Game Log

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2023 MLB Game Log

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2022 MLB Game Log

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2021 MLB Game Log

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2020 MLB Game Log

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2019 MLB Game Log

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2018 MLB Game Log

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2017 MLB Game Log

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Minor League Game Log

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Pitching Appearances Breakdown

Average Pitch Count

Last 10 Games

Last 5 Games

How many pitches does Michael Lorenzen generally throw?

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

What part of the game does Michael Lorenzen generally pitch?

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

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8th

9th

Extra

% Games Reaching Innings Threshold

% Games By Number of Innings Pitched

Left/Right Pitching Splits

Since 2022

-22%

BAA vs LHP

2024

-45%

BAA vs LHP

2023

-21%

BAA vs LHP

2022

-7%

BAA vs RHP

	BAA	Batters	K	BB	H	2B	3B	HR
Since 2022vs Left	.200	791	160	92	138	30	1	24
Since 2022vs Right	.257	780	133	59	182	34	1	24
2024vs Left	.150	251	51	33	32	6	0	6
2024vs Right	.272	285	46	27	69	14	1	11
2023vs Left	.218	353	70	32	69	14	1	12
2023vs Right	.275	271	41	15	69	12	0	8
2022vs Left	.233	187	39	27	37	10	0	6
2022vs Right	.217	224	46	17	44	8	0	5
More Splits→	View More Split Stats

Home/Away Pitching Splits

Since 2022

-26%

ERA at Home

2024

-15%

ERA at Home

2023

-20%

ERA at Home

2022

-51%

ERA at Home

	ERA	WHIP	IP	W	L	SV	K/9	BB/9	HR/9
Since 2022Home	3.30	1.20	185.2	14	8	1	7.3	3.3	1.3
Since 2022Away	4.47	1.27	195.1	10	13	0	6.6	3.8	1.0
2024Home	3.00	1.20	51.0	2	2	0	6.5	3.9	1.4
2024Away	3.52	1.26	79.1	5	4	0	6.8	4.3	1.0
2023Home	3.77	1.23	86.0	6	4	1	6.9	2.8	1.4
2023Away	4.70	1.18	67.0	3	5	0	6.0	2.7	0.9
2022Home	2.77	1.13	48.2	6	2	0	8.7	3.7	0.9
2022Away	5.69	1.43	49.0	2	4	0	7.0	4.4	1.1
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Stat Review

How does Michael Lorenzen compare to other starting pitchers?

This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.

K/BB

1.62

K/9

6.7

BB/9

4.1

HR/9

1.2

Fastball

93.8 mph

ERA

3.31

WHIP

1.24

BABIP

.237

GB/FB

1.20

Left On Base

81.6%

Exit Velocity

82.7 mph

Barrels/BBE

5.0%

Spin Rate

2355 rpm

Balls Hit 95+ MPH

24.9%

Swinging Strike

9.4%

Advanced Pitching Stats

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Defensive Stats

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Stats Vs Today's Lineup

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

The right-hander signed with Detroit for 2023 and pitched to a 3.58 ERA and 19.9 percent strikeout rate over 105.2 innings before being shipped to Philadelphia. Lorenzen was electric in his first two starts for the Phillies and threw a no-hitter, but he had a 9.23 ERA in his next six outings and finished the campaign out of the rotation. His overall 4.18 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 153 innings for the season is solid, but the late collapse is difficult to ignore, especially since a 4.55 xERA and 4.68 xFIP indicate he may have deserved some worse results. Lorenzen remains a solid back-end starter and should be able to grab a rotation spot somewhere in 2024, but his low strikeout numbers leave limited upside for fantasy managers.

Lorenzen broke camp in the Angels' rotation last year after spending seven seasons as primarily a reliever and a two-way curiosity. That led to a fair amount of interest in how he'd look in the new role, but the results were rather bland. Unsurprisingly, his durability concerns didn't suddenly dissipate when moving to a starting role, with a shoulder injury costing him over two months. In 18 starts, he managed a forgettable 4.24 ERA, a mark that looks quite fair given his 4.31 FIP. His 20.7 K% and 10.7 BB% were both on the wrong side of league average, something his above-average 50.2% groundball rate couldn't entirely make up for. The whole package adds up to a capable back-end starter but nothing more. The Tigers evidently like him in that role, signing him to a one-year deal in December. The move brings him to a pitcher-friendly park in a weak division, which could increase the number of starts in which he's a worthy streamer, but he shouldn't be much more than that.

Lorenzen's outlook has been particularly tricky over the past couple years, as he's been talked up as a potential starter, closer and part-time outfielder during his time with the Reds. Finally a free agent this offseason, he signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Angels and is now expected to work out of the rotation. He came up as a starter in 2015 with 21 starts and a 5.40 ERA, but he found success out of the bullpen over the past five years with a 3.65 ERA. Lorenzen struggled last season with a 16.8 percent strikeout rate and 11.2 percent walk rate that led to a 5.59 ERA, but his 4.17 FIP leaves significant room for improvement. Departing the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park will also help his outlook. Lorenzen remains somewhat of a question mark given his transition back to the rotation after five years, but his career 19.9 percent strikeout rate doesn't seem likely to significantly improve while working as a starter, which could limit his upside.

Lorenzen is a riddle wrapped up in an enigma. Is he a potential closer? Is he a part-time outfielder? Is he a starting pitcher? He's currently projected to have a chance to win a spot in the starting rotation this spring after closing out the 2020 regular season as a starter, and that's his stated desire. Lorenzen did well in a cameo version last season, but previous iterations as a starter didn't fare well. With a full offseason and spring training to stretch out, he should be able to handle the workload, and it's fair to suggest that he's a different pitcher now than when he first arrived in the majors. He posted a swinging strike rate north of 14% for the second season in a row, whereas before he had trouble finishing off hitters. With those K's also come more walks unfortunately, as he walked 12.0% of the hitters he faced in 2020. He's best drafted as an endgame player or streamer.

Lorenzen has earned a lot of acclaim for his ability as a two-way player, but that doesn't do justice to how much he improved as a pitcher in 2019. The fifth year player turned in his best season under the tutelage of pitching coach Derek Johnson (a common refrain). He added velocity, and saw his K% rate spike from 15.7 to 24.8, while lowering his BB% from 9.9 to 8.2. Barring a big offseason acquisition for the bullpen, Lorenzen is the best in-house alternative if the Reds decide to move away from Raisel Iglesias as the closer, and was successful when used in the role, converting seven save chances. As they continue to improve their offense, they might use Lorenzen less as a hitter, however. As he had more at-bats, he became less effective, turning in a good-for-a-pitcher line of .208/.283/.313 in 53 plate appearances, although he trailed only Aaron Judge in average exit velocity (95.7 mph).

The first thing everyone mentions with Lorenzen is his hitting, and we'll follow suit. The right-hander was a two-way player in college and clearly has retained some of those hitting skills, posting a .290/.333/.710 line with four homers in 34 at-bats. He's the rare pitcher who is used as a pinch hitter not only in extra-inning affairs, but also as a primary option. But his primary position is as a pitcher, and unfortunately in that department the Reds still aren't quite sure what they have on their hands. He was out for nearly two months with a shoulder injury, and after returning he was really wild, turning in walk rates over 10% each month until September. He made three starts in late September, with decent but not great results (four earned runs over 13.2 innings with a 5:5 K:BB). Lorenzen is hoping to impress new manager David Bell and earn a rotation spot in spring training.

Lorenzen was the reliever that Reds manager Bryan Price trusted the most to get games to closer Raisel Iglesias, though that didn't always manifest itself in a traditional setup role. That was especially true early in the season when the Reds were off to a good start, and the games were critical enough to identify key situations early in the game -- notably once in the third inning against the Pirates. The Reds initially envisioned multiple relievers sharing in the save chances, but instead Iglesias colllected 28 of their 33 saves, with Lorenzen getting just two. He faltered badly in the second half, posting a 6.32 ERA after the All-Star break. Pitching as a starter no longer seems to be in the offing for Lorenzen, despite some musings midseason last year, so expect more of the same from him in 2018.

Rebuilding clubs often need to push prospects into big league situations sooner than they otherwise would. Lorenzen, who struggled in the majors in 2015 and missed the first two and a half months of 2016, definitely fell into that category. The Reds needed any help they could get and so the 24-year-old was sent to the majors as soon as his elbow healed up. After two years experimenting as a starter, Lorenzen was moved back to the bullpen and looked much sharper in the role. His average fastball velocity moved up to 96.2 mph, he struck out 48 batters in 50 innings and he cut his ERA nearly in half from the year before. The Reds have decided not to mess with success -- they will keep Lorenzen in the bullpen in 2017. He may see some high-leverage relief work, but Drew Storen and Raisel Iglesias will be the top candidates for save opportunities.

Most pitching prospects need to spend significant chunks of time at each minor league stop on the prospect ladder in order to be fully ready to contribute at the big league level. This is especially important if the prospect in question isn't that polished to begin with. All of this applies to Lorenzen, who was thrown into the Reds' rotation in late April, but appears to have not been ready for the task. Lorenzen played the outfield and pitched relief in college before the Reds converted him to starting. While Lorenzen had a 1.88 ERA in six Triple-A starts, his strikeout ratio was a microscopic 4.0 K/9, a harbinger for his struggles against major league hitters. Lorenzen could benefit from spending a half-season in Louisville in 2016, but it's uncertain whether he'll get it given the lack of veteran starting pitchers in the organization.

Lorenzen doesn't fit the mold of most prospects. Many organizations were interested in the Cal-State Fullerton attendee as an outfielder, but the Reds drafted him in the supplemental first round in 2013 as a relief pitcher, then converted him into a starter beginning at the Arizona Fall League. He got pounded there, but that frequently happens in a high-offense environment against many advanced hitting prospects, especially with pitchers with less experience like Lorenzen. The Reds quickly got him out of High-A Bakersfield, instead allowing him to develop at a higher level in Double-A Pensacola, albeit at a much friendlier ballpark for pitchers. He blossomed there, posting a 3.13 ERA over 120.2 innings while allowing just nine homers all season. The one question is whether Lorenzen can convert his stuff (94 mph fastball, good slider) into a better strikeout rate as he becomes more experienced. Thus, the Reds aren't likely to promote Lorenzen aggressively to the majors in order to get him to learn how to employ his range of pitches better.

More Fantasy News

Makes return over weekend

PKansas City Royals

October 2, 2024

Lorenzen (lower body) struck out three and allowed an unearned run on one hit in two innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta.