Former Pitt reliever Yaya Chentouf has been promoted from the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps to the Double-A Erie Seawolves, Tom Reisenweber of the Erie Times-News reported on Tuesday afternoon.
Chentouf, the 36th round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2018, has been outstanding so far through two years in the minors. In 24 appearances with the Gulf Coast League Tigers West and New York-Penn League Connecticut Tigers in 2018, he posted a 2.00 ERA, .197 opposing batting average and 0.97 WHIP.
During his first full season with West Michigan in 2019, Chentouf’s stats took a step back. His ERA jumped to 3.86 as his rate of strikeouts declined (7.25 K/9 in 2018 to 6.43 in 2019) and the walks increased (2.00 BB/9 in 2018 vs. 2.36 in 2019).
But through nine games with the Whitecaps this season, Chentouf is playing some of the best baseball of his career. The 5-foot-9 right-hander has surrendered just seven hits and two runs — only one of which was earned — through 13 ⅔ innings. He owns a record of 3-1 and is allowing career lows in opponent slugging and on-base percentage.
Chentouf, a graduate of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida, was a three-year letterman for the Panthers from 2016 to 2018. He was named to the ACC All-Freshman team after his first season in Oakland during which he posted a 1.12 ERA over 24 innings pitched. He ended his time at Pitt with a 5-6 career record over 54 appearances.
He also made limited offensive appearances for the Panthers. During his collegiate career Chentouf amassed 34 hits — three doubles — in 151 plate appearances during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
