Joel Kuhnel
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 5" 290LBS | Age: 29
Draft: 2016 | Rd: 11, #318, Cincinnati Reds | Texas-Arlington
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2022 2 3 6.36 53 0 1 58 56 1.40
2023 0 0 5.54 9 0 0 13 3 1.62
2024 0 0 4.50 6 0 0 10 5 0.80
5 Seasons 4 3 5.86 82 0 1 93.2 76 1.36
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2022 53 2-3 6.36 58 56 1.40
2023 9 0-0 5.54 13 3 1.62
2024 6 0-0 4.50 10 5 0.80
5 Seasons 82 4-3 5.86 93.2 76 1.36
MLB Percentile Rankings
Movement Profile (Induced Break)
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Statcast Statistics

Season Age Pitches Batted
Balls		 Barrels Barrel % Barrel/PA Exit
Velocity		 Max EV Launch
Angle		 LA Sweet-
Spot %		 XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON HardHit% K% BB% ERA xERA
2019 24 166 28 1 3.6 2.4 88.2 101.8 13.9 32.1 .196 .308 .282 .269 .281 32.1 21.4 11.9 4.66 3.14
2020 25 57 10 2 20.0 15.4 88.3 110.6 16.2 50.0 .199 .649 .440 .343 .445 20.0 23.1 0.0 6.00 5.10
2022 27 934 180 13 7.2 5.1 90.1 109.4 7.6 32.2 .237 .392 .347 .301 .357 39.5 22.0 5.5 6.36 3.75
2023 28 195 49 2 4.1 3.4 88.7 107.4 0.2 32.7 .325 .514 .368 .389 .380 44.9 5.2 8.6 5.54 6.82
2024 29 158 33 2 6.1 5.1 88.5 107.8 12.1 30.3 .264 .404 .248 .299 .332 39.4 12.8 0.0 4.50 3.72
Player 1510 300 20 6.7 4.9 89.5 110.6 7.7 32.7 .247 .411 .336 .311 .354 39.1 18.7 5.9
MLB 7.0 4.8 88.5 122.4 12.3 33.2 .245 .405 .316 .315 .368 36.5 22.2 8.4
! Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.

Statcast Pitch Arsenal

Kuhnel relies on 5 pitches.
Slider
(41.1%) ,
Four Seamer
(27.8%) ,
Sinker
(17.1%) ,
Changeup
(12.0%) ,
Curveball
(1.9%) ,


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Pitch Tracking



Batted Ball Profile

Season GB % FB % LD % PU % Pull % Straight % Oppo % Weak % Topped % Under % Flare/Burner % Solid % Barrel % Barrel/PA
2019 53.6 21.4 14.3 10.7 42.9 28.6 28.6 0.0 46.4 28.6 17.9 3.6 3.6 2.4
2020 30.0 70.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 40.0 40.0 0.0 30.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 15.4
2022 54.4 23.3 18.3 3.9 35.6 38.3 26.1 2.2 41.1 19.4 22.2 5.6 7.2 5.1
2023 57.1 18.4 20.4 4.1 32.7 38.8 28.6 4.1 44.9 18.4 22.4 4.1 4.1 3.4
2024 48.5 24.2 15.2 12.1 33.3 36.4 30.3 3.0 30.3 24.2 24.2 12.1 6.1 5.1
Player 53.3 24.0 17.3 5.3 35.0 37.3 27.7 2.3 40.7 21.7 21.3 5.7 6.7 4.9
MLB 44.4 23.8 24.7 7.1 37.2 37.5 25.2 3.9 32.6 24.8 24.4 5.9 7.0 4.8
! Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.

Pitch Movement

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How this works: This section shows two different ways to evaluate pitch movement. On the left, “Total Movement” shows the real-world movement of a pitch, including the forces of gravity, which affects every pitch thrown. Since gravity requires time, and slower pitches aren't 'better' just because they have more time to move, a pitch's movement is compared to other pitches of the same pitch type, within +/- 2 MPH and +/- 0.5 feet of extension/release. On the right, Induced Movement (or IVB) is reported without gravity, and attempts to isolate movement created by the pitcher's ability to spin and manipulate the ball.
Total Movement (in inches, w/ gravity)Induced Movement (in inches, w/o gravity)
YearPitchTeamHand#MPHVertical
Drop		vs.
Comparable		Horizontal
Break		vs.
Comparable		Vertical
Break		vs. AvgHorizontal
Break		vs. Avg
2024 Sinker TB R 27 94.0 21.9 1.0 15.8ARM 1.5 9.2 -1.9 15.8ARM 1.0
2024 Slider TB R 65 89.5 28.9 -2.5 2.8GLV -0.9 5.2 -3.6 2.8GLV -2.3
2024 Curveball TB R 3 81.3 40.7 -10.4 5.2GLV -2.0 0.7 -10.6 5.2GLV -4.2
2024 Changeup TB R 19 90.4 29.3 2.0 14.1ARM -0.7 4.0 0.9 14.1ARM -0.1
2024 4-Seam Fastball TB R 44 94.4 16.0 -2.1 9.3ARM 3.1 14.8 -1.0 9.3ARM 1.8
2023 4-Seam Fastball HOU R 77 94.2 18.6 -3.8 9.5ARM 2.5 12.2 -3.6 9.5ARM 2.1
2023 Slider HOU R 44 85.5 35.2 -0.7 4.4GLV -0.2 2.1 -0.6 4.4GLV -0.9
2023 Changeup HOU R 30 89.1 29.9 2.0 13.1ARM -1.6 4.5 0.9 13.1ARM -1.3
2023 Sinker HOU R 44 94.8 24.0 3.2 17.1ARM 2.1 6.6 1.0 17.1ARM 2.1
! Note: Years are in reverse order.

Run Values by Pitch Type

Year Pitch Type Team RV/100 Run Value Pitches % PA BA SLG wOBA Whiff% K% PutAway % xBA xSLG xwOBA Hard Hit %
2024 Slider 1.4 1 65 41.1 16 .250 .500 .316 41.9 25.0 21.1 .360 .589 .408 33.3
2024 4-Seam Fastball -3.6 -2 44 27.8 8 .375 .375 .338 17.4 0.0 0.0 .281 .363 .279 37.5
2024 Sinker 4.2 1 27 17.1 11 .100 .200 .177 0.0 0.0 0.0 .137 .177 .192 40.0
2024 Changeup 2.4 0 19 12.0 4 .000 .000 .000 12.5 25.0 9.1 .157 .309 .198 66.7
2024 Curveball 0.5 0 3 1.9 -- -- -- 0.0 -- 0.0 -- -- -- --
2023 4-Seam Fastball -0.7 -1 77 39.5 20 .313 .438 .400 25.6 5.0 5.3 .372 .550 .455 66.7
2023 Sinker 8.4 4 44 22.6 17 .188 .188 .156 3.6 0.0 0.0 .240 .283 .258 37.5
2023 Slider -1.2 -1 44 22.6 11 .273 .545 .345 28.6 18.2 13.3 .290 .528 .347 44.4
2023 Changeup -11.2 -3 30 15.4 9 .556 1.000 .661 16.7 0.0 0.0 .427 .818 .524 22.2
! Note: Years are in reverse order.
! Note: To better align with other values, positive numbers (red) are good, and negative numbers (blue) are poor.

Spin Direction

Year Pitch Type Pitches MPH Active Spin % Total Movement (In.) Spin-Based Observed Deviation
2024 Changeup 19 90.4 89 15.0 1:30 2:45 -75
2024 4-Seam Fastball 44 94.4 85 17.2 1:15 1:15 0
2024 Sinker 27 94.0 90 18.6 1:15 2:15 -60
2024 Slider 65 89.5 30 5.5 12:00 10:45 75
2023 Changeup 30 89.1 93 14.3 1:45 2:30 -45
2023 4-Seam Fastball 74 94.2 81 15.1 1:30 1:15 15
2023 Sinker 44 94.8 86 18.8 1:30 2:30 -60
2023 Slider 44 85.5 25 5.4 10:00 9:30 30
! Note: Years are in reverse order.
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! Note: This table is showing data from the PITCHER perspective.
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Pitcher Arm Angle

! Note: Data is available from 2020 through the present.
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Swing/Take

Runs
Year Team PA Pitches Heart Shadow Chase Waste All
2019 42 166 -1 1 0 -1 -1
2022 251 926 1 -5 -5 -4 -13
2023 57 195 0 0 -1 0 -1
2024 39 158 0 2 0 -1 1
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Plate Discipline

Season Pitches Zone % Zone Swing % Zone Contact % Chase % Chase Contact % Edge % 1st Pitch Strike % Swing % Whiff % Meatball % Meatball Swing %
2019 166 41.6 75.4 82.7 35.1 50.0 38.6 69.0 51.8 29.1 6.0 70.0
2020 57 47.4 55.6 93.3 13.3 50.0 35.1 69.2 33.3 15.8 5.3 100.0
2022 934 49.7 68.5 81.6 30.9 59.0 45.1 59.1 49.7 25.2 8.0 79.7
2023 195 54.4 76.4 84.0 21.3 68.4 39.5 58.6 51.3 19.0 7.2 100.0
2024 158 53.2 73.8 80.6 25.7 63.2 43.0 61.5 51.3 22.2 10.8 76.5
Player 1,510 49.7 70.4 82.3 29.1 58.6 43.1 60.6 49.7 24.3 7.9 81.4
MLB 48.7 67.0 82.0 28.5 57.8 42.6 61.0 47.2 25.0 7.3 76.3
! Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.

Percentile Rankings

Year xwOBA /
xERA 		xBA xSLG xISO xOBP Brl Brl% EV Hard
Hit% 		K% BB% Whiff% Chase
Rate 		FB
Velo 		FB
Spin 		CB
Spin 		Extension
2019 88 53 95
2022 55 51 41 36 64 62 50 12 32 44 86 47 65 85 51 94
2023 56 37 95
2024 54 25 93
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Expected Home Runs

Adjusted
Year Team Avg HR Trot Actual HR xHR HR-xHR Doubters Mostly Gone No Doubters No Doubter %
2019 21.3 1 0.7 0 0 1 0 0.0
2020 23.4 2 1.7 0 0 2 0 0.0
2022 24.1 8 6.4 2 4 7 1 12.5
2023 22.1 2 2.0 0 1 1 1 50.0
2024 24.0 1 0.1 1 2 0 0 0.0
Player 23.5 14 10.8 3 7 11 2 14.3
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's home runs allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
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Expected Home Runs by Park

Adjusted
Year HR
2019 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0
2020 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2
2022 8 6 8 7 7 6 8 5 3 5 4 10 7 6 7 8 7 5 7 6 5 7 9 7 3 5 8 7 7 5 6
2023 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2024 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Player 14 10 14 11 12 10 13 10 5 8 7 14 13 11 11 13 11 9 11 11 10 12 14 12 8 9 11 12 13 9 10
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's home runs allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
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Year to Year Changes

Metric 2019 2020 +/-   2021 +/-   2022 +/-   2023 +/-   2024 +/-  
Fastball Velocity 96.1 -- -0.7 ↓ -- -- 96.1 -- 94.4 -1.7 ↓ 94.3 -0.1 ↓
Offspeed Velocity 89.5 -- 0.4 ↑ -- -- 90.2 -- 89.1 -1.1 ↓ 90.4 1.3 ↑
Breaking Velocity 86.1 -- 0.5 ↑ -- -- 86.8 -- 85.5 -1.3 ↓ 89.1 3.6 ↑
Exit Velocity 88.2 -- 0.1 ↑ -- -- 90.1 -- 88.7 -1.4 ↓ 88.5 -0.2 ↓
Launch Angle 13.9 -- 2.3 ↑ -- -- 7.6 -- 0.2 -7.4 ↓ 12.1 11.9 ↑
Barrel % 3.6 -- 16.4 ↑ -- -- 7.2 -- 4.1 -3.1 ↓ 6.1 2.0 ↑
Hard Hit % 32.1 -- -12.1 ↓ -- -- 39.5 -- 44.9 5.4 ↑ 39.4 -5.5 ↓
LA Sweet-Spot % 32.1 -- 17.9 ↑ -- -- 32.2 -- 32.7 0.5 ↑ 30.3 -2.4 ↓
xBA .196 -- 0.003 ↑ -- -- .237 -- .325 0.088 ↑ .264 -0.061 ↓
BA .216 -- 0.092 ↑ -- -- .291 -- .308 0.017 ↑ .211 -0.097 ↓
xwOBA .269 -- 0.074 ↑ -- -- .301 -- .389 0.088 ↑ .299 -0.090 ↓
wOBA .282 -- 0.158 ↑ -- -- .347 -- .368 0.021 ↑ .248 -0.120 ↓
xSLG .308 -- 0.341 ↑ -- -- .392 -- .514 0.122 ↑ .404 -0.110 ↓
SLG .324 -- 0.445 ↑ -- -- .465 -- .481 0.016 ↑ .342 -0.139 ↓
K% 21.4 -- 1.7 ↑ -- -- 22.0 -- 5.2 -16.8 ↓ 12.8 7.6 ↑
BB% 11.9 -- -11.9 ↓ -- -- 5.5 -- 8.6 3.1 ↑ 0.0 -8.6 ↓
Swing % 51.8 -- -18.5 ↓ -- -- 49.7 -- 51.3 1.6 ↑ 51.3 0.0
Whiff% 29.1 -- -13.3 ↓ -- -- 25.2 -- 19.0 -6.2 ↓ 22.2 3.2 ↑
In Zone % 41.6 -- 5.8 ↑ -- -- 49.7 -- 54.4 4.7 ↑ 53.2 -1.2 ↓
Out of Zone % 58.4 -- -5.8 ↓ -- -- 50.3 -- 45.6 -4.7 ↓ 46.8 1.2 ↑
Out of Zone Swing % 35.1 -- -21.8 ↓ -- -- 30.9 -- 21.3 -9.6 ↓ 25.7 4.4 ↑
First Pitch Swing % 47.6 -- -32.2 ↓ -- -- 26.0 -- 34.5 8.5 ↑ 38.5 4.0 ↑
First Pitch Strike % 69.0 -- 0.2 ↑ -- -- 59.1 -- 58.6 -0.5 ↓ 61.5 2.9 ↑
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Statcast Fielder Positioning

vs RHHvs LHH
YearAlignment TypePAwOBAPATotal%PATotal%
2019 Shifts 42 .282 25 2 8.0 17 8 47.1
2020 Shifts 13 .440 5 0 0.0 8 6 75.0
2022 Shifts 251 .351 155 16 10.3 96 50 52.1
2023 Shades 57 .368 30 2 6.7 27 19 70.4
2024 Shades 39 .248 21 8 38.1 18 13 72.2
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field.
Learn more about how positioning is defined here

Pitch Tempo

Bases EmptyRunners On Base
SeasonTeamPitchesTempoFast %Slow %PitchesTempoFast %Slow %
2019 45 18.0 17.8% 2.2% 26 20.1 0.0% 3.8%
2020 36 17.8 16.7% 0.0% 0 -- -- --
2022 241 17.0 24.1% 2.5% 171 18.6 8.8% 2.9%
2023 39 14.2 61.5% 0.0% 43 16.8 20.9% 0.0%
2024 54 15.3 44.4% 0.0% 16 18.5 0.0% 0.0%

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Pitch Distribution

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