Pirate 1998 Scouting Report - Catchers

Last Updated 2 May 1998

On November 16, 1997, Mark Jareb (lshark@akula.com) posted the following to the Pirate e-mail list. I have edited it and included it here with his permission. John Stuart (jstu9@aol.com) and Marcus Points also assisted with this portion of the Scouting Report:

Abbreviations are:
-CAL, Calgary, the Bucs AAA team in the
PCL, Pacific Coast League (Nashville replaces Calgary in '98)
-CAR, Carolina, the Bucs AA team in the
SOU, Southern League
-LYN, Lynchburg, the Bucs A+ team in the
CRL, Carolina League
-AUG, Augusta, the Bucs A team in the
SAL, South Atlantic League
-ERI, Erie, the Bucs A- team in the
NYP, New York-Penn League
-GCL refers to the Bucs rookie team in the Gulf Coast League
-DSL refers to the team the Bucs field in the Dominican Summer League. This team is primarily composed of teenagers from the Dominican signed as non-drafted free agents.
Index: | Pirates | Calgary | Carolina | Lynchburg | Augusta | Erie | GCL | Projections |
Pirates
Jason Kendall: 24-6/26/74; #1 '92; Torrance HS (Ca)
C, R-R, 6-0 190
Kendall has been the heir apparent at catcher at least since 1993. One could make a good case that Kendall was the team's MVP in '98. He lead the team in OBP, while putting up a solid SLG, and he greatly improved his percentage of throwing out runners; he also assumed a greater leadership role on the team. These are all great indicators for a young player who turned 23 during the year and was in his second full major league season. His jump in doubles in the '97 season bodes well for him to break out with a 15 HR season within the next couple of seasons. Offensively, he might be the 2nd best catcher in the NL in '98. His OBP is aided by his high HBP rate, but he maintains a good batting eye and minimizes his strikeouts. In '96, he finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year balloting, and was the Pirates lone All-Star representative that year. After a solid sophomore season, he has shown that he is the starting catcher with the Pirates for a long time in the future. During the '97 season, he signed a multi-year contract to stay in Pittsburgh for at least the next four years. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
92 R    111  29   2  0  0   8   9   261/317/279
93 A    366 101  17  4  1  22  30   276/325/352
94 A+   371 118  19  2  7  47  21   318/406/437
   AA    47  11   2  0  0   2   3   234/294/277
95 AA   429 140  26  1  8  56  22   326/414/448
96 PIT  414 124  23  5  3  35  30   300/372/401
97 PIT  486 143  36  4  8  49  53   294/391/434

Keith Osik: 29-10/22/68; #24 '90; LSU
C, R-R, 6-0 190

Osik has shown himself to be a solid backup at the major league level. Kendall's talent on the field tends to minimize Osik's playing time though. Osik is not considered very strong defensively, but as back-up catchers go, he is quite good offensively. During the 1997 expansion draft, Osik's importance to the organization was highlighted where it is rumored that he was one of the players pulled back and protected after the second round. He probably continues as the backup to Kendall in Pittsburgh for '98. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
90 A-    97  27   4  0  1  11  12   278/354/351
91 AA    43  13   3  1  0   5   5   302/375/419
   A+   300  81  13  1  6  38  48   270/356/380
92 AA   425 110  17  1  5  52  69   259/357/339
93 AA   371 105  21  2 10  30  47   283/350/431
94 AAA  260  55  16  0  5  28  41   212/294/331
95 AAA  301 101  25  1 10  21  42   336/384/525
96 PIT  140  41  14  1  1  14  22   293/361/429
   A-    10   3   1  0  0   1   2   300/417/400
97 PIT  105  27   9  1  0   9  21   257/322/362
Calgary AAA
Tim Edge: 29-10/26/68; #6 '90; Auburn U.
C, R-R, 6-0 210
Edge was a college teammate of Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas, but Frank's hitting style did not rub off on Edge. Tim is not a particularly patient hitter, and he doesn't hit for a good average or power. He was the primary backup at AAA in '97 and didn't hit very well. As an off season minor league free agent, it's likely he won't be with the Bucs' organization in '98. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
90 A-   149  32   5  0  1  19  27   215/310/268
91 A+   298  67  16  2  6  44  67   225/334/352
92 AA     9   1   0  0  0   2   5   111/273/111
   A+   216  39   5  1  6  21  55   181/267/296
93 AAA    2   0   0  0  0   0   0   000/000/000
   AA   160  35   8  0  3  11  41   219/273/325
94 A     29   9   3  0  0   3   5   310/375/414
   AA    20   3   1  0  0   1   9   150/190/200
   AAA   18   4   2  0  0   1   4   222/263/333
95 AA   126  27   5  0  4  10  33   214/270/349
96 AAA   36  12   3  0  2   2   9   333/368/583
   AA   153  37  10  0  4  16  44   242/320/386
97 AAA  187  44  13  2  3  13  50   235/302/374

Tim Marx: 29-11/27/68; NDFA 10/14/91; Dom Rep
C, R-R, 6-2 190

'97 was his 2nd season as the primary catcher at AAA. His performance at the plate declined from the previous year. Offensively, his best asset has been a good BA coupled with an average BB rate. He is a minor league free agent this off season; it's likely the Bucs will not resign Marx. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
92 A    138  30   7  0  0  23  16   217/333/268
93 A+    43  10   0  0  0   7   9   233/333/233
   A    162  45   8  0  3  34  18   278/405/383
   AAA   14   2   1  0  0   2   4   143/250/214
94 AA   239  71  11  2  7  20  29   297/347/448
95 AAA  185  55  11  1  1  19  16   297/357/384
96 AAA  296  96  20  1  1  29  50   324/381/409
97 AAA  300  75  18  2  3  23  42   250/313/353

Steve Decker: 32-10/25/65; #21 '88 (SF); Lewis-Clark College (ID)
C, R-R, 6-3 205

In late-November, the Bucs signed Decker to a minor league contract. Decker played in Tacoma (AAA-Mariners organization) in '97. He is a veteran of portions of 6 major league seasons with the Giants, Marlins, and Rockies. Decker adds an experienced, insurance catcher to the system at the AAA level. Decker will likely split time with Sweet at AAA; Edge and Marx will likely not be resigned. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
90 AA   403 118  22  1 15  40  64   293/354/464
   MLB   54  16   2  0  3   1  10   296/309/500
91 AAA  111  28   5  1  6  13  29   252/366/477     
   MLB  233  48   7  1  5  16  44   206/262/309
92 AAA  450 127  22  2  8  47  64   282/348/393
   MLB   43   7   1  0  0   6   7   163/280/186
93 MLB   15   0   0  0  0   3   3   000/158/000
94 AAA  259 101  23  0 11  27  24   390/447/606
95 MLB  133  30   2  1  3  19  22   226/318/323
96 AAA   25  10   1  0  0   4   3   400/500/440
   MLB  147  36   3  0  2  18  29   245/323/306
97 AAA  350 104  25  1 10  22  37   297/336/460
Julio Vinas: 25-2/14/73; #33 '91 (White Sox); Hialeah, FL (HS)
C, R-R, 6-0 200
The Bucs signed Vinas, a minor-league free agent, this '97 offseason. Prior to that, he had spent his entire career in the White Sox organization. He is unlikely to be anything more than a AAA catcher, but his decent BB rate and power make him a fairly good insurance policy to have in case of injury. He's also only 25, so a breakout year which brings him to the level of a respectable MLB backup is not out of the question. His and Decker's signing make it a foregone conclusion that Marx and Edge won't be back. He'll split time with Decker at AAA. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
91 R	 187  42   9  0  3  19  40   225/300/321
92 A-	 151  37   6  4  0  11  29   245/296/338
   A	  94  16   3  0  0   9  17   170/245/202
93 A	 188  60  15  1  9  12  29   319/360/553
   A+	  65  16   2  1  1   5  13   246/300/354
94 A	 466 118  31  1  9  43  75   253/318/382 
95 AA    372 100  16  2  6  37  80   269/337/371 
96 AAA   338  80  18  2 11  36  63   237/311/399
97 AAA   314  73  12  2 11  25  72   232/289/389
Carolina AA
Marcus Hanel was signed as a minor-league free agent by Atlanta.

Sergio Mendez: 24-10/12/73; NDFA '91; Dom Rep
C, R-R, 6-2 185

He had a very poor '97 season, though there is some question if his knee injury from late-'95 was still bothering him. At Carolina, he split time between catching and 1B, though that could reflect a lack of depth at 1B for the MudCats this past season. He has not shown a lot of plate discipline in the past, so he needs to have some power or at least a higher BA to be productive offensively. For '98, he might be out of the Pirate system or end up back at AA or AAA. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
92 DSL  190  61  10  1  5  10  13   321/355/463
   R     44  12   1  0  0   0   7   273/273/295
93 A-   121  30   4  1  0   0  28   248/248/298
94 A    331  91  15  2  7  10  70   275/303/396
95 A+   236  58  13  0  8   9  49   246/280/403
96 A    172  40   9  0  7   9  31   233/290/407
   A+   137  38   9  1  4   6  24   277/310/445
97 AA   146  34  10  1  2   6  33   233/278/356
   DR    33   9   1  0  1   2   9   273/314/394

Jon Sweet: 26-11/10/71; #19 '94; Ohio St. U.
C, L-R, 6-0 183

Sweet is still a singles hitter without any power and a below average eye. It's doubtful he'll improve enough to be a prospect. He became the starting catcher at Carolina in '97, but that was due more to lack of competition behind the plate for the Mudcats. Depending on what minor league free agent catcher the Bucs sign this winter, he could end up at AAA in '98. If he stays at AA though, he'll be the back-up receiver. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
94 A-   154  39   8  0  0  17  20   253/345/305
95 A    267  76   9  1  1  18  31   285/339/337
96 A+   212  58  10  0  0  17  26   274/329/321
   AA    40   4   2  0  0   0   3   100/100/150
97 AA   273  67  15  1  1  15  20   245/286/319
Lynchburg A+ (full season, high)
Nilson Antigua: 22-12/14/75; FA '92; Dom Rep
C, R-R, 6-2 172
He was a New York-Penn All Star in '96. He doesn't seem to like to take a walk, and it seems that he has at times shown some power ('96). The Bucs have jumped him to Lynchburg to start the season, more so because they lost Wikleman Gonzalez in the Rule V draft rather than to develop his talent more quickly. This jump may have hurt him because he didn't get to play everyday. He is young enough to possibly develop into a prospect but at this point, he is behind Craig Wilson and Lee Evans (and maybe even Skipp Shipp) on the depth chart. For '98, he'll probably split playing time with Shipp at Lynchburg, but could find himself in a back-up role again. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
93 DSL   44   9   2  0  0   6   7   205/300/250
94 DSL  208  61   9  0  2  14  22   293/338/365
95 R     98  24   3  1  0   2  19   245/255/296
96 A-   187  51   9  0  4   9  26   273/303/385
97 A+   148  36   5  0  1   5  24   243/277/297

John Turlais: 24-12/30/73; FA '97; Illinois Math & Science Academy HS
C, L-R, 6-3 210

He was a pickup from the Cubs this past offseason as a minor league free agent and returned to the Bucs system where he started. He put up decent numbers in the Western League in '95, but it seems that he is at best a backup, fill-in type since he has never really hit well at all. He started '97 at Lynchburg but also saw time at Augusta (where he did hit pretty well in limited action). He may not be in the system after '97. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
92 R     96  17   3  1  0   6  29   177/225/229
93 R     75  17   4  0  0   2  15   227/247/280
94 R+   101  18   2  0  1   9  19   178/245/228
95 Ind  250  67  13  2  3   5  40   268/282/372
96 A     26   4   1  0  0   4   9   154/267/192
97 A+    30   5   1  0  1   5   9   167/286/300
   A    106  31   5  0  4  10  20   292/345/453

Craig Wilson: 21-11/30/76; #2 '95(Tor); Marina HS (CA)
C, R-R, 6-2 195

Wilson was acquired from the Blue Jays in a big 9 player trade after the '96 season. He was listed as the best hitter for average in the Jays organization after the '95 season; however, it is his power that has been most impressive so far. His BB rate is about the league average, and he gets HBP fairly often (15 in '97), so he has a decent OBP. Defensively, he has a strong arm (he did play some RF for the Jays), and he looked solid behind the plate at Lynchburg this past season. He is our best catching prospect in the minors; He'll be the starter in AA in '98. Conceivably, he could be called up in case of an injury to Kendall or Osik. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
95 R+   184  52  14  1  7  24  41   283/367/484
96 A    495 129  27  5 11  32 120   261/316/402
97 A+   401 106  26  1 19  39  98   264/358/476
Augusta A (full season, low)
Lee Evans: 20-7/20/77; #4 '96, Tuscaloosa,AL(HS)
C, B-R, 6-1 185
Baseball America rates him the best athlete we drafted in '96. Evans had an off year in '97, though he was able to oversome a big slump and close out the season on an up note. In '97, he jumped to Augusta (from Rookie ball), but didn't hit very well. Once Erie's season started he was sent to the NYP League. His slump initially continued at Erie, but then he caught fire for the last month and a half. He still showed power in '97, but the drop in lack of patience at the plate bears watching. He remains our 2nd best catching prospect. He'll likely start '98 at Augusta. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
96 R    111  31   5  2  3  18  26   279/394/441
97 A    186  36   9  2  2  14  52   194/252/296
   A-   141  42   6  0  5  11  30   298/355/447
1997 Scouting Report

Skip Shipp: 22-1/12/76; #35 '94; North Cobb HS (GA)
C, R-R, 6-4 210

Though Shipp doesn't have very good offensive numbers yet, he has shown improvement each year thus far. His BB rate is now at the league average, and his 2Bs this year suggest he may develop moderate power. (In Shipp's case, you need to consider that Erie is a hitter's park and Augusta is a pitcher's park.) He has a chance to turn into a serviceable back-up catcher, though he needs to show similar improvement as he climbs the ladder. He'll probably be the starting catcher in Lynchburg in '98. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
95 R     54   7   0  0  0   5  13   130/203/130
96 A-   189  48   7  0  3  16  50   254/312/339
97 A    254  64  15  2  0  26  53   252/331/327
Scott May: 25-6/1/73; #41 '96; Carson Newman College (TN)
C/3B/OF, L-R, 5-11 185
May was drafted last year, it seems, as a nice gesture towards his father Milt (former Buc player and coach at the time). A life- threatening car accident in the middle of this college career dashed any hopes of a major league career. However, he can catch and has the right make up to eventually coach. I wouldn't be surprised to see him as the back-up somewhere getting his 40 ABs/year for the next few seasons. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
96 A-    40  10   2  0  0   7  11   250/362/300
97 A     44  11   3  0  0   3   8   250/298/318
Erie A- (short season)
Yamid Haad: 20-9/2/77; FA 12/8/94; Colombia
C, R-R, 6-2 165
Haad spent 2 years in the Dominican Summer League and put up excellent numbers there in '96. He played '97 in Erie, splitting time with Lee Evans. He is one of only a few Columbians playing ball in the US. His batting average seems pretty good, while he has also shown some pop in his bat. His BB rate is below average though, so he'll need to hit ~.300 to have a decent OBP. In '98, he'll likely split time with Evans again - this time in Augusta. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
95 DSL  118  30   1  0  0   9  17   254/307/263
96 DSL  205  66   9  0  5  10  38   322/353/439
97 A-   155  45   7  3  1   7  27   290/310/394

Jose Reyes: 25-5/1/73; FA 2/21/93; Dom Rep
C/P, R-R, 6-1 165

He started in the Dodgers organization in the DSL ('91-'92). After trying his hand a pitching for 2 seasons, he began '97 in Erie as a catcher again, then was moved up to Lynchburg and finished playing in Bradenton. Basically, he's a 3rd catcher; he simply seems to be an extra body in the organization who can catch. In limited action though in '94, he seemed to take walks at a good rate. He may not be in the in organization next year. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
91 DSL   76  22   4  2  0  13   8   289/393/395
92 DSL  129  29   2  0  2  19  20   225/324/287
93 DSL   88  30   9  0  5  21  14   341/468/614
94 R     30   8   1  1  0  10   5   267/450/367
   A     14   4   2  0  0   3   4   286/444/429
95 A-   Pitched at Erie 
96 A    Pitched at Augusta
97 A-   33    5   0  0  1   2   6   152/200/242
   A+    5    0   0  0  0   0   2   000/000/000
   R    32   11   2  1  0   1   5   344/353/469
Gulf Coast (Rookie League)
Diogenes Diaz: 19- 10/10/78; FA 9/15/95; Dom Rep
C, R-R, 6-0 190
Diaz was in Bradenton for a second straight year, though he did get called up to Erie right before their playoffs. He has definitely shown good power potential thus far, and hopefully he can raise his BB rate to the league average. He's worth keeping an eye on. He is likely to start the year in Erie, but if we promote our other catchers aggressively, he could find himself in Augusta. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
96 R     90  21   7  2  2   5  22   233/274/422
97 R    111  32   7  0  4   9  30   288/342/459
   A-    28   5   3  0  0   4  12   179/273/286

Rob Viera: 24- 4/19/73; FA 2/21/96; Flagler College (FL)
C, R-R, 6-2 215

He played sparingly in '96 at Bradenton. He returned to Bradenton for '97 and also say limited action. He's too old to be in rookie ball for consecutive seasons. However, he did make 4 appearances at Bradenton as a relief pitcher. If he goes anywhere in the organization it won't be as a catcher. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
96 R     26   8   0  0  0   2   3   308/357/308
97 R     20   4   3  0  0   1   5   200/238/350

Wilson Jose Adorno: 20-12/3/77; FA 6/96; Puerto Rico
C, B-R, 5-11 180

Adorno played sparingly in Rookie ball. If he's back next year, he will likely be in Rookie ball again. 
         AB   H  2B 3B HR  BB  SO    BA/OBP/SLG
96 R     19   0   0  0  0   0   7   000/000/000
97 R     39   7   0  0  0   4  12   179/273/179
Projections:

Bucs: Kendall Osik
Nashville: Decker Vinas
Carolina: Wilson Sweet Mendez
Lynchburg: Shipp Antigua May
Augusta: Evans Haad
Erie: Diaz a draft pick
Gulf Coast League: Adorno a draft pick
Two players signed with other organizations: Marx (Reds) and Hanel (Braves). Vinas and Mendez were released. Turlais, Shipp, and May are not on any Pittsburgh rosters and were likely released.

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