According to a report from John Dreker of PiratesProspects.com, the Bucs have opted to add outfielder Patrick Kivlehan to the organization by way of a minors pact. The 28-year-old, then, latches on with his fourth MLB organization in the past calendar year (and seventh in his professional career).
It should be noted that Kivlehan only garnered 14 plate appearances in the majors this past season. That brief MLB cameo came entirely with the Diamondbacks, who acquired him from the Mets late in the season in exchange for cash considerations. After he struck out in six of his 14 September plate appearances (albeit with a pair of triples), the Snakes opted to cut him loose.
The former fourth-round pick is only a year removed from serving as a part-timer for the Reds for the majority of the 2017 season, for whom he hit .208/.304/.399. That performance came across 204 trips to the plate spanning 115 games. He did manage to hit nine homers during that period, which falls in line with a power-centric offensive skill set he flashed during his minor-league career with the Mariners (who drafted him in 2012). That potential, most recently seen in the form of a .314/.372/.588 batting line with the Mets’ Triple-A ballclub, may be one of the driving factors in the Pirates’ decision to bring Kivlehan on board.
Of course, Kivlehan’s upside is weakened a bit by his freeswinging tendencies. He’s got a career 32.2% strikeout rate in the majors, which has assisted in suppressing his batting average throughout his career. He’s also an unspectacular defender, as his -22.3 career UZR/150 would suggest. He’ll have an uphill battle trying to earn significant playing time in an outfield that projects to feature Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco, with Jordan Luplow and Adam Frazier likely to fill reserve roles and former second-rounder Bryan Reynolds waiting with sneaky upside in Triple-A.
Boy the Pirates are really going for it next year with this acquisition…
I am also underwhelmed. Maybe he will be better than Luplow. Still can’t believe they played Luplow ahead of Meadows. Don’t know why Rays wanted Meadows over Luplow. 🙂
I like it as a depth move. His defensive #’s were surprisingly solid in RF and at the infield corners and the power is very real.
My projections for 2018 have him .204/.280/.423 (.703 OPS).
yes! more OF for the pirates!
With Gregory Polanco down for half of next season, they are probably looking for that corners player as depth at triple A. Over the years, they’ve always had a player down there who plays 1b, 3b, and the corner outfield spots off the bench; Pearce, Hague, Lambo,and Osuna are a few who come to mind. Eventually, he’ll be in the Majors as a bench player for 80 to 150 AB’s
Patrick Kivlehan will do nothing as a Pirate but later go on to be the WS MVP, most likely.
We wish that could happen to all of those guys! 🙂
Loved the Pittsburgh talking heads really emphasizing that about Pierce. Were making it sound like the gave up on him and then instantly was the WS MVP. They leave out the fact that 5 other teams had him in between him and Boston and all of those teams gave up on him too.
Wow. Great move Neil. Way to save money. Last place in the division if you don’t start spending. Need a power hitting third baseman. Might, could use a decent pitcher. If Houston and Cleveland can spend money, the pirates should be able too. Last place for the next twenty years. Sell the darn team to somebody that will spend the money and quit being a embarrassment to professional sports.
And here’s the typical Yinzer response found on every Pirates post.
You should really get a DK subscription, you’d love it.
The Pirates should actually be happy about one off season development…the blogger with a pathological hatred for the team hired another blogger with a pathological hatred for the team to be their new beat writer.
Consolidation.
One less outlet mushroom managing the “fans”.
See, those teams just don’t spend money on anyone, they spend money strategically so it doesn’t hurt them. They keep their core intact (Altuve, Kluber, etc.) develop talent well, and made the moves when they had a good shot at winning. Spending money on the top third base option is what brings small market teams down. I would not be surprised if they resign Kang and let him and Moran, who lets be real is still 26 and just wrapped up his first full season. The Pirates really only need to solidify their bench and with a few improvements from key players can be a real player next season.
Yinzers won’t be happy until the Pirates bring in Machado, Harper, and Kershaw. And even then, they’ll still find something to complain about. I feel bad for the real baseball fans in Pittsburgh, surrounded by Yinzer nonsense and awful media coverage.
I feel bad for those of you who are brainwashed by Pirates propaganda. They are capable of operating like the Indians. Nutting refuses to raise payroll over 100m.
The pirates can and have operate above 100mil.
It’s horrible I don’t even tune into the sports shows as it’s just all negative. No matter what they do they can’t be happy.
You do realize if the Pirates were in the AL Central they would be doing just as well as the Indians over the last Decade. The end results are much the same as what the Pirated have done in a much better division. The only difference is that they have not won the division like the Tribe has but if Cleveland was in the NL Central, they prob would not have won the division either playing against the Cards and Cubs.
Army, you do realize Houston is not small market, right? Population wise, they are the 4th largest city in the US by population…….smh….
You are so right.
I’m old enough to remember the great Pirate teams of the 70s and it breaks my heart to see how cheap this ownership team operates even though they make a nice profit.,
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Kivlehan is a scary player when you don’t expect it. He can be a secret player that can turn a game around. Great utility player. When we was in Cincinnati, he was used as a outfielder, third baseman, and first baseman. He can come off the bench as a pinch hitter. He is just a good all-around player.
That’s why he’s 28 and in the minors
Sounds like you just described a poor man’s J-Hay. I guess the Pirates opted for a cheaper, less talented version.
The writer says Kivlehan won’t get much opportunity but that isn’t true. Apparently the writer doesn’t know that Gregory Polanco had two different surgeries and will probably not be all the way back, rehabbed and ready to truly contribute until July.
The Pirates must find some power hitting somewhere or some way because that weak-ass contact hitting and walks isn’t getting them enough runs to win games, and everybody in Pittsburgh knows it..
Considering FA and trading really has not started much yet, several teams pick up players like Kivlehan this time of year. A minor league signing and that makes no guarantee that he will be with the organization when regulars seasons begin in the majors and minors in 2019. Just another depth piece that every team signs.