WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
A-:  167/265/200, 90 AB, 3 2B, 10 BB, 21 K, 3-3 SB

Got only 103 plate appearances, which seems like very limited playing time for a 10th round pick who signed quickly after the draft, which adds to the feeling that maybe there was something going on between him and the organization, or between people within the organization.  He did show a good arm, throwing out 19 of 36 base stealers.  Arizona released him in December.

2011
A:  250/398/327, 196 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 46 BB, 42 K, 3-8 SB

Opened 2012 as the backup to Elias Diaz at West Virginia.  Emsley-Pai got off to a hot start with the bat, posting an OPS of .923 in April and 1.040 in May, and his playing time gradually increased.  He cooled off, though, batting 194/350/247 in the second half.  He had a very high walk rate and walked more than he struck out.  He did the latter a little more than once every five ABs, which is a lot for a guy with no HRs.  He may need to be more aggressive at the plate.  He had a huge platoon split, with an OPS of .867 hitting right-handed and .665 hitting left-handed, and the latter figure was buoyed by a walk rate of better than one every five at-bats.  The sample size is small, but he may need eventually to start hitting only from his natural side if splits like that continue.  Emsley-Pai threw out 25% of base stealers, but that was actually better than Diaz, who has a good arm.  The Power had the youngest pitching staff in the SAL, which may have had a lot more to do with the SBs than the catchers’ throwing.

2012
A+:  167/357/242, 120 AB, 6 2B, 1 HR, 35 BB, 33 K, 3-3 SB

Emsley-Pai opened 2012 in extended spring training due to a wrist injury, then went to Bradenton to back up Carlos Paulino.  He didn’t hit at all, although he did draw an amazing number of walks.  He threw out 28% of base stealers.

Emsley-Pai wasn’t on any roster at the start of the 2013 season.  He’ll probably appear somewhere in class A at some point.