WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
VSL:  249/338/304, 181 AB, 7 2B, 1 HR, 23 BB, 36 K, 16-28 SB

Was the regular center fielder in the VSL and got on base at a decent rate, although walk rates trend high in that league.  He ran a lot but had a low success rate.

2009
VSL:  303/400/382, 238 AB, 7 2N, 6 3B, 34 BB, 34 K, 25-40 SB

Improved at the plate, including a high walk rate.  He continued to get thrown out a lot on the bases.  He was the regular in center again.

2010
R:  296/379/338, 142 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 18 BB, 20 K, 20-26 SB

Had good debut in the GCL, Finishing 7th in the league in OBP and tied for second in steals, with a much-improved success rate.  Sosa showed almost no power, but his plate discipline remained very good.  He struggled with LHPs, hitting only .209 against them and .333 against RHPs.  He played center more than anywhere else, but saw some time in the corners.

2011
R:  238/319/238, 42 AB, 5 BB, 6 K, 5-7 SB
A-:  195/267/256, 82 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 9 K, 3-5 SB

A little surprisingly, Sosa returned to the GCL at the start of the season and played only part-time.  He moved up to State College when Carlos Mesa got hurt.  He struggled at the plate at both levels and hit for almost no power, with three extra-base hits in 141 ABs.  His one HR was inside-the-park.  He divided his time between center and left in the GCL and among all three outfield positions in the NYPL.  He didn’t steal as much, but continued to show a good eye.

Sosa appears to have made a sudden transition to organizational player and his lack of power may have caught up with him, which happens when pitchers aren’t afraid to pound the strike zone.  The Pirates now have a number of young outfielders with higher ceilings, but Sosa managed to win the 4th outfielder role at West Virginia to open 2012.