WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2008
R:  152/204/261, 46 AB, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB, 3 K, 1-1 SB 

The Marlins assigned Paulino to the GCL for his first pro season, which probably shows they thought well of him.  He hit very little in very limited playing time.

2009
R:  333/333/333, 9 AB, 1 K
A-:  291/340/404, 141 AB, 11 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 11 BB, 27 K, 2-3 SB 

Hit well in the New York-Penn League, with some doubles power and borderline plate discipline.

2010
A:  184/214/204, 201 AB, 10 2B, 6 BB, 49 K
A+:  125/125/250, 8 AB, 1 K 

Paulino struggled badly at the plate in low A while playing a little less than half the time.  His plate discipline was awful.  He did throw out 40% of base stealers.

2011
A+:  299/351/439, 271 AB, 18 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 18 BB, 33 K, 0-2 SB 

A little surprisingly, the Pirates assigned Paulino to Bradenton, where he figured to back up Ramon Cabrera.  He played only sparingly the first three months, but a 410/477/667 June won him substantially more playing time and he played regularly the rest of the year.  He made dramatic improvement in his BB and K numbers.  He had no real platoon split.  He played well defensively, throwing out 29% of base stealers, as teams ran on him much less than they did Cabrera.  At the end of the year he played a few games in left as the Marauders tried to get their best hitters in the lineup.

Thanks partly to Paulino, the Pirates find themselves with a good problem.  He and Cabrera, who won the FSL batting title, both deserve regular playing time and both also deserve a promotion to AA.  Paulino closed much of the hitting gap between the two in 2011 and he’s better defensively.  If Tony Sanchez returns there, Paulino may have to return to Bradenton.  He’ll open the season at age 22.