ASHLEY PONCE | SHORTSTOP |
 | Born: January 22, 1991 Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 140 Bats: Right Throws: Right Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2008 Country: Panama Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| Ponce is a slightly built infielder who has good defensive abilities, including good range. He’s patient at the plate and generally puts the bat on the ball, but he hasn’t hit the ball with much authority so far.NOTE: MiLB.com, which is prone to puzzling errors, shows Ponce as having played in the Mets’ system in 2008, but no other site shows that and the Pirates’ media guide indicates that he initially signed with the Pirates. 2009 Ponce played second and third in the VSL and showed a good eye at the plate. 2010 Back in the VSL, he had almost the exact same season at the plate, except he hit for less power. He walked more than he struck out. He served as the team’s regular shortstop. 2011 Opened the season in the GCL, but moved up to State College when 2011 draftee Brian Sharp abruptly retired. He didn’t hit much in the New York-Penn League, but continued to show a good eye. He was the Spikes’ regular at short for the second half of their season, even though another 2011 draftee, Kirk Singer, was known primarily as a glove guy. That’s an indication that the Pirates think highly of Ponce’s defense. Ponce figures to be an organizational player, but he could spend some time as a starter to help out the young pitchers in the system. With Alen Hanson and Jodaneli Carvajal moving up to West Virginia, Ponce will open 2012 in extended spring training. |
STATS |
| Baseball Reference–Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com |
CONTRACT INFORMATION |
| 2012: Minor League Contract |
PLAYER INFORMATION |
| Signing Bonus: N/A MiLB Debut: 2011 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2015 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: 2013 Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
TRANSACTIONS |
| November 17, 2008: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent. |
