CARLOS MESA
CORNER OUTFIELDER
Born: February 10, 1988
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2011
How Acquired: Int. FA
Country: Cuba
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
No, this isn’t another relative of Jose Mesa.  The Pirates signed Carlos after he defected from Cuba.  He wasn’t a high-profile defector and at this point appears to be an organizational player.  He doesn’t have great speed so he’ll be limited to a corner, mainly right because he has a very good arm.  He’s a good defensive outfielder overall.  Mesa has some power, but swings and misses too much and almost never walks.

2011
A-:  250/321/379, 124 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 BB, 40 K, 4-7 SB

Mesa was the Spikes’ best hitter, in fact almost their only player who was hitting anything at all, in the early part of the season.  He posted an OPS of .990 in July, but got hurt in mid-month.  He went just 3-for-25 after he came back, leaving him with a .700 OPS in the end.  His plate discipline was something of a warning flag, with one whiff every three ABs.  He played strictly in right, but also served as the DH in nearly half his games.

2012
A:  189/199/291, 148 AB, 6 2B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 56 K, 1-1 SB
A+:  223/265/337, 175 AB, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 7 BB, 63 K, 1-3 SB

Mesa opened the season as the outfield backup at West Virginia.  He didn’t hit there, but the team promoted him to Bradenton to be the backup there when Wes Freeman retired.  He didn’t hit much at Bradenton, either.  His plate discipline obviously is atrocious, although he does at least have a little power.

Mesa will open the 2013 season at age 25 and, so far, isn’t making any progress with his plate discipline issues.  He came to camp in better shape than previously and will open at Bradenton.  How much he plays will probably depend on how much progress he makes at the plate.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2013: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2017
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2014
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
2011: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.