DEREK TRENT
CATCHER
  Born: November 6, 1988
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 210
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Drafted: 31st Round, 932nd Overall, 2011
How Acquired: Draft
College: East Tennessee State University
Agent:  N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
Baseball America rated Trent as Tennessee’s 23rd best prospect in a good year for the state, referring to him as “one of the nation’s better senior signs.”  He played the outfield as well as catching, and so isn’t as advanced with the latter as the typical senior, but his arm rates as average or better.  In fact, he threw out 22 of 54 would-be base stealers in 2011.  He showed a good bat in college, with power and consistently improving plate discipline, and he hits left-handed, which is always a plus for a catcher.  His improvement in 2011 came in spite of the less explosive bats introduced that year.  He signed quickly after the draft.

2011
A-:  197/317/296, 142 AB, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 20 BB, 35 K, 1-2 SB

Had difficult debut at State College.  He didn’t hit either LHPs or RHPs much and having just the one HR was disappointing.  He lost playing time to Samuel Gonzalez, who had a strong season.  Trent hit only .149 in August and played only about half the time, in spite of a mid-month injury to Gonzalez.  Trent caught 25 games and appeared as DH in 16.  He threw out 20% of base stealers and had eight passed balls.

College hitters often struggle in their introduction to wood bats, so it’s too soon to write Trent off.  He’ll likely battle Matt Skirving for the backup catching spot at West Virginia in 2012.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
NCAA
BA
OBP
SLG
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2008 .238 .382 .536 181 7 1 15 33 61 0 0
2009 .326 .422 .508 181 15 0 6 22 30 1 2
2010 .348 .416 .575 247 17 0 13 27 41 0 2
2011 .351 .450 .620 208 12 1 14 32 24 1 0
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor league contract.
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus:
MiLB Debut:
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible:
MLB FA Eligible: 2017.
Rule 5 Eligible: 2014.
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2011: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 31st round, 932nd overall pick; signed on June 13, 2011.