WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2009
DSL:  259/331/379, 116 AB, 1 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 12 BB, 22 K, 17-17 SB 

Played only briefly in the DSL, evidently due to an injury.  He hardly played at all in the field, but stole 17 bases without getting caught.

2010
DSL:  304/382/384, 237 AB, 8 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 26 BB, 41 K, 23-34 SB 

Although the Pirates have generally been aggressive in bringing their top Latin American talents to the GCL, they left Carvajal in the DSL for a second season and he had a strong year, with Baseball America rating him one of the top prospects in that league.  He was the primary shortstop and did a good job of getting on base.

2011
R:  268/329/340, 194 AB, 8 2B, 3 3B, 16 BB, 25 K, 15-16 SB 

Spent the season in the GCL and got off to a very slow start, with just a .434 OPS in seven games in June.  He improved to .698 in July and then batted 307/371/341 in August.  He was caught only once in 16 attempted steals.  Carvajal played nearly twice as much at second as at short, as Alen Hanson played more at the latter.  Carvajal was erratic at short, with nine errors in 17 games, but he showed very good range at either spot.

Carvajal is living up to his billing, as he’s shown good speed and a good glove with a questionable bat.  He won’t turn 20 until the beginning of the 2012 season, so he could get a good deal stronger.  He made the West Virginia roster to open the 2012 season, but it’s uncertain how much he’ll play.  Alen Hanson will be the starting shortstop and Dan Gamache will start at second or third.  Kirk Singer will supposedly be the other starter, which would be unfortunate because Singer profiles strictly as an organizational player.  Eric Avila also will return to the Power after struggling in 2011.  Carvajal has much more potential as a prospect than Singer or Avila, so hopefully he’ll eventually win a regular job.