WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2004
R:  258/311/462, 182 AB, 10 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 14 BB, 51 K, 3-5 SB

Showed good power, although not good plate discipline, in rookie ball.  He played 21 games at third, but served as a DH most of the time.

2005
R+:  344/382/734, 64 AB, 7 2B, 6 HR, 4 BB, 17 K, 1-1 SB
A-:  252/302/407, 226 AB, 11 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 17 BB, 34 K, 0-1 SB 

The Mets started Evans off in advanced rookie ball, but moved him up to the NYPL after a hot start.  He didn’t hit as well there, but showed decent power and cut down a lot on the whiffs.  He played first exclusively.

2006
A:  254/320/419, 511 AB, 33 2B, 3 3B, 15 HR, 45 BB, 99 K, 2-2 SB

Fox spent the season in low A, where he hit about like the previous year:  decent but not great power, low average and marginal K and walk rates.  He again played first exclusively and had trouble with errors, committing 15.

2007
A+:  286/374/476, 378 AB, 25 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 53 BB, 64 K, 3-3 SB

Still playing first, Evans hit better in high A, with much-improved walk and K rates.

2008
AA:  311/365/561, 296 AB, 18 2B, 7 3B, 14 HR, 26 BB, 64 K, 2-3 SB
MLB:  257/303/404, 109 AB, 10 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 24 K, 0-0 SB

Evans hit very well in AA, except for a fall-off in his plate-discipline.  The Mets called him up in late June, sent him back down in early July, and brought him up for good in late July.  He hit very well in the majors, considering his experience level.  In AA he played mostly first, with some games in left and a few at third.  In the majors he played only in left except for a few innings at first.  The Mets used him most of the time only against LHPs.

2009
AA:  276/350/467, 105 AB, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 BB, 22 K, 2-2 SB
AAA:  211/280/414, 237 AB, 12 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 23 BB, 55 K
MLB:  231/275/385, 65 AB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 20 K

Evans opened the season in AAA, but the Mets eventually sent him down to AA when he struggled.  He still hit for good power, but didn’t get on base much.  He played in the majors briefly.  At all levels, Evans divided his time between first and left.

2010
AA:  294/366/527, 237 AB, 30 2B, 17 HR, 40 BB, 65 K, 0-1 SB
AAA:  314/385/557, 140 AB, 14 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 15 BB, 23 K
MLB:  306/324/472, 36 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 10 K

The Mets sent Evans back to AA and he hit very well, both there and in AAA.  Except for two games in July, though, he appeared in the majors only as a September callup.  He played mainly first in the minors, but did play 16 games at third.

2011
AAA:  313/375/462, 249 AB, 13 2B, 8 HR, 26 BB, 50 K, 3-3 SB
MLB:  256/314/403, 176 AB, 10 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 48 K, 0-1 SB

Evans split his season between AAA and the majors.  He hit respectably for the Mets, but with a very high K rate.  In the majors he played mostly first, in the minors first and left.

Evans figured to have a good shot at a backup position, but he had a dismal spring and was sent to AAA.  The Pirates’ acquisition of Casey McGehee didn’t help, either, since it somewhat nullified Evans’ advantages as a possible lefty-masher.  He’ll have to battle for playing time at Indianapolis with Jake Fox and Jeff Clement, among others.  He’ll likely play third initially, but once the Pirates add a 12th pitcher around mid-April, one player out of Josh Harrison, Matt Hague and Yamaico Navarro will be sent down.  Harrison or Navarro would almost certainly take over third in that event, and Hague might take some of the playing time, too.  Conceivably, Evans could see some time in the outfield.  He’s a better hitter than he showed in the exhibitions and still stands a good chance of helping the Pirates in 2012.