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EDWIN ESPINAL
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FIRST BASEMAN
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Born: January 23, 1994 Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 210 Bats: Right Throws: Right Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2011 How Acquired: Int. FA Country: Dominican Republic Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| The Pirates signed Espinal shortly before the 2011 season and he did well in the DSL. He hasn’t shown much power yet, but he played the season at 17 and so is still very young, and he has good size. Baseball America named him one of the top 20 prospects in the 2011 DSL and VSL, based on his advanced approach to hitting. He doesn’t run well and does not project to be outstanding defensively, so he’ll go as far as his bat will take him.
2011 In his debut season, Espinal hit for a solid average and had twice as many walks as Ks. He played first exclusively, except for one cameo at third, and also missed some time with an injury. 2012 The Pirates sent Espinal to the GCL. They had him working at third during camp and he played there some early in the season, but eventually Eric Wood took over the position and Espinal played mainly first. Espinal’s size probably won’t be conducive to him playing third and he’s awkward in the field, so it seems a pretty optimistic location for him. At bat, his plate discipline did a complete about-face and he struck out in his first nine ABs. He struggled throughout June and July, hitting .202 with no walks and 23 strikeouts, but he turned it around in August, batting 319/360/404 with three walks and only three Ks. In the GCL playoffs, Espinal played first over Stetson Allie. If Espinal’s showing in August was real, he has some promise as a hitter, especially if the power starts to come. He’ll probably be in the New York-Penn League in 2013. |
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STATS
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| Baseball Reference — Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com |
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CONTRACT INFORMATION
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| 2013: Minor League Contract |
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PLAYER INFORMATION
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| Signing Bonus: $150,000 MiLB Debut: 2011 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2017 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: 2015 Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
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TRANSACTIONS
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| April 16, 2011: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent. |
