Newly acquired prospect Park promoted, with more to come
The post-trade Pirates, the group with 58 games remaining after Saturday, should be all about opportunity. Old or young, position player or pitcher, the Pirates must — and will — use this time to figure out what they have in terms of prospects, information that should help shape their roster this offseason.
The first part of that happened before the second game of this series, as they promoted Hoy Park and optioned Jared Oliva back to Class AAA Indianapolis. Park was acquired along with Diego Castillo, another infielder, from the Yankees in the Clay Holmes deal.
“I’m happy to be here and be part of the Pirates,” Park said after batting practice. “I’m ready to go, try to help us get a team win. Excited to help my teammates.”
At the time of the trade, Park ranked first among all Class AAA East League players in batting (.327), OBP (.475), OPS (1.042) and walks (46). He was tied for third in runs scored (44) and ranked fourth in slugging percentage (.567).
Listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, the 25-year-old native of Seoul, South Korea, has played a couple of different positions in the minor leagues. Park has made 294 starts at shortstop, 223 at second base, five in center field and two apiece in left field and at third base.
Although Park was not in the lineup Saturday, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said there’s a good chance he will play several positions with the big club.
“In the middle of the diamond, second and short, we envision him both of those spots, and he’s played the outfield, not only in the big leagues, but in Class AAA,” Shelton said. “There’s a chance he can bounce out there. We really like his versatility. He’s made some adjustments in his swing, which our scouts and baseball ops people have identified that we like. We can see him in both spots.”
Park, of course, said he’s comfortable wherever the Pirates choose to play him. It’s a smart thing to say but only half of the equation. The big thing will be whether Park hits, which he certainly has done this season in the minors.
Getting Park and Castillo back for Holmes was a huge win for Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. Park was MLB.com’s 13thranked prospect during the 2014 international signing period and this season has been one of the most productive hitters in the minor leagues.
Park does have some familiarity with Pirates players. He was part of the Yankees farm system with Roansy Contreras, Miguel Yajure, Canaan SmithNjigba and Maikol Escotto — acquired in the Jameson Taillon trade — and said Ben Gamel is “kind of like my big brother.”
The Yankees drafted Gamel in 2010, and he played there until they traded him to Seattle on Aug. 31, 2016.
“My first two years with the Yankees, I was asking him about all kinds of baseball things,” Park said. “He answered everything.”
Park has a smooth, lefthanded stroke with easy power; the ball carries nicely off his bat. From watching him take batting practice, there’s a chance Park’s swing can probably get a little long, with some extra time in his load making him more susceptible to spin pitches that force him to adjust.
With this promotion, the Pirates did what they should have done given their competitive situation. They gave a younger player who was producing a chance to show what he can do at this level.
“I think it’s definitely exciting,” Shelton said. “You’re starting to give opportunities to guys you’re acquiring. As we continue to take steps forward in terms of how we’re building this, yeah, it is important.
It’s exciting because you’re seeing different people get the opportunity.”
Fourth-rounder signs
The Pirates finalized their 2021 draft class by signing fourth-round pick Owen Kellington, giving the Vermont high school pitcher a $600,000 signing bonus. Pittsburgh exceeded its MLB-high bonus pool by exactly 5%, meaning it will pay a 75% tax on the overage but won’t incur additional fines or lose future draft picks.
Kellington’s signing brings the Pirates’ 2021 draft expense total to more than $16 million for 19 of 21 selections. The two they did not get include Chazz Martinez, a college left-hander they took in the 12th round, and high school shortstop Daniel Corona (16th).
Around the horn
The Pirates announced that Erik Gonzalez started a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis on Saturday. Colin Moran is already there and was 1 for 2 with a double on Friday. … With Richard Rodriguez now with the Braves, Shelton said he would use a committee approach to close games.