Veteran catcher Austin Hedges (29) joins the Pirates.
John Heyman of the New York Post reported on the 18th (Korean time) that Hedges signed a one-year, $5 million (6.6 billion won) contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to Fangraph.com, a site specializing in MLB records, Pittsburgh ranked 27th out of 30 teams with a batting average of 0.191 for the catcher position this season. Even the fielding percentage (FP) was 0.987, ranking 29th, revealing serious weaknesses in both offense and defense.
It is unknown whether Hedges will help strengthen offensive power. Hedges, who debuted in the big leagues in 2015, has a career batting average of 0.189 (8 years). Last year he was just .178 (51-for-286) in 88 games and this season he bottomed out with a .163 (48-for-0.294) in 105 games. He said that what Pittsburgh expects is defensive power. Hedges ranked 6th in fielding percentage (0.994) among 15 catchers in the league who played 800 innings this year. He was better than Gold Glove winner JJ Real Muto (Philadelphia Phillies, 0.993) in the National League catcher category. 토토
According to MLB.com, Pittsburgh general manager Ben Sherington continued discussions at the winter meeting to strengthen the catcher’s depth (players) without interfering with Henry Davis (23) and Andy Rodriguez (22), the team’s first and sixth prospects. Davis is a future homeroom resource nominated in the first round of the 2021 rookie draft. Rodriguez hit .323 with 25 home runs and 95 RBIs in the minor leagues this season. Hedges is expected to take on the role of buying time for the two players before they make their debut in the big leagues.