According to Baseball America, the Pirates have signed minor league catcher Lucas May. He has played part of one season in the majors, 2010 with the Royals. May was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth round of the 2003 draft. The Royals acquired him as part of the return for outfielder Scott Podsednik at the 2010 trading deadline.
The 28-year-old May spent 2012 at AAA Buffalo in the Mets organization. He hit .215 in 75 games, with a .593 OPS and a 10/74 BB/K ratio. May has hit for power in the past, but his numbers have dropped recently. In 2005, he hit 25 homers in the hitter-friendly California League with Inland Empire and he has 105 career minor league homers.
The right-handed hitting May batted .189 in 12 games for the Royals in a September call-up in 2010, striking out ten times with no walks. He will likely compete with Ali Solis for the backup AAA catching spot behind Tony Sanchez.
