I posted some of the minor league moves earlier this morning, but there have been more moves and a few more players released in the lower levels of the system this afternoon. Here are the latest moves:
**Chris Lashmet was released. Lashmet had a .198/.295/.274 line in 106 at-bats this year for the Marauders. He’s a big guy at 6′ 4″, 230 pounds, but never used that size to hit for power, with a career .307 slugging percentage.
**D.J. Crumlich and Ashley Ponce were promoted from West Virginia to Bradenton. They will replace the recently released Lashmet and Eric Avila. Crumlich had a .253/.383/.305 line in 174 at-bats in West Virginia this year. Ponce had a .244/.322/.354 line in 127 at-bats in West Virginia. Both are organizational infielders in A-ball.
**Chris Diaz was activated from the West Virginia disabled list. Diaz was recently rehabbing in the GCL, and went 6-for-25.
**Jimmy Rider was promoted from Jamestown to West Virginia. Rider had a .207/.226/.241 line in 29 at-bats with Jamestown. He and Diaz will replace Crumlich and Ponce. They are also organizational infielders.
**Jodaneli Carvajal and Jesus Vasquez were also released. Both were playing in Jamestown. Carvajal was signed for $350,000 in 2008, which was the second biggest international bonus given to an amateur by the Pirates at the time. He was highly regarded for his defense at the time, but as he moved up in the system he was moved over to second in favor of better defensive shortstops. He had a .290/.324/.548 line in 31 at-bats in Jamestown, although this was his second year at the level. Vasquez has a lot of raw power and a great arm, but he’s a free swinger with a lot of plate patience issues. This year he had a .250/.333/.250 line in 24 at-bats, with 10 strikeouts in Jamestown.
All of the guys who have been on the move today are organizational guys. These moves are a result of the new draft picks being added to the system.
