Baseball America has released their latest minor league transactions, with two signings by the Pittsburgh Pirates. I wrote about the first move yesterday, with the Pirates signing right-handed pitcher Marek Minarik. The move we didn’t hear about was the addition of catcher Ralph Henriquez.
Henriquez spent the 2013 season playing Independent ball. Prior to that he spent eight seasons in minor league ball, playing with Houston, the Mets, and Seattle. He was a second round pick in the 2005 draft, and has a career .230/.270/.334 line in 1924 at-bats. Henriquez turns 27 in April. Due to his age, I originally thought that Henriquez might be signed as a player/coach. However, I received word that he was signed to provide catching depth. My guess is that he could either serve as a third catcher with Indianapolis or Altoona, or he could remain in extended Spring Training to start the season until a spot opens up in the upper levels.
